Doctor Who_ Tenth Planet Part 2

Schultz checked the verniers again. 'Nope. It's four, three, two.'

For a moment, the other astronaut's composure broke. 'Ah, come on man, it can't be. Try again.'

'O.K.' He manipulated the small telescope again.

'And get a move on. We'll be back in the sunrise shortly.'

Schultz glanced out of the corner of his eye at the younger man. 'Take it easy, Glyn. We've time.'

For a moment Williams struggled with his feelings and then, leaning forward slightly to speak into the mike to Snowcap base, he became the impersonal, all-systems-go astronaut.

'Did you hear that conversation?'

Dyson's voice came through on the loudspeaker. 'Yes, Colonel. We're getting a Mars fix, too. We'll call back.'

'O.K.' Williams nodded and tried relaxing back; into his scat. 'I guess it's just...' he began, turning his, head to Schultz. But his eye suddenly caught something rigid and fixed in the older man's stance as he twisted round to look through the telescope.

'Glyn?'

'Yes?' Williams felt a sudden p.r.i.c.kle of fear. A new, grim note had crept into the astronaut's voice. If there was one man in the whole s.p.a.ce establishment who never allowed the slightest emotion to show, it was the veteran Schultz.

'Now take it easy, but...'

'For Christ's sake what is it?' Williams flared.

The older man turned round, eyes wide, face tautened. 'That wasn't Mars I had...'

'Is that all?' Williams forced himself to relax. 'Well that explains it, doesn't it? C'mon, try again.'

Without turning, the other man slowly shook his head. 'No, listen, Glyn-there's something else out there.'

'Something else? What?'

'Another planet.'

'Another... That's crazy! How can there be?'

For answer, Dan Schultz swung the telescope over to Williams' side on its hinged arm.

The younger man grabbed it and studied the object Schultz indicated through the capsule window. After a long minute, he slowly pushed the telescope aside, and turned to the veteran astronaut. 'You're right, Dan. There is something there. I can't see it properly, but it reads as if it were in orbit between Mars and Venus.'

Schultz nodded. 'That's it. You know, somehow-I just can't put my finger on it-but it looks kinda familiar.'

Their conversation was interrupted by the harsh sunlight of s.p.a.ce entering through the windows. They squinted and turned their eyes away from the bright light. 'Came the dawn!' Schultz frowned.

'Yeah,' Williams nodded. 'We've had any further observations for a bit.' He turned back to the mike. 'h.e.l.lo Snowcap Snowcap. h.e.l.lo Snowcap Snowcap. We are now in dawn. Over San Francisco. Can you get this object from where you are?'

'You are very faint. Put up the power output, please,' replied Barclay.

Williams leant forward and spoke almost directly into the mike. 'Can you get this object on your retinascope?'

'Can do,' replied Barclay's voice.

Williams' eyes suddenly became fixed on another dial close to the mike. 'Hey, Dan, look at this, will ya? That's odd ! '

'Yeah.' Schultz turned round and followed the line of Williams' pointing finger.

'Our fuel cells are showing a power loss. A pretty sharp drop.'

The two men looked at each other anxiously.

'What the h.e.l.l's happening here?'

3 The New Planet

The tracking station room was buzzing with anxious conversation. Some of the men were glued to the TV screen; others feverishly monitored the signals sent back to Earth.

Barclay and Cutler abruptly left the dias and strode over to the operator of the base telescope.

'Have you got it yet?' questioned Barclay.

The technician shook his head.

The telescope screen was clearly visible to the Doctor, Ben and Polly from the observation room.

Cutler nudged the technician: 'Hurry it up, fella.'

Ben suddenly became aware that the Doctor was indulging in another favourite habit. His head was tilted back, his eagle eyes were staring at the television screen, his right hand was nervously stroking his cheek. It meant only one thing: the Doctor had an idea.

s.n.a.t.c.hing out a little notebook and pencil, the Doctor hastily scribbled something.

He finished and turned to the Sergeant standing beside him: 'Sergeant, give this to your General, will you?'

'Me?' The Sergeant looked startled. 'If you think I'd interrupt him at this time-you're crazy!'

'It may be vital. If you'll take me to the General, I'm sure I'll be able to help him.'

Recognising the note of command in the Doctor's voice, the Sergeant nodded and led them out of the observation room, and across to General Cutler, who was gazing at the television screen.

The round outline of the planet which had been picked up by the base telescope, although badly out of focus, was clearly visible.

Without taking his eyes off the screen, Cutler spoke through his clenched teeth, the cigar still sticking from the corner of his mouth: 'What is it?'

