Doctor Who And The Dalek Invasion of Earth

by Terrance Dicks

  Suddenly the bleeping stopped. The needle on the detonation dial became still, and the Doctor leaned on the canister for support as he drew a deep gasping breath...

  The Daleks finished their search of the Transport Museum and assembled outside. "There are no more rebels in the building," announced the patrol leader in confident tones. "We shall continue the search else-where."

  The Dalek patrol moved away, leaving behind them a pile of rubble which entombed one of their number and the rebel leader Dortmun.

  Inside the museum, Barbara and Jenny crept from the vintage corporation dustcart in which they'd been hiding. Although it was an unglamorous hiding place it had proved quite effective. The Daleks had searched all round the parked vehicles, but hadn't bothered to look inside any of them, perhaps not understanding the purpose of these alien machines.

  Barbara peered out of the still-open front door. "They've gone. But there's no saying they won't be coming back. We've got to get away from here."

  "How? With Dalek patrols everywhere, we'd be shot down as soon as we set foot in the streets."

  "Then we won't set foot." Barbara waved her hand. "With transport all around us, why should we have to walk?"

  Ignoring Jenny's protests that the whole scheme was crazy and would never work, Barbara started checking over the vehicles in the hall. Some were too clumsy and antiquated, others too slow, and she settled at last on the sturdy corporation dustcart in which they'd hidden.

  A search of the garage attached to the Museum produced tools, a foot-pump, and best of all, half a dozen cans of petrol under a tarpaulin. Soon Jenny was pumping up the dustcart's tyres while Barbara checked over the engine. She'd run her own little car in her teaching days, and had learned the basics of car-maintenance just to save on garage bills. Jenny collapsed, out of breath, and Barbara lowered the bonnet of the dustcart. "All right, let me take a turn."

  "What's the engine like?"

  "Fine as far as I can see. They're usually pretty well maintained in this sort of place. I imagine they used to drive them out occasionally, for parades and exhibitions."

  "Surely the Daleks are bound to hear when we start the engine?"

  Barbara stopped pumping, and gave the tyre an experimental kick. "There, that'll do." She disconnected the pump. "We'll just have to chance the noise. It'll still be better than walking."

  Jenny was pessimistic. "You realise we won't get very far in this old thing?"

  "Probably not," said Barbara patiently. "But at least it will give us a start out of London."

  "Anyway, do you even know the way to Bedfordshire."

  "Yes, of course..." Barbara hesitated. "At least, I used to.,

  "What does that mean?"

  "Things may have changed. I'm not sure how much damage the Daleks have done."

  "Just wait till you see it," said Jenny, with a kind of gloomy relish.

  Barbara sighed. There were times when she could have wished for a more cheerful companion. Once again her thoughts turned to Susan and the Doctor. What were they doing now? And Ian... What had happened to him?

  Crouched in an empty storeroom, Ian and Larry were talking in low voices. Both were tense and watchful. There had recently been a change in the note of the spaceship"s engines, and Ian was convinced they would soon be landing. Would they be in Bedfordshire as he hoped? More important, would they be able to get off the ship without being recaptured?

  Larry was talking about his missing brother Phil, and his determination to find out what the Daleks were doing. "Phil got himself sent to the mines on purpose. He reckoned if we knew what the Daleks were doing we'd stand a better chance of defeating them."

  Ian nodded abstractedly, his ears alert for more signs of a landing. "I suppose that makes good sense."

  "Phil sent back just one message from the mines. He'd worked out some kind of theory... he reckoned the Daleks were drilling to reach the magnetic core of the Earth..."

  A sudden jolt sent them reeling across the storeroom, and Ian lost interest in Larry's brother and his theories. "We're down," he said excitedly. "Now - how do we get out of here?"

  Larry nodded towards the corner of the room, where there was the usual disposal chute. "Only one way out. Through there. As soon as we get out, make for cover. I'll go first."

  Larry moved over to the chute, but Ian moved in front of him. "You realise we've no idea what's out there?"

  Larry pushed him aside. "Only one way to find out."

