Doctor Who: The Invasion Read Online Free Page B
waited, gazing into the darkness beyond. Soon an oscillating hum began to rise and a fluorescent light started to pulsate in sequence with it. The air started to crackle with a dry electric charge as a fantastic structure appeared in the dark alcove. Standing about two metres high, it resembled a gigantic radio valve. Bristling electrodes sprouted from a revolving central crystal suspended within a delicate cage of sparking, fizzing filaments. Cathode tubes were arranged like a belt of glass ammunition around the base of the cage and the whole sparkling mechanism was supported in a lattice of shimmering wires and tubes. The planes of the crystal flickered with millions of tiny points of intense blue light and the apparatus possessed a sinister beauty as it hovered in the darkness.
Vaughn touched some buttons on his desk and the bank of nine circular screens flashed into life showing video replays of the Doctor and Jamie at their recent gate-crashing exploits. Immediately the machine in the alcove began to whirr and spark with increased excitement. Vaughn watched and waited, smiling expectantly.
Meanwhile, back at Professor Travers's house The was still striking exotic poses with strange hats and the feather boa while Isobel shot roll after roll of 35mm film. At long last Isobel announced a tea break and produced coffee and a mountain of sandwiches.
Zoe collapsed gratefully onto a large psychedelic beanbag.
'Never imagined keeping still could be so exhausting,' she laughed, biting into a doorstep of crusty bread and mashed sardine.
'It's been a real treat for me,' Isobel complimented her. 'I get sick of photographing myself, but I can't afford proper models yet.'
'But you're very good,' Zoe said with her mouth full, gesturing at the large portraits around the walls.
'Oh, I didn't take those,' Isobel admitted with a wry grin. 'I have to model to earn the loot to pay for all this junk. I hope you'll be around for a while, Zoe,' she added, offering her another sandwich.
Zoe shook her head sadly. 'I expect we'll be off again as soon as the Doctor gets the circuits repaired.'
'Yes. Why are they so important?' Isobel asked, puzzled.
Zoe did her best to explain about the TARDIS.
'Sounds just like one of Uncle's lash-ups,' Isobel giggled dismissively. 'Daft as a brush.'
Zoe suddenly looked very concerned.
'What's up? Don't you like sardines?' Isobel asked brightly.
Zoe nodded and attempted a smile. 'It's just that the Doctor and Jamie have been gone ages,' she murmured. 'I've got the feeling something's happened to them.'
Isobel shrugged. 'Uncle's probably pressganged them into helping with his latest brainwave.'
Zoe stood up decisively. 'Sorry,' she mumbled, 'it's just that whenever there's any trouble around those two always jump right into it.'
Isobel drained her coffee and sprang up. 'Okay, Zoe. If you're really worried let's go and look for them.'
Zoe smiled appreciatively at her new friend. But inside she suddenly felt cold and hollow.
Several times during the hair-raising high speed journey through the North-Eastern suburbs and out into the country the Doctor had tried to extract some snippet of information from the three silent kidnappers, but all Benton would say was 'All in good time, sir, all in good time.' Puzzled by this politeness, Jamie kept mouthing queries at the Doctor, but he simply grimaced back at him to keep quiet. Occasionally a burst of rock music would issue from Jamie's transistor and then the Doctor would nudge him viciously in the ribs to turn it off.
Eventually the Jaguar bounced off the highway and sped through several kilometres of woodland until it suddenly emerged onto a vast airfield. The airfield was almost deserted except for a group of rundown Nissen huts, a few jeeps and helicopters, and a massive Hercules Transport plane in camouflage paint, with service trucks clustered under its huge wings. The ramp at the rear of its fuselage was open and to the Doctor's and
Vaughn touched some buttons on his desk and the bank of nine circular screens flashed into life showing video replays of the Doctor and Jamie at their recent gate-crashing exploits. Immediately the machine in the alcove began to whirr and spark with increased excitement. Vaughn watched and waited, smiling expectantly.
Meanwhile, back at Professor Travers's house The was still striking exotic poses with strange hats and the feather boa while Isobel shot roll after roll of 35mm film. At long last Isobel announced a tea break and produced coffee and a mountain of sandwiches.
Zoe collapsed gratefully onto a large psychedelic beanbag.
'Never imagined keeping still could be so exhausting,' she laughed, biting into a doorstep of crusty bread and mashed sardine.
'It's been a real treat for me,' Isobel complimented her. 'I get sick of photographing myself, but I can't afford proper models yet.'
'But you're very good,' Zoe said with her mouth full, gesturing at the large portraits around the walls.
'Oh, I didn't take those,' Isobel admitted with a wry grin. 'I have to model to earn the loot to pay for all this junk. I hope you'll be around for a while, Zoe,' she added, offering her another sandwich.
Zoe shook her head sadly. 'I expect we'll be off again as soon as the Doctor gets the circuits repaired.'
'Yes. Why are they so important?' Isobel asked, puzzled.
Zoe did her best to explain about the TARDIS.
'Sounds just like one of Uncle's lash-ups,' Isobel giggled dismissively. 'Daft as a brush.'
Zoe suddenly looked very concerned.
'What's up? Don't you like sardines?' Isobel asked brightly.
Zoe nodded and attempted a smile. 'It's just that the Doctor and Jamie have been gone ages,' she murmured. 'I've got the feeling something's happened to them.'
Isobel shrugged. 'Uncle's probably pressganged them into helping with his latest brainwave.'
Zoe stood up decisively. 'Sorry,' she mumbled, 'it's just that whenever there's any trouble around those two always jump right into it.'
Isobel drained her coffee and sprang up. 'Okay, Zoe. If you're really worried let's go and look for them.'
Zoe smiled appreciatively at her new friend. But inside she suddenly felt cold and hollow.
Several times during the hair-raising high speed journey through the North-Eastern suburbs and out into the country the Doctor had tried to extract some snippet of information from the three silent kidnappers, but all Benton would say was 'All in good time, sir, all in good time.' Puzzled by this politeness, Jamie kept mouthing queries at the Doctor, but he simply grimaced back at him to keep quiet. Occasionally a burst of rock music would issue from Jamie's transistor and then the Doctor would nudge him viciously in the ribs to turn it off.
Eventually the Jaguar bounced off the highway and sped through several kilometres of woodland until it suddenly emerged onto a vast airfield. The airfield was almost deserted except for a group of rundown Nissen huts, a few jeeps and helicopters, and a massive Hercules Transport plane in camouflage paint, with service trucks clustered under its huge wings. The ramp at the rear of its fuselage was open and to the Doctor's and
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