Doctor Who: Delta and the Bannermen (4 page)

Something was happening. A balding man in a florid jacket was approaching from the camp. He was the camp’s commander who gloried in the name of Burton Burton.

He was pleased to see them all. ‘We expected you hours ago. Trouble with the old bus, eh? It happens all the time.

Still, it’s not far to the camp,’ he said.

Murray was not backward in coming forward. ‘Erm...

Do you mind if we rest at the camp until the bus is fixed?’

he asked brightly.

‘Mind?’ said Burton looking puzzled, ‘My dear chap, that’s what we’re here for!’

By now everyone was off the bus and milling around, thankful to have their feet firmly on solid ground once more. Burton clapped his hands for silence. ‘Welcome campers! I am your camp leader. During your stay at Shangri-La I will take care of your every need. My name is Burton, Burton Burton, and remember campers if you need anything, just ask.’ Burton chivied the tourists into a neat line, two abreast. Bewildered by the proceedings, they obediently fell into line without complaint. ‘That’s the spirit. Right, follow me!’ cried Burton.

And with that he turned and started marching back towards the camp. The passengers looked to Murray for guidance. ‘Erm, that’s right folks. You follow... uh...

Burton and he’ll look after you until our cruiser is ready to roll.’

The passengers, grumbling amongst themselves, set off after Burton. Mel and the Doctor, realizing there was nothing else for it, followed after the others. Murray took a last look at the bus then trotted off towards the gates of the camp.

The camp was built around a gravel square, with the large dining hall at one end, the shower and toilet blocks at the other, and behind the main buildings a children’s playground. Burton led everyone into the square where they stood about crunching gravel underfoot until Burton signalled silence.

‘Welcome to Shangri-La where your dreams come true!

Now, as always it’s two to a cabin and mealtimes are clearly displayed behind the cabin door. But just in case there is any confusion breakfast is at eight, lunch at one and supper at six. Eating together is all part of the camp fun so do try and be prompt. Over there is the dining hall. Any questions? Splendid! I’ll show you to your cabins then.’

Burton was already moving towards the first row of cabins before the Navarinos realized that they were supposed to follow him. Picking up their luggage they ran to catch him up. Mel and Delta were walking at the back of the queue as Burton allocated cabins to various people. Keillor took a last glance at Delta just before he entered his cabin, accompanied by a plump Navarino dressed like a Teddy boy.

Mel and Delta both heard it at the same moment –

someone softly whistling ‘Why do Fools Fall in Love?’

The whistler was Billy, the camp mechanic, tinkering with an old waterpump. He was good-looking with his sharp quiff and white T-shirt and jeans. Nonchalantly he watched the new arrivals as they were herded into the cabins.

Beneath his apparent indifference his heart was beating fast – Delta was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He noted which cabin she and Mel entered.

Mel looked around the small hut with its narrow twin beds and single dresser, and her heart sank. Burton waved expansively at the rudimentary accommodation. ‘You’ll find a list of our rules and regulations behind the door.

Any questions? Splendid!’ Before Mel could reply Burton had left. Mel smiled at Delta who was fighting back the tears.

‘Not that it makes much difference,’ said Mel cheerily,

‘but which bed would you like?’ Delta seemed not to have heard. Mel continued, ‘Well, I don’t really mind. One seems as good as the other.’ And she plumped her suitcase onto the bed nearest to her. Delta carefully put the silver sphere onto the cover of the other bed and sank down. She covered her face with her hands and started to sob gently.

‘Look, I know it isn’t like the brochure but don’t be too upset,’ said Mel trying to cheer her up.

Delta sadly raised her head. ‘How long are we going to be here?’ she asked.

‘Just till the bus is fixed,’ said Mel.

‘And then?’

‘Then we’ll go to Disneyland, I suppose,’ said Mel.

Delta sighed wearily. ‘It might give me enough time,’

she said, a note of hope creeping into her voice.

Mel was becoming more uncomfortable by the minute.

She decided to try and draw Delta out. ‘I can see something’s bothering you. Do you want to talk about it?’

Delta gave Mel a cool appraising glance, then shook her head. ‘No.’

Delta reached under her tunic and produced a phaser gun which she stripped and checked. Mel gave her a nervous smile and started unpacking her clothes. Delta sat on her bed and loaded another round into the phaser’s magazine.

