The Ice Warriors Read Online Free Page B

Victoria.
    ‘Come on. Let’s see if we can find out.’ The Doctor opened the door into the broad main corridor beyond. For a brief moment, they stood alone in the deserted corridor; then, as though summoned by a bugle call, a small group of grimly determined men erupted from a corner passageway and charged straight at the Doctor and his young friends. With no possible chance to run or hide, they stood resigned to being captured – the Doctor even going so far as to raise his arms above his head in surrender.
    To their astonishment, the task force ran straight past them, down the corridor, and disappeared out of sight. Almost disappointed, the Doctor called after them half-heartedly, ‘I say, could you tell me the way to…’ His voice trailed off, and meeting the puzzled faces of his young companions, he shrugged. ‘It’s all very strange…’
    Another man ran up from the opposite direction, but, like the previous party, his face looked determined and set. The Doctor smiled and tried to catch the runner’s eye. He stretched out his hand. ‘Excuse me, old chap—’
    The only response was a shove in the chest as the runner dashed past, that sent the Doctor staggering into Jamie’s arms. Victoria could only stand and giggle as the Doctor, a look of bewilderment on his face, set his hat straight.
    ‘They don’t seem to think much of you, Doctor…’
    ‘I can’t understand it,’ muttered the Doctor. An attractive girl now walked up to them and, without uttering a word, briskly attached numbered plastic tags to their lapels. She had finished the job and moved on before Jamie had recovered sufficiently from his surprise to call out to her – but she paid no attention.
    The Doctor smiled. ‘She doesn’t want to know, Jamie…’
    Victoria had twisted her tag so that she could read it.
    ‘It says we’re on Evacuation Flight Seven!’
    ‘Not very hospitable, is it,’ commented the Doctor. ‘We’ve only just arrived.’
    ‘Hey, and have ye seen
this
!’ Jamie showed them the reverse side of his tag. ‘It says we’re scavengers! I’ll not have that – I’m no beggar!’
    Victoria couldn’t help laughing at the insult to his Scots dignity, but the Doctor had moved to a nearby doorway and was listening intently to a faint sound coming from within.
    ‘Shush a minute, Jamie lad,’ said the Doctor.
    At that moment, the relayed warning call drowned the sound from beyond the door as it repeated its ominous broadcast.
    ‘Phase Three, red alert. Evacuate immediately. Flights One to Five now on departure circuit. Flights Six and Seven, stand by. Phase Three, red alert…’
    When the warning had ceased, the Doctor beckoned Jamie and Victoria back to the door. They could hear vague humming – but nothing they could identify.
    ‘What is it, Doctor?’ asked Victoria, intrigued.
    The Doctor looked thoughtful, and not a little worried. ‘I’d say it’s electronic machinery of some kind – perhaps a computer – but there’s something badly wrong with its pitch…’
    ‘It’s no ours – let’s leave it’, suggested Jamie. He knew all too well from past experience where the Doctor’s curiosity could lead them – usually into trouble. Victoria agreed.
    ‘It could be dangerous,’ she pointed out.
    But the Doctor had already made up his mind, and quietly opened the door. ‘Stay out here if you like,’ he murmured, ‘but I’m going in.’
    In the Ioniser Room, the tension was electric. Jan Garrett was standing poised over the main control deck; Clent strode nervously from monitor to monitor, noting the figures presented by each. At the door leading into the Grand Hall, stood two security guards, their backs to the library interior. Because of this, the Doctor – followed reluctantly by Jamie and Victoria – was able to enter unnoticed. While they paused to take in the bizarre contrast of the ultra-modern electronic gadgetry and the antique library setting, the Doctor moved stealthily behind Clent,