Doctor Who: The Green Death by Malcolm Hulke Page B

the Brigadier. ‘This is only his secretary. Apparently he’s in a Cabinet meeting at the moment.’ Someone was speaking to him again on the phone and he listened intently. ‘Ah, that you, Minister? Listen, I’ve got an officer from UNIT here. He wants to speak to you.’ Dr Stevens handed the telephone across the desk to the Brigadier. ‘He’s all yours, Brigadier.’
    The Brigadier had no wish to speak to the Minister of Ecology at this moment, but now he had no choice. He’ took the telephone from Dr Stevens. ‘Good day, sir,’ he said. ‘This is Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart of UNIT speaking. I’m here at Llanfairfach, in Wales, to investigate certain mysterious deaths emanating from a disused mine. The unfortunate men who died first turned bright green. It seems to me that an inquiry is called for.’
    The Minister did not sound pleased. ‘Is that why you’ve phoned me in the middle of an important Cabinet meeting?’
    ‘I did not instigate the call,’ said the Brigadier. ‘It was made to you by the Director of Panorama Chemicals, in whose office I am now sitting.’
    ‘I don’t give a damn where you’re sitting,’ said the Minister. ‘Why do you want to tell me about an investigation into some deaths? That’s a matter for the police, or the local coroner. Have you gone out of your mind?’
    The Brigadier was now acutely embarrassed, since he realised that to the Minister he must sound like an idiot. However, he had to press on now that he’d been forced into speaking to the Minister. ‘There is, sir, the possibility that Panorama Chemicals may in some way be connected with these extraordinary occurrences.’
    This time the Minister’s tone was quite different. ‘You say Panorama Chemicals could be involved?’
    ‘It is possible, sir,’ said the Brigadier.
    ‘Hold on.’ The line went dead, because the Minister was cupping the mouthpiece of his phone while speaking to someone else. Then the Minister’s voice came back. ‘I have just had a word with the Prime Minister, Brigadier. I strongly suggest that you put yourself and UNIT at the disposal of the Director of Panorama Chemicals. He is in far the best position to know what to do.’
    The Brigadier felt humiliated, and had difficulty controlling his temper. ‘May I remind you, sir, that I answer to UNIT Supreme Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.’
    He realised that Dr Stevens was watching him closely and possibly gloating. ‘This may be a matter for world concern, for all I know—’
    The Minister cut in again: ‘Then let me put it to you another way, Brigadier. I have just consulted with the Prime Minister who is by my side. This country cannot afford to have an argument, or even the hint of a dispute, with Panorama or with any other multi-national corn-pan’ that’s good enough to have its plants here. If you annoy Panorama—or come to that, phone me again when we’re having a Cabinet meeting—I shall personally apply to UNIT Supreme Headquarters in Geneva for you to be posted to some other part of the world. Good day.’ The line went dead.
    The Brigadier put the phone back on its stand, and looked across the desk at Dr Stevens. ‘It seems you have very powerful friends.’
    Dr Stevens smiled. ‘I hope he didn’t give you too rough a time, but I did warn you.’ He got up and went across to a built-in wall cabinet and touched a heat button. The front of the cabinet slid open to reveal an array of bottles and glasses. ‘Care for some sherry? I’ve got something here made from re-processed whale glue.’
    The Brigadier rose to go. ‘Not for me, sir, thank you.’
    Dr Stevens turned and looked at the Brigadier. ‘You know, Brigadier, we’re not murderers. I’m as eager as you to prevent any further accidents. But I really don’t think they’ve got anything to do with my company.’
    ‘We never shall know unless there’s a full enquiry,’ said the Brigadier.
    Dr Stevens did not answer that directly. ‘Couldn’t