'The old guy would like a word with you, sir. Claims it's urgent.'

'O.K.' He beckoned the Doctor over. 'Make it fast.'

The Doctor stared at the white pulsating circle of light on the screen. 'I think I know what you're going to see.'

'Eh? How can you.' he snapped. The Doctor ripped a page out of his notebook.

'It's all down here.' He flourished the paper, but the General took no notice. Instead, Barclay took the paper from his hand. Suddenly, Dyson, who had been standing on the other side of the telescope, called out: 'Quick, we've got it!'

Several technicians scrambled over to look at the screen. The circular blob of light had cleared; its outlines were sharp; they could make out an object somewhat like a golf ball in size, with light and shaded areas.

It's a planet all right,' said Dyson.

'How can it be?' Cutler cut in. 'Planets can't just appear from nowhere. Mars is the nearest planet and it's way beyond this one.'

'It must be on an oblique orbit,' Barclay seemed to be almost speaking to himself.

'And approaching quite fast.' Dyson turned to the Australian. 'Of course, that's what's drawing off the capsule!'

Barclay nodded grimly. 'That's it all right. Zeus Four Zeus Four is out of orbit, and the new planet is influencing it.' 'That's about it.' Dyson nodded. 'It has to be.' 'We must get them down-quick.' is out of orbit, and the new planet is influencing it.' 'That's about it.' Dyson nodded. 'It has to be.' 'We must get them down-quick.'

'An emergency splash down?' Cutler, who had felt at a loss during the preceeding conversation between the more knowledgeable scientists, warmed to the prospect of action.

'Yes.' Barclay moved back to his console, and flicked the mike switch. ' Snowcap Snowcap to to Zeus Four Zeus Four, come in please. Do you read me?'

After the initial crackle of static from the speaker, Williams' voice came over faint but clear: 'Yes, we read you loud and clear now.'

'You are strength two only. Please speak up.' 'Our fuel cells show a power loss.'

'Power loss? How much?'

'The main banks are down approximately twenty per cent.'

Barclay now spoke loudly and deliberately into the mike. 'We are going to bring you down now.'

'We need co-ordinates to correct orbit.'

'Stand by.'

'What the h.e.l.l's going on anyway?'

'I don't know,' replied Barclay. 'Let's get you down here and find out later. O.K.?'

'Suits us,' answered the voice from s.p.a.ce.

The two astronauts in the capsule were sweating visibly from the strain. Barclay's voice came over the loudspeaker.

'Corrected co-ordinates are: zero, zero, four, eight two zero and eight two three...'

Williams began punching up the information. Leaning forward again, he shouted into the mounted microphone: 'Right. Now correct. Out.' He turned to his companion. 'Are you ready on alt.i.tude jets, Dan?'

Schultz twisted slightly and grasped two joystick controls. 'Ready.'

'Go.'

Schultz pressed the b.u.t.tons on the top of the joysticks; a metallic hissing roar came from outside the capsule-but the long bar of sunlight across their chests failed to s.h.i.+ft its position.

Williams studied the instruments. 'Again.'

Once more Schultz stabbed the controls. The two men heard the same hissing roar from outside the capsule as the retro jets fired. Then, abruptly, the long bar of sunlight flashed into their eyes, almost blinding them.

'Look!' exclaimed Schultz. Outside the windows, in the full glare of the sun, the blue and white earth seemed to be spinning round the capsule in a dizzying kaleidoscope of colour.

'We're tumbling!' shouted Schultz.

'Use the manual controls.'

For the first time in his career experience, Major Schultz seemed almost paralysed, unable to act. His hands shook uncontrollably as the capsule swung round and round, wildly tumbling through s.p.a.ce.

Williams put his broad hand on the other man's shoulder and gripped it. 'Come on, man, get with it.'

With an effort, Schultz shook his head, and snapped out of his momentary shock.

He gripped the two joysticks, and heaved hard on the controls. 'I can't. It's too much for me!'

Williams quickly freed himself from the retaining safety belt, leant over and, putting his hands beneath the other man's, added his greater strength to the effort. Gritting their teeth, they inched the controls back until, gradually, the lighthouse-like beam of the sun- which had all this time been revolving wildly across their faces-slowed down and finally stabilised.

Williams eased back into his seat, leaving Schultz holding the controls. Their faces were wet with sweat; their breath laboured almost to the limits of their endurance.

'What's going on?' Williams grunted, painfully forcing his lungs to draw in air. 'I feel absolutely clapped out.'

Schultz nodded, his face grey. 'Something's taking all the power out of my body.

What the heck's the matter now?'