squares. ‘I wish I knew, Jamie...’ he muttered. ‘One thing is obvious: the Dulcians are in great danger.’ He listened for a moment, then motioned Jamie to follow. ‘They’ve gone. Come on, we must get back to that survey module.’
In the module, Balan and Kando were watching Teel complete a complex graph on a computer screen, their faces registering increasing concern and incomprehension.
Eventually Teel turned to them. ‘It is not logical, but that is the statistical result. There has been a steady decrease in the radiation levels for the past 172 annos...
until now.’
They stared at the display. ‘Now it has suddenly vanished,’ Kando murmured. ‘It is not possible.’
Balan shrugged unhappily. ‘It has happened, therefore it is a fact,’ he informed the two young students. ‘We have discovered that the radiation effects from an atomic detonation endure for 172 annos.’
Teel’s fine, intelligent features puckered with doubt.
‘But what is the explanation?’ he demanded.
Educator Balan raised his hands, palms upwards, in typical Dulcian gesture of resignation. ‘No doubt our experts will explain,’ he replied complacently. ‘It is fruitless for us to seek reasons to prove facts. Facts are truth.’
Teel’s jaw jutted defiantly. ‘I submit that the survey unit must investigate this phenomenon,’ he insisted, springing to his feet. ‘The spacecraft that Kully reported...’
Angrily Bolan cut his pupil short. ‘There is no such craft, Teel. Nor are there any robots.’
‘Oh I wouldn’t bet on that if I were you!’
The three Dulcians spun round to see the Doctor and Jamie just emerging from the airlock.
‘Kully was right,’ the Doctor continued. ‘There is certainly an alien spacecraft and most definitely there are robots’
‘And you’re all in great danger,’ Jamie added earnestly.
Balan iguorcd these revelations. ‘Your friend Zoe is already at the Capitol and Director Senex will be awaiting your own arrival,’ he informed them. ‘Do not delay.’
The Doctor had caught sight of the graph still glowing on the computer screen. His eyebrows shot up in astonishment. ‘There you are!’ he cried excitedly. ‘Just look at that. You can’t ignore that!’
Swiftly Balan turned and cancelled the display. ‘Please, Doctor, do not waste any more time in this foolishness,’ he pleaded.
The Doctor stared furiously at Balan for several seconds.
‘Quite!’ he suddenly snapped. ‘Come along, Jamie, perhaps Director Senex will listen to us.’
Teel and Kando hurried across to prime the second capsule for launching, while Balan escorted the Doctor and Jamie to the launch tube and programmed the destination panel as they clambered aboard.
‘Capsule primed,’ Teel called out.
‘This will deliver you direct to the Capitol,’ Balan explained, ‘and the Director will see you at his convenience.’
‘The Director will see me at once ,’ the Doctor retorted as the canopy and access panel zipped shut.
With a hollow screaming noise the capsule shot out of sight along the tube.
Teel and Kando had been eagerly whispering together and they turned as Balan came back into the laboratory section. ‘Now perhaps we can continue with our proper work,’ the Educator sighed.
‘Willingly,’ Kando agreed, glancing covertly at Teel.
‘Permission to commence soil-core sampling?’
‘Granted,’ Balan replied.
Grabbing their equipment, the students almost rushed for the airlock.
‘Wait!’ Balan cried sharply. ‘I shall accompany you, to ensure that nothing distracts you from your tasks...’
Zoe had been wandering impatiently round and round the Council Chamber, now and then glancing hopefully at the wall through which Director Senex had disappeared seemingly hours previously. Kully was lying in his father’s chair, his grubby and bruised legs thrown casually over the arm, idly watching a thin trickle of sand running out of the side of his battered sandals.
‘Oh,
In the module, Balan and Kando were watching Teel complete a complex graph on a computer screen, their faces registering increasing concern and incomprehension.
Eventually Teel turned to them. ‘It is not logical, but that is the statistical result. There has been a steady decrease in the radiation levels for the past 172 annos...
until now.’
They stared at the display. ‘Now it has suddenly vanished,’ Kando murmured. ‘It is not possible.’
Balan shrugged unhappily. ‘It has happened, therefore it is a fact,’ he informed the two young students. ‘We have discovered that the radiation effects from an atomic detonation endure for 172 annos.’
Teel’s fine, intelligent features puckered with doubt.
‘But what is the explanation?’ he demanded.
Educator Balan raised his hands, palms upwards, in typical Dulcian gesture of resignation. ‘No doubt our experts will explain,’ he replied complacently. ‘It is fruitless for us to seek reasons to prove facts. Facts are truth.’
Teel’s jaw jutted defiantly. ‘I submit that the survey unit must investigate this phenomenon,’ he insisted, springing to his feet. ‘The spacecraft that Kully reported...’
Angrily Bolan cut his pupil short. ‘There is no such craft, Teel. Nor are there any robots.’
‘Oh I wouldn’t bet on that if I were you!’
The three Dulcians spun round to see the Doctor and Jamie just emerging from the airlock.
‘Kully was right,’ the Doctor continued. ‘There is certainly an alien spacecraft and most definitely there are robots’
‘And you’re all in great danger,’ Jamie added earnestly.
Balan iguorcd these revelations. ‘Your friend Zoe is already at the Capitol and Director Senex will be awaiting your own arrival,’ he informed them. ‘Do not delay.’
The Doctor had caught sight of the graph still glowing on the computer screen. His eyebrows shot up in astonishment. ‘There you are!’ he cried excitedly. ‘Just look at that. You can’t ignore that!’
Swiftly Balan turned and cancelled the display. ‘Please, Doctor, do not waste any more time in this foolishness,’ he pleaded.
The Doctor stared furiously at Balan for several seconds.
‘Quite!’ he suddenly snapped. ‘Come along, Jamie, perhaps Director Senex will listen to us.’
Teel and Kando hurried across to prime the second capsule for launching, while Balan escorted the Doctor and Jamie to the launch tube and programmed the destination panel as they clambered aboard.
‘Capsule primed,’ Teel called out.
‘This will deliver you direct to the Capitol,’ Balan explained, ‘and the Director will see you at his convenience.’
‘The Director will see me at once ,’ the Doctor retorted as the canopy and access panel zipped shut.
With a hollow screaming noise the capsule shot out of sight along the tube.
Teel and Kando had been eagerly whispering together and they turned as Balan came back into the laboratory section. ‘Now perhaps we can continue with our proper work,’ the Educator sighed.
‘Willingly,’ Kando agreed, glancing covertly at Teel.
‘Permission to commence soil-core sampling?’
‘Granted,’ Balan replied.
Grabbing their equipment, the students almost rushed for the airlock.
‘Wait!’ Balan cried sharply. ‘I shall accompany you, to ensure that nothing distracts you from your tasks...’
Zoe had been wandering impatiently round and round the Council Chamber, now and then glancing hopefully at the wall through which Director Senex had disappeared seemingly hours previously. Kully was lying in his father’s chair, his grubby and bruised legs thrown casually over the arm, idly watching a thin trickle of sand running out of the side of his battered sandals.
‘Oh,
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