Doctor Who: The Rescue by Ian Marter Page B

listened to what you said and I understand the way you feel; but I suspect that you didn’t really mean all that about us wanting to take control, did you?’
    There was a brief pause and Vicki bit her lip and shook her head.
    The Doctor sat down agan. ‘Please come and sit down, Vicki. We mean you no harm. We want to help if we can.’
    Vicki turned. ‘Bennett says that when we reach Earth we must explain what they did to us here. He wants this planet obliterated. He says that Koquillion must not be allowed to escape punishment for what he did.’
    The Doctor sighed, his face etched with perplexity and concern. ‘Well, I agree with Bennett about Koquillion at least,’ he replied earnestly. It was clear that he was deeply troubled and puzzled by the inexplicable change in the behaviour of the planet’s inhabitants since his previous visit. ‘But as you are aware, I know a thing or two about Dido so don’t you think there is a chance that I might be able to help Mr Bennett deal with the situation a little more effectively?’
    Vicki gazed at the Doctor, her face calmer and her eyes disconcertingly direct and searching. The old man was impressed by her cautious dignity. she gave a slight smile and nodded.
    The Doctor beamed. ‘Splendid.’ He stood up briskly.
    ‘Now, let me talk to Mr Bennett and let’s see if we can sort something out. I promise I shall listen to what he has to say.’
    Vicki offered him her hand. ‘Come along, I’ll take you to him.’
    The Doctor clasped her thin hand between his own with a warm smile of reassurance and Vicki led him through the interior hatchway. The Doctor took a close interest in the complicated tangles of debris cluttering the intermediate compartment, muttering mysteriously to himself as he identified various items of equipment which lay twisted and scattered around them.
    ‘Thank you, Vicki, I can manage now...’ he said, releasing her hand, ‘Why don’t you pop out and keep an eye on Barbara and Ian for me? I don’t want them wandering off and getting themselves into hot water.’
    At first Vicki grinned, fascinated by the Doctor’s quaint manner and his odd expressions. Then her face darkened.
    ‘Barbara...’ she did not finish her sentence.
    The Doctor frowned and wagged his finger. ‘Now, now, Vicki. You’re not giving poor Barbara much of a chance,’
    he scolded.
    ‘She killed Sandy.’
    The Doctor grimaced and nodded. ‘If I were Barbara I should have done the same. She had no idea that the poor beast was harmless.’
    Vicki shook her head adamantly. ‘No, you have not the sort of face that... that kills...’
    ‘And Barbara has?’
    Vicki remained silent.
    ‘Barbara believed that you were in danger, Vicki. After all, Sandy was not a very benevolent-looking pet, was he?’
    Vicki tried to resist the Doctor’s gentle but persuasive argument. ‘No, I suppose not,’ she was forced to admit eventually.
    The Doctor put his hands on her shoulders. ‘Believe me, Sandy had a much quicker and more merciful death than the one which awaited him through starvation and cruel thirst,’ he said quietly. ‘Please try to understand what Barbara did and why. Will you try and do that?’ he asked gently. ‘For me?’
    Vicki thought for a moment, biting her lip at the painful memory of Sandy’s death. But at last she smiled and nodded. ‘Very well.’
    ‘Thank you,’ the Doctor murmured, pushing her gently but firmly through the hatch. Then he turned and clambered through the maze of wreckage towards the shutter leading to Bennett’s compartment.
    He found it slightly open. ‘Mr Bennett?’ he called.
    There was no answer.
    Gripping the edge of the panel, the Doctor threw all his weight against it. The panel slid a few more millimetres aside and then jammed fast.
    ‘You cannot come in!’ rapped a nasal, almost metallic voice.
    The Doctor pondered a moment, trying to assess what kind of man he was going to have to deal with. ‘I just want to have a word