  He flung open the hatch cover, swung his legs over the edge, and was immediately sucked away by the powerful down-draft. Ian hesitated for a moment. But Larry was right, there was no alternative. They'd never make it down the ramp. He swung his legs over the hatchway and followed Larry. Immediately the suction swept him away. He was whizzing through darkness, sliding down what felt like a giant drain pipe. Suddenly the pipe came to an end and Ian found himself flying through open air. He landed with a thump on solid ground. rolled over on his shoulder and came up running, heading for the shelter of a clump of bushes ahead. He flung himself into the midst of them - and landed on top of Larry, who'd obviously followed exactly the same route.

  As soon as he had his breath back, Ian gasped, "Where do you reckon we are? Is it Bedfordshire?"

  Larry parted the bushes. "Take a look."

  Ian peered through the leaves, and gasped in astonishment. The saucer had landed on what looked like the biggest mining area in the world, an immense muddy valley torn out of what had once been wooded English countryside. It was dotted with mine shaft entrances at regular intervals. There were earth moving machines all around, some of Dalek origin, others obviously commandeered from the humans. Rows and rows of little shacks dotted the site, giving it the air of a mining camp in gold-rush days. A gleaming metal pylon dominated the area, with beside it, a crater like an extinct volcano.

  The enormous site was swarming with activity. Slave workers trudged to and fro in long lines, guarded by metal-helmeted Robomen with whips and guns. Here and there Daleks glided up and down on tours of inspection. Ian felt a new respect for Larry's missing brother and his theories. The Daleks were engaged in some colossal undertaking. Surely it held the answer to the mystery of their presence on this planet - and, perhaps, the key to their defeat. He turned to Larry. "You'll have quite a job, finding your brother in this lot."

  "I'm going to have a darned good try. Come on, let's get on to the site. With any luck we can mingle with the slave workers."

  Making no attempt at concealment, Larry started marching across the site. Ian trudged beside him, hoping they looked like a couple of industrious workers on some errand for the Daleks. They certainly looked as ragged and hungry as the rest of the slaves.

  They reached the shelter of a huge excavating machine and paused to survey the activity around them. "If we can get a chance to grab one of these blokes going by," whispered Larry, "we can ask him for news of my brother."

  The familiar hated tones of a Dalek voice rang out. "Section Beta Zero. Parade for Robotisation selection at hut thirty."

  "I think we ought to find better cover," muttered Ian. "There's a bit too much going on round here."

  A voice spoke from behind them. "And who are you two?" They whirled round. A thin-faced middle-aged man had just come round the other corner of the excavator. He was as ragged-looking as the rest of the slave workers, but at the same time he had an air of natural authority about him. He looked at them impatiently, waiting for their answer.

  Larry looked defiantly at him. "Never mind about us. Who are you?"

  "My name's Wells. I'm a section leader. Why aren't you with your work detail? It makes trouble for all of us if you dodge your share of work." They didn't reply, and he looked more closely at them. "Escaping, are you? I suppose you know there are Robomen just the other side of this machine?" He reached under the machine and grabbed a pile of picks, tossing some to Ian and Larry. "Grab these - and leave the talking to me."

  A Roboman appeared round the side of the
machine. He stopped, looked searchingly at them and spoke in the familiar slurred voice. "Who are these two men?"

  "I took them from a work detail," said Wells quickly. "I needed them to collect more tools."

  "Which work detail?"

  Wells waved an arm vaguely. "I don't know, somewhere over there."

  Ian and Larry stood quite still as the Roboman came closer and looked at them with his dead eyes. "They must attend for Robotisation."

  Wells shook his head. "They're needed on their work details. I'll take them back with me."

  "No. They must attend." The Roboman moved closer to Ian. "Why do you wait? Move!"

  Slowly, very slowly, Ian and Larry began walking away. The Roboman turned to Wells. "You. Come here."

  Slowly Wells walked across to him. As soon as Wells was close enough, the Roboman swung his arm in a brutal arc, clubbing Wells to the ground with the butt of his gun. Wells collapsed face down in the mud, moaning and clutching his head.

  Emotionlessly the Roboman said, "In future, refer all decisions to your masters."

