The Ice Warriors

by Brian Hayles

  ‘Yes, I’m all right, Doctor…’ she replied. ‘It’s the glacier – we’re right inside it, and it’s moving all the time!’

  ‘The engines, Victoria—’ broke in Clent’s demanding tones, ‘for heaven’s sake, tell us about the engines!’

  ‘Give me a chance!’ protested Victoria. ‘I’m trying to think!’

  But Varga had heard enough. With a curt gesture, he ordered one of the warriors to the airlock door.

  ‘She must say no more. Turoc, bring the girl in here – quickly!’

  Zondal turned to his commander. ‘It would be easier – and quicker – to kill her now.’

  ‘You do not understand, Zondal,’ breathed Varga harshly. ‘There are questions she must answer! Why are the Earthlings so interested in our engines? Why are they afraid?’ He turned away from the viewing screen for a moment and looked thoughtfully back towards the engine room. ‘We must have these answers, Zondal,’ he hissed – ‘and quickly!’

  In that brief moment, if he or Zondal had been watching, they would have seen Victoria’s tense reaction to the opening of the door in the ice. She spoke quickly into the communicator, and prepared to make her escape. ‘There’s someone coming from the spaceship. I’m going to have to run for it!’

  ‘Try to get back to Base, Victoria!’ urged the Doctor – but Victoria was no longer listening. With a tightening of her throat, she realised that the Ice Warrior now standing in the open airlock was cutting off her escape route out of the cave and down the hillside to the Base. Turoc paused and, turning in a slow arc, activated his radar detector. As it started to pulse, Victoria looked desperately about her and, without further hesitation, took her only escape route – through the tunnels that led deeper into the glacier…

  Turoc had not seen her swift escape from the cave – but his finding device registered an alien presence moving through the maze of ice grottoes beyond the spaceship. He followed with great crushing strides, smashing his way into the main tunnel, the finding device guiding him relentlessly on. Ahead of him, running and clambering desperately over the debris of fallen ice, Victoria looked for an escape route that would take her out of the mountain of ice and into the open snow. But whichever way she turned, the Ice Warrior was behind her, driving her further and further into the heart of the glacier. She stumbled; her heart sank. There was no escape – she was trapped!

  Clent turned bitterly away from the blank screen, and ground his fist into the palm of his hand. ‘It’s hopeless! We know nothing! We’re helpless!’ He turned on the Doctor, who was dialling a chemical formula on the automatic dispenser. ‘What on earth are you doing? There’s no time for playthings!’

  ‘The position isn’t good, I agree,’ mused the Doctor. ‘Jamie has vanished. Victoria is on the run. And we still don’t know anything useful about that spacecraft’s propulsion unit, do we?’ The machine delivered two small phials into his waiting hand. He smiled. ‘Perhaps this will help.’

  ‘Ammonium sulphide?’ asked Clent in astonishment. ‘You’re crazy!’

  ‘Am I really? Think a moment, will you? We know these aliens are from Mars. What do we know of their planet’s atmospheric conditions? Mmm?’

  It was Jan who answered, just as puzzled as Clent. ‘It’s chiefly nitrogen, with virtually no oxygen or hydrogen.’

  ‘So they wouldn’t enjoy sniffing this little mixture, would they?’

  Clent looked intrigued, though not convinced. ‘You don’t mean you’re going to use this stuff as a form of toxic gas!’ He paused. ‘And anyway, how do you propose to get it to them?’

  ‘I’ll take it myself. Oh, I’m aware we’ve lost Arden already – but I know what to expect, remember. He didn’t.’ He smiled at the two innocent-looking phials, one in each hand. ‘That’s why I’m going prepared.’

  Clent glared at him furiously. ‘I refuse to let you go! I dare not lose any more personnel!’

  ‘My dear chap, I’m not even on your pay roll. The Ioniser will work very well without me – and after all, someone has to identify that alien propulsion unit, don’t they?’ He paused and grinned. ‘Who better than me?’

  ‘Very well, Doctor – on your own head be it. I agree – but strictly under protest!’

  ‘Thank you. I hoped you’d see it my way; Now – a small matter of communication!’

  Jan produced a wrist-video, demonstrating it as she strapped it on to the Doctor’s wrist. ‘This is identical to the one that Victoria was using,’ she explained.

