Read Online Doctor Who: War Machine by Ian Stuart Black - Free Book Online
Authors: Ian Stuart Black
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very deadly danger threatens all of us. And it seems to originate from Professor Brett’s office.’
‘Impossible,’ said Polly. ‘That’s where I work.’
‘I don’t follow,’ said Sir Charles. ‘I don’t understand.’
The Doctor spoke almost to himself. ‘I don’t think any of us do as yet.’
Dodo remained motionless at the door. Now he called her over. She moved towards him slowly, almost reluctantly, as though a struggle were going on inside her.
‘Sit down, my child,’ said the Doctor, and she obeyed him.
For a moment he held her head in his hands and stared into her eyes. The others looked on.
‘As I suspected,’ said the Doctor, ‘she’s in some sort of trance. A form of hypnotism, very deep-seated... fundamental. I can’t say I have seen before anything as powerfully destructive of the personality. But... ’ he shrugged, ‘we can but try.’
He passed his fingers over her brow, seeming to seek out nerve centres. Then he put pressure on the sides of her head.
‘Listen to me, child,’ he said. ‘I want you to repeat "I am Dodo Chaplet... I am able to resist all attempts to transform me into someone – or something– else."’
It was an enormous effort for the girl, but she spoke slowly, painfully, repeating what the Doctor had said. ‘I shall count to five,’ said the Doctor, ‘and when I finish counting you will go to sleep. When you awake, you will have forgotten all about this – er – distressing affair.’
The onlookers weren’t sure whether she had heard. ‘I shall start counting. One... two... three.. Dodo’s eyes began to close.
‘Four... five..
Her head fell forward and she was heavily asleep. The Doctor examined her for a moment. ‘She will sleep for about forty-eight hours... After that she must have a complete rest... She has gone through a traumatic experience... And survived, I am happy to say.’
‘And you’re sure she’s going to be all right?’ asked Polly.
‘She will be her old self again,’ said the Doctor. ‘Thank goodness for that.’ Polly took a deep breath. ‘I feel it was my fault. I should have looked after her better.’
Neither man noticed as she left the room.
‘I tell you what,’ said Sir Charles. ‘I’ll arrange for Dodo to be taken down to my place in the country. My wife will be glad to look after her.’
‘That’s very kind of you.’ The Doctor looked at the face of the sleeping girl. ‘Take good care of her. She has been a very brave and loyal friend.’
Sir Charles nodded. He turned to call for Polly. ‘Now where has that girl gone?’ Life, in the eyes of Sir Charles, was full of the unexpected.
The Doctor stood by Dodo, watching her closely, as though trying to read a secret.
‘She said something,’ he mused. ‘Something about the strategic points in London... I wonder what she meant.’
Sir Charles shook his head. It was all beyond him...
7. A Demonstration of Power
The strategic points were varied, and they had been in use, most of them, for several hours.
At London Airport a uniformed group of men merged with the general staff, using trucks, loaders, workshops, acting as security patrols, and going about official business with great efficiency.
The central railway stations also had inconspicuous individuals close to positions of control. Even some of the city’s famous buildings appeared to have an influx of new workers, unchallenged after the first few encounters with the authorities.
It was a silent, bloodless takeover which included the Television Centre of the BBC, radio stations, and other centres of communication and transport.
There were never many of such anonymous strangers, but always sufficient to take the reins into their own hands. Such preparations drew little attention to themselves, but they were continuous. London was being prepared for an assault.
The warehouse at Covent Garden was by no means the only one to be working flatout that morning, but it was the first into
‘Impossible,’ said Polly. ‘That’s where I work.’
‘I don’t follow,’ said Sir Charles. ‘I don’t understand.’
The Doctor spoke almost to himself. ‘I don’t think any of us do as yet.’
Dodo remained motionless at the door. Now he called her over. She moved towards him slowly, almost reluctantly, as though a struggle were going on inside her.
‘Sit down, my child,’ said the Doctor, and she obeyed him.
For a moment he held her head in his hands and stared into her eyes. The others looked on.
‘As I suspected,’ said the Doctor, ‘she’s in some sort of trance. A form of hypnotism, very deep-seated... fundamental. I can’t say I have seen before anything as powerfully destructive of the personality. But... ’ he shrugged, ‘we can but try.’
He passed his fingers over her brow, seeming to seek out nerve centres. Then he put pressure on the sides of her head.
‘Listen to me, child,’ he said. ‘I want you to repeat "I am Dodo Chaplet... I am able to resist all attempts to transform me into someone – or something– else."’
It was an enormous effort for the girl, but she spoke slowly, painfully, repeating what the Doctor had said. ‘I shall count to five,’ said the Doctor, ‘and when I finish counting you will go to sleep. When you awake, you will have forgotten all about this – er – distressing affair.’
The onlookers weren’t sure whether she had heard. ‘I shall start counting. One... two... three.. Dodo’s eyes began to close.
‘Four... five..
Her head fell forward and she was heavily asleep. The Doctor examined her for a moment. ‘She will sleep for about forty-eight hours... After that she must have a complete rest... She has gone through a traumatic experience... And survived, I am happy to say.’
‘And you’re sure she’s going to be all right?’ asked Polly.
‘She will be her old self again,’ said the Doctor. ‘Thank goodness for that.’ Polly took a deep breath. ‘I feel it was my fault. I should have looked after her better.’
Neither man noticed as she left the room.
‘I tell you what,’ said Sir Charles. ‘I’ll arrange for Dodo to be taken down to my place in the country. My wife will be glad to look after her.’
‘That’s very kind of you.’ The Doctor looked at the face of the sleeping girl. ‘Take good care of her. She has been a very brave and loyal friend.’
Sir Charles nodded. He turned to call for Polly. ‘Now where has that girl gone?’ Life, in the eyes of Sir Charles, was full of the unexpected.
The Doctor stood by Dodo, watching her closely, as though trying to read a secret.
‘She said something,’ he mused. ‘Something about the strategic points in London... I wonder what she meant.’
Sir Charles shook his head. It was all beyond him...
7. A Demonstration of Power
The strategic points were varied, and they had been in use, most of them, for several hours.
At London Airport a uniformed group of men merged with the general staff, using trucks, loaders, workshops, acting as security patrols, and going about official business with great efficiency.
The central railway stations also had inconspicuous individuals close to positions of control. Even some of the city’s famous buildings appeared to have an influx of new workers, unchallenged after the first few encounters with the authorities.
It was a silent, bloodless takeover which included the Television Centre of the BBC, radio stations, and other centres of communication and transport.
There were never many of such anonymous strangers, but always sufficient to take the reins into their own hands. Such preparations drew little attention to themselves, but they were continuous. London was being prepared for an assault.
The warehouse at Covent Garden was by no means the only one to be working flatout that morning, but it was the first into
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