Read Online Ten Little Aliens: 50th Anniversary Edition by Stephen Cole - Free Book Online
Authors: Stephen Cole
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trap. It has to be.’
The Doctor cleared his throat. ‘It may be a trap, yes, it may well be,’ he said airily. ‘But it is not one set by us.’
‘Is that a fact. Just who are you?’ the marshal demanded.
‘I am the Doctor.’
Ben stood to attention. ‘Able Seaman Ben Jackson, HMS
Teazer
. I mean… well, that’s my ship, see…’
He trailed off. The marshal’s face was darkening with every syllable.
‘As I mentioned earlier,’ the Doctor said quickly, ‘our party arrived here purely by chance, and one of our number –’
The woman glanced over at Shel, casually. ‘This is part of a trap. I’m going to kill them.’
‘You can’t!’ Ben protested. ‘What have we done to you?’
‘This is outrageous behaviour.’ The Doctor was clearly bristling.
The woman was unmoved by any of it.
Shel spoke gravely: ‘Marshal Haunt, that is in direct contravention of the Codes and Ethics of War.’
‘We’re on a training exercise,’ Haunt pointed out wearily.
‘That is an absurd distinction,’ the Doctor retorted. ‘Now if you’d only listen to us, Marshal… Haunt was it…?’
The name suited her, Ben decided. She was quite a big girl, around Polly’s height but stockier, and she could’ve been the jolly sort. Instead she had a troubled look about her, a pained expression in her eyes, like she’d taken some bad news in the past that had never got any better.
Shel spoke again, his voice dead calm, like they were discussing the price of tea or something. ‘Procedure is to take any civilians into safekeeping.’
‘Civilians? On this speck?’ Haunt looked unconvinced. Her space-age rifle still pointed their way.
‘We are travellers,’ the Doctor said. ‘You could call us refugees in an experimental craft.’ To Ben’s surprise he gestured to the TARDIS. ‘One that bends the dimensions, passing through solid matter.’
‘I don’t believe you,’ said Haunt simply.
But Shel was nodding. ‘In the Japanese Belt such technology is being developed. It
is
a possible explanation. But it’s also possible they’re part of the team that set this place up.’
Haunt looked uncertainly at Ben and the Doctor. ‘Well?’ she asked.
‘As you observe, we are helpless civilians trapped in this terrible place,’ said the Doctor mildly. ‘We cannot escape here, and we look to you for protection. So too does our friend Polly,’ he added hurriedly. ‘She can’t be far away but I am dreadfully worried about her. Dreadfully.’
Haunt’s face darkened. ‘There’s more of you wandering about here?’
‘Only her.’
Ben wondered what the Doctor was up to, telling these maniacs about Polly.
He spun round as a new voice rang out: ‘What the hell…?’
A black bloke strode through the five-sided doorway this time. A huge great geezer, he carried a slim rectangular pack on his back, a space-age kit bag.
‘Roba?’ Haunt rounded on him. ‘What’s going on, where’s Frog?’
‘Outside on guard.’ Roba was massive, but Ben could tell Haunt had the power to make him feel two inches tall. ‘Our tunnel led to some weird tomb-place. We went through the circles and found them silver doors.’
‘All right,’ Haunt snapped. ‘Shel, brief Roba on…’ She broke off. ‘On whatever the hell is happening.’
‘Yes, Marshal,’ said Shel, unfazed.
Ben held his breath as Haunt stalked closer.
Her eyes narrowed. Her finger was still curled round the trigger of her rifle. ‘So. Your ship was attacked? You strayed into the Spook Quadrant?’
‘I’m not familiar with your terminology for this area of space, though I’m sure you are right,’ said the Doctor with a tight smile.
‘You have a deathwish,’ she said.
‘If it is so dangerous, why are you training close by?’
‘It’s still Earth space.’ Haunt smiled tightly. ‘Our destiny is in the stars, the pioneers used to say.’