The group of holiday-makers following Burton had dwindled to Murray and the Doctor. Burton steered them towards the pump where Billy was just finishing. He pointed to the cabin at the very end of the row. ‘Your cabin is at the end. Now, if you want some help with your bus I’m sure our young mechanic would be pleased to assist.

See you at lunch!’ With that Burton marched away at a brisk clip.

Billy straightened up, wiping his hands on a greasy bit of cotton waste. He offered his outspread hand to Murray then the Doctor as they all introduced themselves. ‘Old man Burton said there was something wrong with your bus, is that right?’ asked Billy.

Murray nodded, ‘We hit this low orbital satellite which jammed the navipod and here we are!’

Billy looked suspiciously at Murray, convinced that his leg was being pulled. ‘Well,’ said Billy, sucking on his teeth, ‘if it’s got four wheels I can fix it.’

‘It shouldn’t take too long to repair – I have a spare Quarb crystal on the TARDIS,’ said the Doctor. Billy now looked at the Doctor, he wondered what kind of a joke these two guys were trying to pull. However, they didn’t laugh – in fact they set off for the bus, in deadly earnest.

Billy shook his head, picked up his toolbag, and followed after them.

When he reached the bus the bonnet was already open and Murray and the Doctor were reaching into the engine bay. Billy took a peek and gave a low whistle – instead of a greasy old diesel engine, there was a high-tech jet burner with twin boosters nestling in the engine space.

‘I’ve NEVER seen an engine like that!’ said Billy.

Murray grunted, ‘She’s a Hellstrom Fireball, capable of Warp 5 with a good tailwind.’

Billy glanced around and saw a police phone box standing a few feet away. He was now convinced that the whole thing was some kind of elaborate prank, but the other two were working on the bus with fierce concentration.

The Doctor was tugging at something. Finally he appeared with the small satellite, painted with the Stars and Stripes. ‘This is the cause of the problem – an extremely crude low-orbital satellite capable of only the most rudimentary radio transmissions,’ he said.

Murray took the satellite and tied it onto the bus’s roof-rack, then laboriously made a note in his book. ‘Thanks Doctor. I have to fill in an accident report or Head Office will withdraw my licence. As it is, it’s touch and go.’

Billy was still having trouble believing his eyes. ‘Uh...

exactly what is it you’re trying to do?’ he said.

The Doctor pointed at a small black box with a glowing crystal sticking out of its centre. ‘That’s the navipod. If we can unbolt it then we can replace the crystal.’

Billy picked up a spanner and dived into the engine bay.

The Doctor entered the TARDIS, to appear a moment later carrying a small reinforced case. Billy emerged from the engine hay triumphantly clutching the black navipod.

‘Well done,’ said the Doctor, ‘Now, inside this box is the only Quarb crystal this side of the Softel Nebula.’

‘It was really lucky that you came along, Doctor,’

whispered Murray confidentially. ‘Head Office said this was my last chance to make good.’ Murray carefully started unscrewing the lid of the navipod and took out the broken crystal. He gently lifted the new crystal from its shock-proof case and fitted it into the device. The lid was screwed back on and it was ready to be refitted.

‘Carefully does it now,’ said the Doctor.

‘Here, I’ll fit it,’ said Billy. He and Murray bent into the engine bay and started spannering.

A red scooter with white leg shields pulled up and stopped beside the bus. The rider wore black jeans and a denim jacket. She took off her helmet and shook down her hair. ‘Hi Billy,’ she said.

Billy barely glanced up. ‘Hi Rachel. This is Murray and the Doctor.’

Ray grimaced at being called by her full name. ‘Please call me Ray. Do you lads want a hand?’

Murray popped a grease-spattered face over the wing of the bus, ‘You haven’t by any chance got a one-and-five-eighths socket, have you?’ Ray dug in her shoulder bag and produced the gleaming wrench. Murray was astonished and blinked several times before taking it from her and resuming work.

The Doctor had noted the transaction with interest. ‘Do you always carry a full set of tools around with you?’ he asked.

‘It’s what Billy taught me – always be prepared,’ said Ray with a shy smile.

‘Absolutely. A stitch in time is worth two in space,’ said the Doctor. Ray grinned at him then turned back to Billy.

It was obvious that she thought the world of him. Billy, however, appeared not to even notice that she was a girl.

