Doctor Who: The Green Death by Malcolm Hulke Read Free Book Online

tap on the door and a spare ascetic man in a white coat entered. ‘You wanted me, Dr Stevens?’
    ‘Our good friend the Brigadier needs our help,’ said Dr Stevens. ‘Apparently there’s been another accident in the mine.’
    The Brigadier swung round to greet Dr Bell. ‘Good afternoon, Doctor. We desperately need cutting equipment—oxyacetylene, that sort of thing, and we need it fast.’
    Dr Bell shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, Brigadier, but we have nothing of that kind here.’
    The Brigadier was astounded. ‘In an industrial undertaking of this size?’
    Dr Stevens also seemed most surprised. ‘But surely, Dr Bell, we should have all sorts of emergency equipment? What’s happened to it?’
    Dr Bell shrugged. ‘The emergency equipment was withdrawn some time ago, sir, to be replaced by thermic lances. They haven’t arrived yet.’
    ‘But that’s incredible,’ said Elgin. ‘I’m no technician, but I’m sure I saw oxyacetylene equipment in the stores only last week.’
    Dr Stevens gave him a hard piercing look. ‘As you said, you are no technician. I’m sure Dr Bell knows what he is talking about.’ He turned to the Brigadier and smiled. ‘You must think we are woefully ill-equipped.’
    ‘I do find it rather surprising,’ the Brigadier commented.
    Dr Stevens rose from his desk. ‘I hope you won’t accuse us of being deliberately obstructive, Brigadier.’ He took the Brigadier’s arm and started to propel him out of the office in a friendly way. ‘Have you thought of asking Professor Jones? Ah but no, I remember. They tried to borrow our equipment some weeks ago, so presumably they don’t have any themselves.’
    Dr Stevens led the Brigadier away, still talking. Elgin found himself staring at Dr Bell.
    ‘I can’t believe this,’ said Elgin. ‘We must have some sort of cutting tools here.’
    ‘I had given an exact account of the position,’ said Dr Bell. He spoke as though he had rehearsed the sentence.
    Elgin looked closely at Dr Bell. ‘Are you feeling all right?’
    ‘I feel perfectly well, thank you. ‘
    ‘But your voice,’ Elgin persisted. ‘It doesn’t sound like you .’
    ‘I must get on with my work,’ said Dr Bell. He moved towards the door.
    ‘No, hang on a moment. I think it’s time we had a chat about our revered Director, Dr Stevens.’
    Dr Bell paused by the door. ‘What about Dr Stevens?’
    Elgin had always liked Dr Bell and felt he could speak his mind to him. ‘It strikes me as odd how he wants to hush up the death of the miner who turned green. Is there something going on that no one’s told me?’
    ‘I cannot discuss our Director with you, Elgin.’
    ‘Elgin?’ Elgin went up close and looked Dr Bell in the eyes. ‘You always call me Mark. What’s the matter with you?’
    Dr Bell put his hand on the door handle, ready to go. ‘Your attitude will be reported. Disloyalty cannot be tolerated.’
    ‘Disloyalty?’ said Elgin. ‘You’re talking like a robot!’
    ‘The Director will hear of this,’ said Dr Bell. He turned the handle, opened the door, and marched off down the corridor.
    Elgin watched as Dr Bell went away. Even his walk seemed different. Elgin suddenly shivered. He felt most uneasy.
    ‘Are you scared?’ Bert’s voice was gentle.
    ‘I am a bit,’ said Jo. ‘What’s that creaking sound?’
    Bert listened. From the depths of the mine came a slight creaking noise. ‘That’s nothing,’ he said. ‘We say the old girl—the mine, that is—is snoring in her sleep. It’s the roof moving a bit.’
    Jo felt her knees shaking. ‘It’s going to fall in?’
    ‘Shall we say it’s trying to.’ He grinned. ‘That’s what all the props are for.’
    ‘Have you ever been trapped?’ she asked.
    He nodded, the beam of his helmet light playing up and down the mine wall as he moved his head. ‘Eight years ago next November. I’d just finished my snap—lunch, as you would call it. Then a section of the roof came down. We didn’t see