The Doctor raised an eyebrow. ‘Well, that’s a fine sentiment, yes. Ours too is in the stars, and
The Doctor cleared his throat. ‘It may be a trap, yes, it may well be,’ he said airily. ‘But it is not one set by us.’
‘Is that a fact. Just who are you?’ the marshal demanded.
‘I am the Doctor.’
Ben stood to attention. ‘Able Seaman Ben Jackson, HMS
Teazer
. I mean… well, that’s my ship, see…’
He trailed off. The marshal’s face was darkening with every syllable.
‘As I mentioned earlier,’ the Doctor said quickly, ‘our party arrived here purely by chance, and one of our number –’
The woman glanced over at Shel, casually. ‘This is part of a trap. I’m going to kill them.’
‘You can’t!’ Ben protested. ‘What have we done to you?’
‘This is outrageous behaviour.’ The Doctor was clearly bristling.
The woman was unmoved by any of it.
Shel spoke gravely: ‘Marshal Haunt, that is in direct contravention of the Codes and Ethics of War.’
‘We’re on a training exercise,’ Haunt pointed out wearily.
‘That is an absurd distinction,’ the Doctor retorted. ‘Now if you’d only listen to us, Marshal… Haunt was it…?’
The name suited her, Ben decided. She was quite a big girl, around Polly’s height but stockier, and she could’ve been the jolly sort. Instead she had a troubled look about her, a pained expression in her eyes, like she’d taken some bad news in the past that had never got any better.
Shel spoke again, his voice dead calm, like they were discussing the price of tea or something. ‘Procedure is to take any civilians into safekeeping.’
‘Civilians? On this speck?’ Haunt looked unconvinced. Her space-age rifle still pointed their way.
‘We are travellers,’ the Doctor said. ‘You could call us refugees in an experimental craft.’ To Ben’s surprise he gestured to the TARDIS. ‘One that bends the dimensions, passing through solid matter.’
‘I don’t believe you,’ said Haunt simply.
But Shel was nodding. ‘In the Japanese Belt such technology is being developed. It
is
a possible explanation. But it’s also possible they’re part of the team that set this place up.’
Haunt looked uncertainly at Ben and the Doctor. ‘Well?’ she asked.
‘As you observe, we are helpless civilians trapped in this terrible place,’ said the Doctor mildly. ‘We cannot escape here, and we look to you for protection. So too does our friend Polly,’ he added hurriedly. ‘She can’t be far away but I am dreadfully worried about her. Dreadfully.’
Haunt’s face darkened. ‘There’s more of you wandering about here?’
‘Only her.’
Ben wondered what the Doctor was up to, telling these maniacs about Polly.
He spun round as a new voice rang out: ‘What the hell…?’
A black bloke strode through the five-sided doorway this time. A huge great geezer, he carried a slim rectangular pack on his back, a space-age kit bag.
‘Roba?’ Haunt rounded on him. ‘What’s going on, where’s Frog?’
‘Outside on guard.’ Roba was massive, but Ben could tell Haunt had the power to make him feel two inches tall. ‘Our tunnel led to some weird tomb-place. We went through the circles and found them silver doors.’
‘All right,’ Haunt snapped. ‘Shel, brief Roba on…’ She broke off. ‘On whatever the hell is happening.’
‘Yes, Marshal,’ said Shel, unfazed.
Ben held his breath as Haunt stalked closer.
Her eyes narrowed. Her finger was still curled round the trigger of her rifle. ‘So. Your ship was attacked? You strayed into the Spook Quadrant?’
‘I’m not familiar with your terminology for this area of space, though I’m sure you are right,’ said the Doctor with a tight smile.
‘You have a deathwish,’ she said.
‘If it is so dangerous, why are you training close by?’
‘It’s still Earth space.’ Haunt smiled tightly. ‘Our destiny is in the stars, the pioneers used to say.’
The Doctor raised an eyebrow. ‘Well, that’s a fine sentiment, yes. Ours too is in the stars, and
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