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

equipment from Panorama only a fortnight ago?’
    Dave nodded. ‘They let me collect it and put it back myself. It’s in the storage shed at the back of the power house there.’
    Professor Jones turned back to the Brigadier. ‘You should have insisted.’
    ‘Should I?’ said the Brigadier, who did not take kindly to being told what to do by a stranger. ‘If I may repeat my question, are you connected with this mine in some way?’
    ‘This is Professor Jones,’ said Dave, with a touch of pride. ‘He’s come to live in the village.’
    ‘Professor Jones?’ said the Doctor, beaming and extending his hand. ‘I never realised. I’ve been wanting to meet you for a long time. Your paper on DNA synthesis was quite remarkable for your age.’
    Professor Jones took the Doctor’s remark as a slight rebuff for his being so young. ‘You regard me as, shall we say, a “promising youngster”?—not to be taken too seriously?’
    ‘No, no,’ said the Doctor. ‘I mean for the age you live in. I haven’t seen anything like that paper of yours since a fellow I met in Vladivostok in the year 2179.’
    Professor Jones and Dave Griffiths stared at the Doctor. ‘The year 2179?’ said Professor Jones. ‘You mean 205 years in the future?’ A smile played on the young professor’s lips. Clearly he thought the Doctor was mad.
    ‘Well, maybe it was the year 2168. Anyway, it doesn’t really matter. You’re a very remarkable young scientist, and it’s an honour to meet you.’
    The Brigadier cleared his throat, loudly. ‘Doctor, the matter at hand is the rescue of Miss Grant and the man she went with down the mine.’
    Professor Jones said, ‘Why don’t we go back to Panorama Chemicals and just take the equipment we need, by force if necessary?’
    ‘Hold on,’ said the Brigadier. ‘I can’t start a war with Panorama Chemicals! I’m supposed to be protecting them from demonstrators and possible sabotage! In fact, Professor Jones, I am supposed to be protecting them against you. Now, to be practical, where’s the nearest town where we could hire this stuff?’
    Dave said, ‘Newport, I imagine. But it’s quite a drive.’
    ‘Then I had better get started,’ said the Brigadier. ‘Exactly where in Newport?’
    ‘There’s a company I know of hire out all sorts of tools and equipment,’ said Dave. ‘What if I come with you? Might save time.’
    ‘I should be most grateful,’ the Brigadier accepted. ‘Doctor, we’ll be back as quickly as possible. I trust you will not involve yourself in anything between now and then that might possibly upset the status quo.’
    The Brigadier hurried out, followed by Dave Griffiths. A moment later the Doctor heard the jeep start up and tear away at high speed.
    ‘That army friend of yours,’ said Professor Jones. ‘He seems to be a great believer in law and order.’
    ‘Aren’t we all?’ asked the Doctor. ‘At least, when there is law and order to believe in.’ He picked up the cotter pin again and looked at it thoughtfully. ‘Who would have done a criminal thing like this?’
    ‘Certainly not one of the miners,’ said Professor Jones.
    ‘Exactly,’ said the Doctor. ‘Nor any of the other villagers because they are all related to miners.’ He looked up and smiled at the younger man. ‘People from the Wholeweal Community, perhaps?’ It was more of a joke than a serious question. ‘So, who else? And why?’ He scratched his chin. ‘You know, Panorama Chemicals is beginning to interest me. Do you know the layout there?’
    ‘Very well,’ said Professor Jones. ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking, Doctor?’
    Hinks was sitting back in his own little room in the security sector of the Panorama Chemicals building. There was nothing much to do, so he had made himself a cup of tea and was now reading one of his comics. He had a big collection of comics, mainly American, most of them full of pictures that told stories. He preferred pictures to words because he