Ian said, "Naturally we like and admire him. But he is a stranger to you. You must make up your own mind.'
"I agree. But the key? The final key? Do you have it?'
"Yes.'
"Ian!' whispered Susan in alarm.
"I have it here,' said Ian, ignoring her.
"Throw it down.'
Ian dug in his pocket and took out the key. He examined it for a moment then tossed it at Arbitan's feet.
"Good. Now bring the old man to me. Sabetha will be here and we can enjoy our triumph.'
"He's on the glass beach,' lied Ian quickly. "We'll fetch him.' He motioned to Susan and they hurried from the room.
After they had left the hooded figure picked up the key. A Voord materialised from the shadows.
"Shall I follow and destroy them?'
"No. The Machine will enslave them. Bring Sabetha and the young man to me. I want them here when the last key is inserted and my'power is absolute.'
The Voord bowed and left. Yartek leaped from his chair. Holding the key aloft, he laughed a high-pitched girlish giggle, and began to caress the side of the machine.
Ian and Susan stopped in the corridor at a safe distance from the Archive Room.
"He wasn't Arbitan,' whispered Susan, "He couldn't have been.'
"Right. We know Arbitan sent Altos in search of the keys. This one is saying Altos is a stranger. That's why he kept in the shadows all the time. I thought it was odd.'
"Why did you give him the key?'
Before Ian could reply there was a cry and Barbara came running towards them, distraught.
"The Voords have captured the Doctor,' she gasped. "They're everywhere!'
Ian grabbed the two women and pulled them into an alcove. Seconds later a phalanx of Voords marched past. When they were safely gone Barbara continued her story. She had followed the Doctor's captors as far as she could. He had been led underground, to a dungeon she thought. Ian asked her to retrace her steps and the three of them hurried off.
The Doctor had in fact been placed in the same cell as Sabetha and Altos. He had listened with growing concern to their story, of Arbitan's murder and of the Voord invasion.
"If Yartek gets the final key his power will be absolute.'
Altos nodded. "With the aid of the machine he could control us all.'
The Doctor tugged at his chin thoughtfully. "Our impulse to leave this planet would be destroyed.'
"That is true,' said Sabetha. The Doctor could not see her face in the dark but the dead tone of her voice re-minded him of all she had been through that day.
They were interrupted by a key in the lock. The door swung open and a Voord stepped inside. He motioned them to their feet.
Then things happened very rapidly. There was a blur of movement in the doorway, the sound of a violent blow, and the Voord chopped to the floor like a stone. Ian, looking flushed, stepped over the prostrate guard and greeted the astonished trio. Behind him came Barbara and Susan. Barbara slipped across to Sabetha and Altos and hacked them free with the knife she was carrying.
"You know about Arbitan!' barked the Doctor.
Ian nodded. "We met the man who is taking his place.'
"Give me the key, Chesterton, we must destroy it.'
"Ian gave it to him,' said Susan.
"What?' The Doctor thrust his nose against Ian's face. "You gave it away?'
Ian laughed nervously. "I gave hima key. Do you remember that fake key? Barbara, you found it on top of that idol.'
"Of course I remember.'
"Well that's the one I gave him. Here's the genuine one.' He held up the micro-circuit.
The Doctor's face creased into a broad smile. "Chesterton, I congratulate you.'
Sabetha addressed them urgently. "We must go. Quickly. Leave the building!'
"Why?' asked Ian.
Altos took his arm. "Yartek may put that false key into the Conscience any moment. It will bring the machine back to life, but once it feels the full force of power it will break under the strain.'
Ian stared at him in horror. "You mean the machine will blow up?'
Altos nodded. "And everything inside the building with it.'
The Doctor was the first to move. "Come on,' he yelled, "The wall-doors. It's our only chance.' They tumbled out of the cell and ran towards the upper levels of the City.
"Somewhere here,' panted the Doctor as he reached the spot where he had "fallen' through the wall.
"It was a small stone. It moved under my hand.'
As they scoured the wall like blind men a Voord observed them silently from behind a pillar. A moment later the Voord entered the Archive Room. Yartek leaped angrily to his feet. "Why haven't you obeyed my commands?' he hissed. "Where is Sabetha?'
"The others have set them free. They are in the upper corridor.' The guard trembled beneath Yartek's hideous gaze.