  Clent looked amazed. ‘Is that all you’re taking?’ he gasped, indicating the wrist-video and the two phials.

  ‘There’s nothing else I need, is there?’ replied the Doctor innocently. ‘What do you suggest?’

  ‘Weapons, man!’ Clent exclaimed. ‘Those warriors are armed!’

  ‘But I’m not going there to fight a duel. That isn’t what I’ve got in mind at all.’

  Clent stared at him blankly. What was this ridiculous man up to now? As though the question had been asked aloud, the Doctor promptly supplied the answer. ‘

  I’m going to let them take me prisoner.’

  Somehow Victoria had managed to evade the oncoming Ice Warrior by scrambling through openings so small that the alien couldn’t follow her – but he had simply broken his way through the ice walls, blindly following the quickening sonic pulse. The heart of the glacier seemed like a gigantic maze, twisting and turning upon itself, perforated with crystalline hollows and pockets, chimneys and tunnels. Suddenly forced into what looked like a cul-de-sac, Victoria looked about her desperately. There was only one way out: through a narrow crevice which was scarcely wide enough to take her body. But the ice was so thick that even the massive Turoc would take hours to break it down – time enough for her to escape!

  She had almost succeeded in wriggling through, feet first, when she heard the crushing approach of the Ice Warrior! Panicking, she dropped the precious communicator – her only link with the Base, and human help. She knew that she must have the device – without it she would be utterly lost. It lay on the floor only a yard away. Stretching back through the crevice, she could almost reach it – the effort wracked her weary muscles to breaking point; the ice became a living creature, creaking and groaning all around her. And beyond the rumbling menace of the ice, she could hear the steady, crunching tread of Turoc’s feet – and the menacing hiss of his approaching breath.

  Abandoning the struggle to reach the communicator, Victoria tried to draw back out of his reach – but she was stuck! With horror, she realised that she couldn’t move! Then, just as the Ice Warrior’s massive fist clamped down on her wrist, there came a shudder and a roar of moving ice! The body of the Ice Warrior was crushed by the ceiling of the tunnel as it fell in on top of him! When the moment of terror had passed, and the eerie silence returned, Victoria suddenly realised that the grip of the crevice round her body had loosened – she could move! Now was her chance of escape – before another movement of the glacier brought down an avalanche of ice on top of her, too! And then she discovered the grim truth: her puny strength couldn’t budge the grip of Turoc’s mighty fist – even in death he held her a prisoner in the heart of the moving mountain of ice!

  7

  Diplomat in Danger

  ‘HIS FEVER’S GONE,’ observed Storr brusquely, looking down at Jamie’s sleeping body. ‘His body’s young. It’ll soon heal.’

  ‘Yes, of course it will,’ replied Penley, but he didn’t sound convinced.

  ‘What are you worried about then?’

  Penley frowned, remembering the Ice Warriors’ vicious attack. ‘The weapons they used…’ he brooded, ‘peculiar…’ He snapped out of his thoughts and faced Storr squarely. ‘The fact is I’m afraid there might be some neural damage. He has no reflex response from the waist down.’

  Storr had seen spinal paralysis in animals and men before; the only hope of survival would be intensive care and proper treatment. Was this an excuse for Penley to return to the Base? ‘How can you be s
ure, if he’s unconscious?’

  ‘I’m not – yet. When he wakes, and tries to walk – then we’ll know.’

  ‘And if it’s bad?’

  ‘I’ll have to get him to the Base,’ he said bluntly.

  ‘No!’ cried Storr fiercely.

  ‘For the boy’s sake! Do you want him to end up a cripple?’

  Storr fell silent. He knew the other answer wasn’t easy, but his hatred of the scientists and their degrading power forced him to make the suggestion. ‘There’s another way to save him – to befriend the aliens!’

  Penley stared at him in disbelief. ‘Don’t be a fool! They’re ruthless warriors, trained to kill!’

  ‘In self defence!’ growled Storr. ‘I know what it’s like, remember? If their weapons did this to the boy, they’ll know both cause and cure – it’s obvious.’

  ‘What makes you think you can talk to them?’ demanded Penley. ‘They killed Arden!’

  ‘They were afraid! You said yourself that he’d set up some scientific gear or other – they probably thought he was going to attack them! Why shouldn’t they defend themselves? I would!’

