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.The Dalek weapons gave a series of metallic clicks.'Maximum power,' screamed the leader.'Fire! Fire! Fire!'There were more clicks.One of the Daleks swung its eye-stalk round towards its leader.'Weaponry malfunction.Total power failure in all armament circuits.'The stunned silence was broken by the sound of the Doctor's laughter.'Well, well, well! Daleks—without the power to kill.How does it feel?'He strolled closer to the ramp and the Dalek sentries swung their guns to cover him, emitting a further series of futile clicks.'Keep back! Keep back!' There was a note of panic in the metallic screech.The Doctor smiled.'And if I don't, what will you do? Your weapons are useless here.They've been affected by the energy blackout that stranded the rest of us.'The Dalek leader said arrogantly, 'The failure is temporary.Superior Dalek technology will overcome this interference.You will obey our orders.''You're not in any position to give orders,' pointed out the Doctor.'We're all in this together.All equal—and all equally powerless.'The Dalek responded to this taunt with one of the ranting, boasting speeches so common to its species.'The Daleks are the supreme beings of the universe.Dalek technology is the most advanced in the entire cosmos.'By now Railton had realised that his enemies really were helpless.'Spare us the Dalek propaganda,' he said boldly.'You're no better off than we are.What we ought to do is join forces.'Rejection was automatic.'The Daleks do not require the co-operation of inferior species.''Think about it,' urged Railton.There are five of us and only four of you.This planet is swarming with hostile aliens who want nothing better than to destroy all of us.Surely the fact must penetrate even Dalek arrogance!'There was a brief silence.Then the Dalek leader said, 'We will confer.' The Daleks in the doorway disappeared into the ship.The two sentry Daleks glided up the ramp and followed them.Railton mopped the sweat from his brow.'Well, what do you think, Doctor?'The Doctor said nothing for a moment.Railton's initiative in suggesting an alliance had taken him by surprise, and now he was busy thinking out possible moves and counter moves.'It's a daring plan,' he said slowly.'And they might just possibly agree with it.But I advise you not to trust them.''I don't,' said Railton grimly.'But at the moment we need all the help we can get.''We don't need the Daleks,' said Galloway furiously.'There's nothing they can do we can't do better on our own.''They happen to be brilliant technicians,' said the Doctor quietly.'Their inventive genius has made them one of the great powers of the universe.Bear that in mind.''Exactly,' agreed Railton.'If they can find some way out of this, we can turn it to our advantage.'Peter said miserably, 'But Daleks, sir ! My father was killed in the Dalek wars.Dan lost his entire family.I hate the idea of co-operating with them.''Your father was just one man,' said Railton quietly.'Millions will die if we can't get the Parrinium off of this planet.' He turned to the Doctor.'Do you think they'll agree?'The Doctor kept his eyes on the space ship door.'I'm not sure.We'll just have to wait and see.'The Dalek leader appeared in the doorway of the ship.'We wish to confer further.You will be the spokesman.Come!' Its useless gun-stick was pointing at the Doctor.The Doctor hesitated, then shrugged.After all, they couldn't really harm him.Reflecting that it was a new sensation to enter a Dalek ship of his own accord, he climbed slowly up the ramp.Time went by.The others waited, wondering what was going on inside that gleaming metal sphere.Peter drew Galloway aside.'What do you think about this idea of co-operating with the Daleks?''It might work—for a while.''I think Railton's gone soft,' whispered Hamilton.'Aye, mebbe so.He's scared of the wee salt-shakers, I can tell you that.I saw his face when they came out of the ship.''Look, our spokesman's coming back.'The Doctor came back down the ramp.Well?' demanded Railton.'What did they say?'The Doctor rubbed his chin.'They're still very suspicious, but I think they'll go along with your plan.They don't have much choice.' The Doctor's voice hardened [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]