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chunks of rubble that blocked the door.
Upsetting though this was, it did not dampen Romana s
determination to escape. She pushed herself on, noting that the
Ogrons had already regained their sensibilities and were
making their way through the cavern towards her.
The route she had chosen took her into a long, low tunnel,
from either side of which several possible openings sprouted.
She ducked through one at random, crouched behind a spar of
rock, and listened for the sounds of pursuit. The Ogrons were
clattering about nearby, but the confusing acoustics of the
chambers of rock meant that she could not be sure of their
location.
I fear the darkness, said one of the Ogrons.
Yes, his comrade murmured. One ugly girl is not
important. Masters will not care. We will go now.
Romana heard them moving away. She waited a few
moments and emerged from hiding. Her only chance now, she
knew, was to get K9 operational again. His nose laser would
make short work of the boulders blocking the door of the
TARDIS. She took the toolkit from the inside pocket of her
jacket and got back to work. Perhaps it would be a better idea
to cross his geostatic traction links with his power
accelerator...
Thus engrossed, Romana was unaware of the large,
lumbering figure moving through the shadows towards her.
9
The Plotters
h! A friendly face, at last!
A Romana jumped at the sound of the
distinctively plummy voice and gave a sigh of relief as the
new arrival revealed himself. For this was an infinitely more
reassuring presence than a returning Ogron.
Mr Stokes! You made me jump!
He waved a hand. I must apologize. I didn t intend to give
you a fright. Romana noted the genuine contrition in his
voice. He walked into a shaft of light and she saw the streaks
of grime that covered his big sweaty face and the disarray of
his clothing. His suit, which had never been immaculate, was
torn in places and the collar of his shirt was askew. Alas, he
went on, I was overcome by enthusiasm at the sight of your
prettiness.
He blew out his cheeks and sat down on a ledge that
formed a perfect seat in the rock. What is that curious
object? he asked, indicating the inert K9.
Never mind about him, Romana said hurriedly. Tell me
what happened to you.
Stokes wiped his forehead and smeared an even longer
greasy streak across it. It was horrifying, my dear, he said. I
was ruminating in my cell when I heard screaming and
shouting. And shots. Then the door of my cell opened by itself
and they were telling us to evacuate. For a moment, I thought
I d landed myself in the middle of a break-out. Until I saw one
of those brutes with the guns. He shuddered. Well, of course,
everyone started running for the escape capsules or the
transmat. Including myself. Except I got lost, didn t I?
You know the station well enough to find your way about,
surely? asked Romana.
Oh yes, I know it very well, when the lifts are working.
But all those stairs! He took a dirty handkerchief from his
pocket and coughed into it. Goodness, yes, with those hairy
monsters lumbering about. I haven t run like that for many
years.
Romana felt he deserved an explanation. Yes, well these
creatures are called Ogrons. They re a slave race. At present
they appear to be working for the Nisbetts.
Stokes s red face blanched white in less than two seconds.
The Nisbetts? The psychotic brothers?
Romana shrugged. I suppose so.
The artist lurched to his feet and started to wring his hands.
And I didn t believe things could get any worse! This is
appalling news! He looked about at the catacombs. I don t
know whether my bladder can stand all this!
I hope it can, said Romana. Because I think the Doctor s
been captured by them. And we have to rescue him.
A thought struck her. And Xais is involved as well. She s
somehow reincarnated herself using that mask you made for
her.
I won t say that s any more impossible than anything else
that s happened today, Stokes said. In fact, it seems almost
reassuringly ordinary. He shook his head. Oh no, my dear,
he told Romana, I m afraid I m not trained for this sort of
thing.
No doubt. Romana had to admit that Stokes was more of
a liability than an asset. But I m afraid we ve no choice. We
have to rescue the Doctor.
Stokes backed away. I don t think so, my dear. I know he
meant a lot to you, but if the Doctor has fallen foul of the
Nisbetts, there is every likelihood that his internal organs are
now scattered in small gristly portions. And I, for one, have no
intention of joining him in that fate. I ve often stated that the
kidneys belong inside the body.
He straightened his collar and started to walk away.
Goodbye, my dear. I hope that your venture brings you
success.
Romana watched him depart. It s best if we stick together,
she called after him. Stokes! But he had gone, without a
backward glance.
She returned her attentions to K9. The breakthrough was
near, she was certain. A green light showed that his power
distributor links were almost powered up. Theoretically, he
could come back on line at any moment, as long as nothing
else had been damaged.
Stokes came crashing back through the catacombs. Romana
jolted upright, terrified that he had led the Ogrons to her.
What are you doing? she whispered as he stumbled towards
her.
He pointed dumbly behind him. It s coming, he gasped at
last. One of those great hairy Orgons.
Ogrons, Romana corrected.
Whatever they re called, it s right behind me, he blurted.
I bumped into the blessed thing, it s huge, covered in long
filthy coarse hair. Ugh!
You idiot! cried Romana as they heard the sound of
approaching steps. You ve led it here! She looked around but
there was nowhere to run. The footsteps grew nearer.
Spiggot emerged into the light, smoothing back his long
permed hair and trying not to look too ruffled.
All right there, he greeted them confidently and lit a
cigarette. I think it s about time we got this mess sorted out,
don t you?
Xais observed her allies closely.
Eddie was looking up at the high ceiling of level two of the
station. Inscribed in gilt letters was a scroll that detailed the
achievements of the Uva Beta Uva state since its foundation
almost two hundred years ago.
Look at that! We could strip that lot, make a fair few bob.
He squinted up at the letters. I can t make it out.
Charlie glowered at him. It s in Latin, he said.
What s that, then?
It s the language the Romans used to speak. Besides, three
grand of synthigold ain t nothing on three mill of the big B.
Quite. Xais gestured ahead. Let us hurry, please.
As they walked on, she looked approvingly at the deserted
corridors and passageways and at their escort of two Ogrons.
Perhaps I was hasty in my opinion of your new slaves. They
have done well to clear this place of the Normals.
Charlie nodded. They re not bad lads.
Where did you come by them?
Eddie answered. After the firm was broken up, we were on
the look out for some new muscle. We got them cheap, in a
job lot from the labour pits.
What Edward means to say, said Charlie, is that we
purchased the Ogrons for a competitive price from the
auctions on Ghelluris. Their previous owners had run into a
spot of bother they were planning to invade the galaxy but
some bloke blew half of them sky high and they had to sell
up.
Charlie got us the ship into the bargain, said Eddie. It
used to belong to a warfleet, you know.
Oh really? said Xais.
Yes. But it isn t a patch on what we re used to, though. We
had a luxury class star yacht, you know. The Stellar Caprice.
Gone like all the rest of our stuff when we were grassed up.
Charlie stopped and turned. Eddie, you know I don t like
you talking about the old days.
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