  ‘But the boy isn’t one of their kind!’ Penley replied. ‘He’s human – one of us!’

  ‘When I explain that he’s not a scientist, they’ll understand.’

  ‘Wait!’ Penley cried. ‘At least try to—’

  He never completed the sentence. A single brutal blow from Storr’s encased arm knocked him to the ground unconscious. Storr crouched by him long enough to make sure the damage was only temporary. Grunting, ‘Peace at last’ he began his preparations for the journey to the glacier.

  In the engine room of the spaceship, Zondal was making a critical report to his commander.

  ‘All fuel has degenerated beyond use,’ the lieutenant stated grimly – ‘including emergency reserves.’

  ‘That would normally take thousands of years,’ whispered Varga. ‘The Earthlings were right.’

  ‘Without fuel, we are helpless!’ exclaimed Zondal. ‘We will never be able to break free from the ice!’

  ‘Is that what they fear, Zondal?’ the Martian warlord queried. ‘That our energy source could explode? If that is so – if they understand such physical principles – they may have developed a similar form of reactor!’

  ‘And they will have the fuel elements we need!’ agreed Zondal eagerly. ‘They must be made to give the fuel to us!’

  ‘That is where the girl will be of use,’ replied Varga. ‘She will give us information, and help us bargain for our needs…’

  ‘But she has not been found. Turoc has not yet returned.’

  ‘We have no time to waste,’ rasped his commander. ‘We must make other plans.’ He looked through into the control room, and made an instant decision. ‘Zondal’ – he commanded – ‘unship the sonic cannon!’ The cruel laughter coughed from his armoured throat. ‘The Earthlings will not argue with that!’

  Outside the excavated cave, Storr paused in amazement. To tear a whole cave out of the guts of the glacier – that had taken some doing! He moved forward stealthily until he was inside the cave and within sight of the metal door. The place was deserted. Skirting its perimeter he paused in a side cave, struggling to think of the best way to make contact – he didn’t intend falling into a trap laid for visiting scientists!

  Suddenly, he heard a distant, plaintive voice, human and female, crying for help! As the faint cry was repeated, he realised that it wasn’t coming from the metal door, or from the main cave itself, but from within the glacier. Catching sight of a tunnel-like gap in the darkest shadows of the cave in which he was standing, he moved towards its entrance and listened again. Yes, it was a woman’s voice – a girl’s!

  ‘Help…!’ came a desperate cry. ‘Help me…!’

  It was unlikely to be a trap, set so far away from the alien’s spaceship, and the cry itself sounded genuine enough. Besides, if it was the girl, perhaps she could tell him more about these unearthly creatures, before he confronted them. The glacier shuddered, and he saw he’d have to act quickly. Dodging the fragments of ice that fell spasmodically, he hurried towards the calling voice.

  The sound was closer now; and as Storr emerged into a tunnel almost filled with ice debris, he saw Victoria, gesturing towards her wrist. Clamped round it was a metallic fist, which was holding her prisoner! As more fragments of ice rained upon them, Storr worked quickly to force the alien’s iron grip apart. Victoria looked at him hopefully.

  ‘Can you get me free?’ she pleaded.

  ‘What happened?’ Storr was finding the job more difficult than he thought, with only one arm in use.

  ‘I ran away,’ explained Victoria. ‘He’d just grabbed me when the roof fell, and crushed him.’

  Storr flicked a puzzled glance at the girl’s face. ‘Why run away?’

  It was Victoria’s turn to look surprised. ‘The warriors – they’re evil!’ she exclaimed. ‘They killed Arden – they want to destroy the Base, too, I think!’

  Storr paused, suddenly interested. ‘They’re against the scientists then!’

  ‘I tried to tell them about the Ioniser – but they seem to think that it’s some kind of weapon of destruction!’ Storr’s eyes turned fiercely upon her.

  ‘That’s just what it is!’ he growled. ‘It’ll destroy the whole of civilisation!’ His face was fanatical.

  ‘But the Ioniser is meant to hold back the ice!’

  The ragged pirate gave her a fierce glance, then pulled her free of the crevasse and the Ice Warrior.

  ‘Come on,’ he said, leading the way back to the main cave. ‘We’ve got no time to lose!’