Murray was grunting as he applied the final turn of the wrench to the navipod. There was a sudden mechanical CLANG! and he rose out of the engine hay, his face white with shock. In his hand he held the two halves of the broken crystal. ‘I’ve broken it! The new crystal – no licence, no job, no future!’ he wailed.

‘There will always be a future,’ said the Doctor. ‘If you think it would help I could transport everyone in the TARDIS.’

Murray was looking doleful, ‘Thanks Doctor, but a captain never leaves his ship.’

The Doctor nodded understandingly. ‘There is another alternative,’ he said, ‘I can accelerate growth in the thermobooster and create a new crystal in about 24 hours.’

Murray’s face lit up. ‘That’s fantastic! You’ve saved my bacon, Doctor. I can’t see any problem with staying here for 24 hours.’

Ray smiled brightly, ‘Great. I’ll see you all at the dance then.’

Murray was snapping his fingers with excitement. ‘A dance – with live music?’ he blurted.

‘Uh-huh,’ said Ray, ‘Billy here plays great rock’n’roll.’

‘Sounds too good to miss,’ said Murray.

‘Okay, see you later, alligator,’ said Ray, starting her scooter and driving away.

Murray turned to the Doctor, ‘I just love all that 50s talk,’ he said.

The Doctor watched her putter away. ‘A most personable young woman, that. Practical too. She seems extremely fond of you, Billy.’

Billy nodded. ‘She’s okay. Like my little sister, you know.’ He started packing up his tools. ‘If you don’t need me for anything else I’ll go and wash up for dinner,’ he said.

Murray nodded. ‘Good idea. All this spannering really works up an appetite.’

‘I don’t know much about spanners but I used to have a sonic screwdriver,’ said the Doctor, as they all turned and started walking towards the camp.

Mel had just about finished unpacking when a loud metallic gonging shook the walls. Delta sprang from the bed and took up a stance beside the window, ready to shoot anything that moved. ‘What’s that?’ she hissed.

Mel, trying to be calm, smiled bravely. ‘It’s only the dinner gong,’ she said.

Delta looked at her suspiciously, then cautiously peered through the window. She seemed to sag as the tension left her and pushed the phaser into her tunic pocket. Mel was relieved to see the weapon disappear, but she couldn’t help thinking that she may have been better off sharing a cabin with a Navarino. Even though their constant chat tended to irritate her, it was a lot more relaxing than cohabiting with a gun-toting Chimeron.

Mel decided that she would have to be straight with Delta. ‘As soon as I’ve finished unpacking I think I’ll go and get something to eat,’ she said, testing the water.

Delta narrowed her eyes. ‘Can you be trusted?’ she asked.

‘Oh yes! Utterly! Discretion is my middle name,’ said Mel, nervously sidling towards the door.

Delta decided that she was all right and sat down once more on the bed. Mel left, trying to look as unconcerned as possible.

Outside the cabins Billy was working on his gleaming black motorbike and sidecar. Two tourists were watching him in fascination. ‘What is it?’ asked one.

Billy looked up. ‘This here’s a Vincent Black Shadow –

finest motorcycle in the world.’

The other tourist, still not sure of its function, asked,

‘But what does it do?’

‘Oh, about 130 on a good day. That’s without the sidecar, of course,’ said Billy.

The first tourist was still mystified. ‘A hundred and thirty WHAT?’

Billy was getting exasperated. ‘Miles per hour, of course!’ he said.

The second tourist’s face lit up. ‘I see! It’s a form of transport.’

Billy had seen some strange tours, but this one was really shaping up to be the weirdest.

Mel rushed past on her way to the dining hall eager to tell the Doctor all about Delta. When she got there the Doctor had already arrived and was sitting alone at a table, picking at his food. Mel sat beside him and promptly took an apple from his plate. A few moments later Delta entered and sat, a solitary figure, cool and aloof at a corner table.

However, her entrance was noted by someone other than Mel and the Doctor. Keillor stared at her from behind his dark glasses, the cogs in his brain slowly turning over.

‘There’s something odd going on here, Doctor,’

whispered Mel urgently.

‘Well, it’s home – at least until the navipod is fixed.

Speaking personally, I rather like it,’ replied the Doctor cheerfully.

‘Well, I’m determined to try and enjoy myself. If I can...’