Doctor Who: The Invasion by Ian Marter Read Free Book Online

they crept between the endless stacks of crates desperately seeking a likely route into the main building.
    Unknown to them, robot cameras in the roof were tracking their every movement and at the top of the tower block Tobias Vaughn was observing their progress on his nine monitors, chuckling with urbane amusement.
    All at once Packer's reedy voice whined out of the intercom on Vaughn's desk. 'Mr Vaughn, the Doctor and the boy are back again...
    Surveillance spotted them in the warehouse.'
    Vaughn laughed sarcastically. 'I wondered how long it would take your experts to notice our intruders, Packer. They've been entertaining me for at least ten minutes.'
    'I'll issue an alert, sir.'
    Vaughn sighed despairingly. 'Packer, do try to aspire to a modicum of subtlety,' he pleaded, wincing fastidiously. 'We need a sprat to catch our mackerel. Take the young ladies down to the warehouse and pop them in their coffins.'
    Smoothing back his sleek silver hair and adjusting the silk handkerchief in his breast pocket, Vaughn strode across to his private elevator and selected Ground Floor - Express. His keen mind considered the problem of the meddlesome Doctor and his mysterious circuits as he glided earthwards.
    When the elevator stopped, Vaughn had made his decision.
     
    'This place is like a maze,' Jamie complained as he and the Doctor threaded their way cautiously among the identical stacks, keeping their eyes skinned for any more boiler-suited Hercules.
    Suddenly they froze as two piercing screams echoed around the vast warehouse.
    'Zoe and Isobel!' Jamie hissed, pointing back towards the loading bay.
    Turning, they ran on tip-toe in the direction of the marshalling yard. Crouching in the shadows between the stacks, they watched as Packer supervised two men loading two containers into the last wagon of the train. Jamie gasped as he caught a glimpse of a fluttering string of feathers trapped between the lid and the rim of one of the metal cases.
    'Doctor... Zoe's in that crate!' he exclaimed, standing upright with fists clenched and pulse racing madly. 'Jamie, wait!' growled the Doctor, grabbing his arm.
    But the impulsive boy shook himself free and sprinted towards the wagons yelling at the top of his voice 'What have ye done with Zoe...!'
    The Doctor chewed the frayed edge of his cravat in anguish as he saw Packer whip round and snatch out a pistol as Jamie bore down on him. Springing into view, he scampered in pursuit, shouting to Jamie to stop behaving like an idiot.
    Two steel-helmeted guards armed with sten guns suddenly appeared between the wagons and Jamie stumbled to a halt. Turning, he saw two more guards appear behind the Doctor. It was hopeless.
    The two friends stood side by side panting for breath as the four guards closed in on them, slipping their safety catches. Packer's weak face lit up in cowardly triumph. 'Rats,' he hissed, strutting malevolently towards them. 'Rats in a trap.'
     
    As the guards forced their captives back towards the warehouse, Packer exulted in his victory. 'Don't you understand - this is private property, a restricted area,' he whined.
    'What have you done with Zoe and Isobel?' Jamie demanded savagely. 'We heard them screaming.'
    'Silence!' Packer snapped.
    'We saw the box with...'
    Packer lashed Jamie brutally across the face with his leather glove. 'I told you to be quiet.'
    The Doctor gasped with shock as Jamie staggered against him clutching his ear, with blood seeping from his nose.
    Before Packer could repeat the vicious blow, Vaughn's measured tones rang out. 'Packer, you really must try to curb this violent streak in your nature, though I admit the situation is a trifle provoking.'
    Flanked by two armed guards, the Director of International Electromatix strode towards them, wagging his finger at the Doctor.
    'You really are beginning to try our patience,' he chided menacingly.
    The Doctor cleared his throat with undisguised distaste. 'We came to look for two young friends of ours, Mr