Free The Ice Warriors by Brian Hayles Page B

irresponsible!’
    ‘You don’t think, then, that what he did could have been a simple gesture of protest?’
    ‘He was always protesting! This unit is a team – a team with a mission! If we fail, how can others expect to succeed?’
    ‘And it’ll be your name that suffers, of course,’ replied the Doctor keenly. ‘And that’s important to you, isn’t it?’
    Suddenly Clent was on the defensive. ‘I lead the team, but I depend on the experts that I select. With the exception of Penley, my judgement was sound. But others won’t see it that way. They’ll only mark up the failure!’
    ‘So you really need this chap Penley.’
    ‘No! I do
not
need Penley!’ Then he added hastily, ‘But I do need an equivalent brain to take over from where that… traitor left off! Normally, it would take months to train up a stranger.’ His face had a look of desperation. ‘There simply isn’t time – that’s the truth of the matter! And that’s why we need
you
!’
    ‘I’ll do what I can. But I think you ought to understand that personally I prefer trusting human beings rather than computers.’
    Clent’s face grew stern and proud. His hand came to rest on ECCO ’s control panel. ‘I trust nobody, Doctor. Human emotions are too unreliable.’ Suddenly, as though at the flick of a switch, he dismissed the whole subject from his mind, and became brisk and purposeful once more. ‘If you require any further data, Miss Garrett will obtain it for you. I’ll go and check that there is a working area cleared ready for you in the medicare centre. Perhaps you’d like to join me there when you’re ready?’ With that he strode off. The Doctor stared after him, and thoughtfully shook his head…
    Varga was becoming more and more furious. Victoria, sensing that his anger was increasing, searched ever more hurriedly for the vital power pack. At the sound of smashing glass, she spun round. With one sweep of his mighty arm, Varga had cleared a nearby bench of its chemical apparatus. He turned to her, his breath coming in fearful gasps.
    ‘Where is this power source!’ he snarled, moving towards her with mighty strides. ‘Do not try to trick me! If it is not here—’
    His threat was lost as he overturned a cupboard in his effort to reach Victoria. As it fell, a jumble of equipment fell out – among it several power packs. Varga stopped, and studied the confusion of gear at his feet. He looked up at Victoria, whose tense face showed her relief. She nodded.
    ‘Yes,’ she whispered. ‘Those are the ones.’
    She watched as the Ice Warrior picked up a couple by their leads, and began to examine them triumphantly. What would he do now? As though in answer to her unspoken thought, Varga turned his mighty head towards her and spoke.
    ‘You will come with me to the Ice Mountain,’ he hissed, and grabbed her unresisting arm. But Victoria’s eyes were staring past the Ice Warrior to the doorway. Standing there, his face stunned with disbelief, was Clent. Victoria screamed a warning – but too late. In an instant, Varga had turned, seen Clent, and swung into action.
    Fortunately for the scientist, Varga’s weapon arm was holding the precious power packs. Instead of using the sonic destructor, the Ice Warrior swung the power packs by their leads, like a medieval ball and chain. Clent, having no chance to dodge the swift, savage blow, slumped to the floor without even a cry. Victoria stared in horror at his crumpled body.
    ‘You’ve… killed him,’ she whispered.
    ‘Come!’ Varga replied harshly – but Victoria had fainted. Pausing only to sweep up her limp body in the crook of his mighty arm, the Martian strode over the fallen scientist and through the doors leading to the corridor and freedom.
    Penley had seen Clent arrive and enter the medicare centre. Minutes later, the reptilian giant burst out into the corridor, carrying the girl on one arm and a tangled bundle of power packs in the other cruel fist. Once he was out