"She has told them of her father's death of course.' Yartek glanced down at the micro-key in his hand. A smile illuminated his lurid features. "The machine's power will spread through the planet. There is no escape. Except for us.' He turned slyly to the guard and waved the key in the air. "I shall bring them back with this.'
He moved triumphantly towards the Machine, his bulbous eyes gleaming with exaltation. A lifetime's ambition was about to be realised. Years of patient scheming had brought Yartek to the threshold of absolute power. Within a few minutes he would control the machine, become master of Marinus, manipulator of all men's thoughts and actions, sole arbiter of good and evil, the undisputed, unassailable, untouchable god-head! He inserted the last key and stepped back.
The gleaming, crystalline structure began to hum and quiver like a glass bell. A red glow appeared at the centre, growing in intensity as the humming sound grew louder. Then, spokes of purple light radiated outwards along the delicate metal connectors until the entire structure blazed like a giant catherine wheel. Suddenly, the entire machine burst apart with the force of an exploding sun. In one millionth of a second Yartek's flesh was seared to the bone, and the bone reduced to ash. The room, the guard, and two hundred feet of surrounding masonry were simply scorched out of existence within the blink of an eye.
As Susan's fingers discovered the small indentation in the wall operating the hidden doorway there was an incredible explosion. The five travellers were hurled to the floor, buffeted by a wave of hot air which swept down the corridor. Seconds later, accompanied by a great roar, the roof began to collapse above them.
"Out! All of you,' yelled the Doctor as the door in the wall swung open. Stone debris rained down on them and swirling dust choked their lungs. One by one they scrambled through and emerged bruised and bewildered into the warm, night air. They hurried across the plateau and into the rocky terrain which led to the beach and the TARDIS. Behind them the pyramid city rumbled ominously. Large cracks zigzagged across the outer walls like scurrying lizards.
As they reached the safety of the shore, the earth began to shudder and, turning, they saw the apex of the pyramid topple. A tremendous spout of fire shot into the sky like a volcanic eruption. Molten rock cascaded down the outer walls and within minutes the entire edifice was a raging inferno, illuminating the heavens for miles around.
13: Final Goodbyes
"Everything alright, Grandfather?'
The Doctor appeared in the doorway of the TARDIS and gave Susan a sharp look. "Go and hurry the others, will you?' he said.
Susan smiled to herself. The Doctor hated admitting that his capricious Time-Ship gave him trouble.
The Doctor waited until Susan was out of earshot, then turned to Sabetha. "I'm glad of this little moment alone with you,' he said gently. "You don't mind if I speak about your father?'
Sabetha shook her long blonde hair. "Please.'
The Doctor took her hand. "He was a wise and courageous man. His death must have been a great shock to you and the rest of your people.'
Sabetha nodded sadly. "His life's work has been destroyed.'
"No. I
wouldn't say that. Your father's work will go on. Not in the same way, of course. I don't believe men were made to be controlled by machines, my child. You see, a machine can make laws but it cannot preserve justice. Only human beings can do that.' He tilted her chin. Sabetha looked into his laughing, friendly eyes. "Now it's up to you and Altos to carry on the good work,' he said. "Goodbye, my child, and bless you.' He turned and entered the TARDIS.
Sabetha pondered on the Doctor's words. There was hope and comfort in them. It was as if he knew what the future held for her. She felt calm and reassured.
Altos appeared with Susan, followed by Barbara and Ian.
"What will you both do now?' asked Susan, pausing beside the TARDIS door.
Altos glanced across at Sabetha and took her arm. "Return to the city of Millenium.'
Sabetha nodded. "We have our travel dials and it would be a good place to start.' She thought of the Doctor's words a few moments before.
"What about this key?' said Ian. "The one I didn't give to Yartek.'
"Why don't you present it to the Doctor?' suggested Altos.
Ian looked at the small intricate piece of plastic in his hand and thought of the hardships it had caused. It was a bittersweet momento.
"Alright,' be said. "I will.' He felt easier leaving it in the Doctor's possession, even if it was quite useless.
"Goodbye, Barbara, Susan, Ian,' said Altos. The men shook hands, while the girls embraced.
"Look after her, Altos,' said Barbara.
The young Marinian looked lovingly at Sabetha and smiled. "You may rely on that.'
Altos and Sabetha watched as Ian and the two girls climbed into the strange blue box. Seconds later a white light started to flash on top, accompanied by a mysterious groaning noise. Then, gradually the rectangle of blue faded away in front of their eyes and they were alone on the empty beach.
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