  Ian ran across to Wells and helped him to his feet. After a second's hesitation, Larry ran to join him. Between them they got Wells to his feet, blood streaming from a gash in his forehead.

  The Roboman suddenly realised what was going on. "What are you doing?"

  Ian said furiously, "You can't just leave him like this."

  "Do not disobey orders."

  "Get some other orders!" said Ian contemptuously. Between them Ian and Larry took Wells across to the shelter of the nearest hut.

  The Roboman stood quite still, and made no attempt to pursue them.

  They laid Wells on the table, and Ian wiped away the blood with his handkerchief. After a moment Wells struggled to sit up. "I'm O.K. Sorry I got you into that - it was all I could think of."

  "We should be thanking you," said Ian. He ran over to the window and looked out. The Roboman was still standing quite still. Then he nodded his head abruptly, as if in response to some unheard voice. Gun at the ready, he began marching towards the hut.

  The Roboman stepped through the doorway. Wells was sitting on the table, and Larry stood beside him. That was the last thing the Roboman saw. Ian stepped from behind the door and clubbed him down with a savage swing of his pickhandle.

  Wells got shakily to his feet. "We'll have to get out. The Daleks always know when a Roboman is attacked. It cuts off the radio-link. Pick up some tools and try to mingle with one of the working parties. This place is so big there's a chance they'll lose you in the crowd."

  Ian nodded and picked up a couple of picks, passing one to Larry.

  "What about you?"

  "I know a good hiding place not far away. I've got to stay in the area, I'm meeting Ashton here later."

  "Someone important?" Ian guessed that Wells was one of the leaders of whatever resistance movement existed in the mines.

  "Ashton's a rat," said Wells dispassionately. "He smuggles in extra food, and sells it to us for whatever we can raise - rings, jewels, anything people have got hidden away. He's useful, though. That extra food has saved quite a few lives." He looked curiously at Ian. "I still don't know about you two. Are you trying to break out?"

  Ian grinned. "Believe it or not, we're breaking in. Larry here's looking for his brother, and I'm looking for a friend of mine. I want to take a look around as well, see what the Daleks are up to."

  "You must be mad," said Wells simply.

  "Maybe. Look, whatever happens we'll want to get out of here sooner or later. Will this Ashton smuggle us back to London?"

  "Maybe - for a price. Meet me back here when it gets dark - should be safe again by then. I'll tell you what he says."

  Ian shouldered his pick. "Right, we'll see you later. Come on, Larry, it's time to go down the mine."

  All three slipped quietly out of the hut. They trudged through the mud and attached themselves to a file of slave workers heading towards one of the mine entrances. No one seemed to notice them. Ian guessed that the sheer scale of the enterprise made it impossible for the Daleks to keep tabs on all their slaves.

  As they headed into the darkness of the mine, Ian suddenly wondered what on earth he was doing. Larry had a definite mission - to find and rescue his brother. But Ian had only the vaguest of plans. First he wanted to look for the Doctor. Knowing the old chap"s insatiable curiosity, Ian thought it was a fair bet that the Doctor would come to see what the Daleks were up to. And if he didn't find the Doctor, he'd gather as much useful information as he could, then return to London and take up the search for his companions there. As a scheme it was somewhat on the vague side. But Ian felt a curious sense of excitement as he trudged into the darkness. Somewhere in the depths below lay the secret of the Dalek invasion of Earth. If he could find out what it was, he might yet have a hand in their defeat...

  9: Dangerous Journey

  Barbara swung the starting handle of the dustcart. The engine coughed, spluttered, then began to turn over. She withdrew the handle and climbed behind the wheel. Jenny finished flinging back the main doors and jumped in the cab beside her. Slowly the dustcart rum-bled out of the museum where it had stood for so many years.

  As they came into the street, Jenny glanced briefly at the pile of debris covering Dortmun. A single hand projected from the rubble... she looked hurriedly away. "I wonder why he did it?"

  Barbara drove cautiously through the empty streets. "Mostly because he just wouldn't give up."

  "It was senseless," said Jenny harshly. "He threw his life away."