  Victoria pulled at his arm, urgently. ‘Not that way!’ she cried. ‘The Ice Warriors—!’

  ‘You want to help your young friend, don’t you?’ demanded Storr. Victoria stared at him, then almost laughed with relief.

  ‘Jamie?’ she cried. ‘You know where he is? Is he hurt?’

  Her face fell at Storr’s reply.

  ‘He’s desperately ill. I was going for help when I heard you—’

  ‘Help?’ asked Victoria, confused. ‘Here?’

  ‘From the aliens in that spaceship,’ Storr told her, then, seeing her fear, went on. ‘We’ll be all right – they’ll listen to me. I’m against the scientists, like they are – so we’ve got something in common for a start!’

  ‘You don’t know what you’re doing!’ cried Victoria, trying to draw back. ‘No – I won’t go to them! They’ll kill me!’

  Storr was in no mood for argument. Grasping Victoria’s arm, he bundled her brutally along the ice tunnel, and away from the imminent avalanche. ‘They’re against Clent and his sort and the Ioniser – that’s good enough for me!’ he growled. ‘And if you stay here, you’ll die anyway! Come on!’

  Victoria followed Storr out to the safety of the main cavern. But there they stopped – abruptly. Facing them, guns at the ready, were Varga and his warriors – and they looked anything but friendly. Storr, seeing them for the first time, at last understood why Penley and Victoria had been afraid. Fearsome brutes, no doubt about that – but what allies they would make against the scientists! Varga stepped closer to Victoria and spoke, his voice harsh.

  ‘Where is Turoc?’ he demanded.

  Aware how close she and Storr were to death, Victoria answered weakly, ‘He was crushed to death… by the ice.’ She sensed Varga’s rising anger, and quailed before it. ‘It wasn’t my fault!’ she cried.

  ‘I gave you your life,’ the warlord hissed venomously, ‘but you ran away. Because of that, one of my men is dead!’ He gestured to Isbur, the warrior closest to the girl. ‘Take her inside!’

  Victoria didn’t resist – there was no point. But as she entered the spaceship’s gleaming airlock, Isbur’s fist upon her arm, she threw Storr one last anguished look.

  With a broad smile, Storr extended his hand to the Ice Warrior. The gesture was ignored.

  ‘Identify yourself!’ rasped the alien l
eader.

  ‘My name’s Storr,’ stated the hunter pleasantly. ‘I’m a scavenger – a Loyalist!’

  Varga was interested – Storr could see that. ‘You are from the Base?’ the Martian whispered keenly.

  ‘No fear! I’m against the scientists! They’re devils, the lot of them!’

  ‘Then you know nothing of their machines?’

  ‘I don’t want to! They’re out to destroy our world – and I want to help you destroy them! I’m on your side!’

  It was Zondal who spoke now, as Varga lost interest. ‘What good are you to us?’

  ‘I know the land here – lived here all my life. I can help you!’ But he had seen Varga’s chilling response, and knew the truth at last.

  ‘You are not a scientist…’ uttered the warlord, coldly, ‘therefore you are useless and unnecessary.’ He gave a nod – and Storr crumpled before him, scythed down by the sonic guns.

  ‘Now to question the girl…’ Varga whispered hoarsely, and turned back towards the spaceship.

  Clent turned from studying the Ioniser monitors to find Miss Garrett standing at his shoulder. Her face was tense as she passed him a seismic print-out. ‘The glacier is moving again!’

  Clent drew in a sharp breath. ‘The fifth surge today,’ he exclaimed, and moved across to the electronic wall chart that marked the glacier’s grim progress. ‘The Ioniser isn’t holding it…’

  ‘We’re down to half power,’ Jan pointed out nervously. ‘We daren’t go above that level…’

  Clent’s features tightened with anger. ‘If only we knew what was inside that spaceship. Until we do, we’re helpless!’

  Because of the one missing factor, they couldn’t put their problem to ECCO, the all-knowing computer; Clent had not even notified World Control – for him, an unprecedented omission.

  ‘We must decide soon,’ insisted Jan.

  ‘Not until we know the facts, Miss Garrett!’

  ‘Supposing the Doctor fails?’ she demanded. ‘Suppose we never find out?’

  ‘We’ll face that when we have to.’

  ‘But we must be prepared! There has to be a contingency plan if everything else goes wrong!’