  "Depends how you look at it, doesn't it?"

  "You've got some romantic idea about this resistance business, haven't you? There's nothing heroic about dying uselessly."

  "Does it occur to you that Dortmun sacrificed him-self to save us , to draw off the Dalek attack? If he hadn't we probably wouldn't be alive now!"

  They drove on in silence for a while. Suddenly Jenny shouted, "Look out - Dalek!" A Dalek had appeared at the end of one of the side turnings. Barbara put her foot down, and the Dalek disappeared from view as they sped past.

  Jenny looked back nervously. "Do you think it saw us?"

  "Even if it didn't it must have heard the noise."

  "Then we're really in for trouble. It'll send a message ahead..."

  Barbara increased speed. "We'll worry about that problem when we come to it."

  They came to it very quickly. A turn in the road revealed a line of Daleks stretched across their path. "What shall we do?" shouted Jenny. "Jump for it?"

  Barbara stamped on the accelerator. "No! Hold tight, I'm going through!"

  Roaring and rattling, the old dustcart sped straight for the line of Daleks, scattering them like skittles. Barbara was vaguely conscious of hitting one head-on, sending it flying through the air. The dustcart lurched as she ran over another one, crushing it beneath the heavy wheels. A Dalek blast sizzled past the open window and then they were through, the line of Daleks scattered in confusion behind them. One or two blasts were fired after them, but Barbara swung the dustcart round a corner and they were safely out of sight. Jenny was bouncing exultantly in her seat. "We went straight through them, we went straight through them!"

  Barbara smiled in satisfaction. "I enjoyed it too. We can't go on much longer in this thing though. They'll really be after us now."

  On the flight deck of the Dalek spaceship, a message was received from central ground control. "Rebels travelling north in motorised vehicle. Have broken through Dalek cordon. You will intercept this vehicle and destroy!"

  "I obey. Give position of rebel vehicle." The saucer prepared for take-off.

  They were driving along a quiet country lane when suddenly a low droning filled the air. Jenny stuck her head out of the open window and craned her neck to gaze up above. "It's the Dalek saucer, coming in low l"

  Barbara nodded, grim-faced. "All right. Jump for it Jenny - now! I'll follow you."

  Jenny flung open the door and jumped, rolling over an
d over on the dusty road. Barbara saw thankfully that the road stretched dead straight ahead of them. She decreased speed slightly, adjusted the steering wheel carefully, then opened her door and jumped clear... She rolled over as she hit the ground, flinging herself desperately to the side of the road.

  High above in the control room of the Dalek ship, a scanner showed the old vehicle trundling along the lane like some bright orange bug. The Dalek commander said, "Target located. Destroy!" Another Dalek reached out and touched a control...

  A ray shot from the hovering ship and bathed the dustcart in a glow of light. Seconds later it exploded in a cloud of flame and smoke.

  The Commander sent a message back to central control. "The rebel vehicle has been located and destroyed."

  The Dalek ship glided higher and sped on its way back to the mines.

  From the roadside ditch, Jenny and Barbara looked regretfully at the blazing remains of the dustcart. Both had jumped clear at the last possible moment. It was Barbara's hope that the Daleks would believe they had died in the flames and call off the hunt. She got to her feet. "Come on, Jenny, time to move. It's still a long way to Bedfordshire."

  Susan tramped wearily along behind David, wrinkling her nose at the ripe mixture of smells that floated up from the murky waters below. They were following the course of the main sewer, walking along a sort of tow-path beside an underground canal.

  "David," she called. "Can't we rest for a moment?" David's heart softened at the weariness in her face. "Yes, of course we can."

  Susan sank thankfully to the ground. "How long do we stay down these sewers?"

  "Just as long as we can. It's smelly, but its safe!" Something tinkled by Susan's foot and she held it up. "Look - a cartridge case."

  David took it and examined it. "Could be Robomen - though they don't usually come down here."

  "Some of your friends then?"

  "Not necessarily. We're not all allies, you know. There are people about who just think of their own survival. They'd kill you for a few scraps of food." David tapped his rifle. "This isn't too much use against Daleks, but it will keep anyone else away."