小説星のヨッシー オートン軍団の襲来！【英語版】

Act Two: Mystery of the Meteorites

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Back at UNIT H.Q., Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart was still trying to persuade Liz Shaw to accept the unbelievable.
  'Don't you see, Miss Shaw, it's just because everyone takes your attitude, refuses to believe the evidence, that the Earth is in so much danger.'
  'Why is Earth any more likely to be attacked now than at anytime during the last fifty thousand years?' said Liz obstinately.
  'Isn't that obvious? Space probes, rocket launches, men on the moon...' The Brigadier leaned forward, his voice urgent. 'We have drawn attention to ourselves, Miss Shaw.'
  Liz sank back into her chair. 'I'm sorry,' she said, 'but I justcan't swallow it. I admit I've got no explanation for your meteor swarms—but invasion from outer space!'
  For a moment the Brigadier was silent, then he seemed to come to a decision. 'And if I were to tell you that to my personal knowledge there have been two attempts to conquer the planet Earth, both by intelligent life-forms from beyond this galaxy?'
  All Liz could do was stare at him open-mouthed. He's cracking up, she thought wildly. Over-work probably. Been reading too much science-fiction. The Brigadier was still talking, quietly and calmly, apparently very much in control of his wits.
  'UNIT was formed as a direct result of the first attempt. And I am proud to say that it played a very large part in preventing thesecond invasion.'
  'Well done,' said Liz faintly. She wondered if she ought to start heading towards the door, before the Brigadier suddenly decided shewas a Martian spy.
  The Brigadier seemed lost in his memories. 'Though, of course, we weren't alone. We had help. Very valuable help.' He looked up and smiled. 'To be perfectly honest, Miss Shaw, you weren't my first choice for the post of UNIT's Scientific Adviser.'
  Despite herself, Liz felt a bit resentful. 'Oh? And who wasthen?'
  'A man called "the Doctor",' answered the Brigadier.
  'Doctor?' said Liz. 'Doctor who?'
  The Brigadier chuckled. 'Who indeed? I don't think he ever told us his name. But he was the most brilliant scientist I have ever met. No disrespect, Miss Shaw.'
  'So why didn't you get this mysterious genius to be your Scientific Adviser, instead of practically kidnapping me?'
  'Don't think I didn't try,' said the Brigadier ruefully.'Unfortunately, he tends to appear and disappear as he pleases. I tried to get hold of him when they decided we needed a resident scientist. The Intelligence services of the entire world were unable to turn up any trace of him.'
  'So you decided to make do with me?'
  'And a great success you'll make of it, I'm sure,' said the Brigadier. Liz couldn't help smiling at the compliment. Despite his stiff military manner, there was something very likable about the Brigadier.
  The 'phone on the Brigadier's desk buzzed, and with a gesture of apology to Liz the Brigadier picked it up.
  'Munro here, sir,' said the voice at the other end. 'I'm at the Ashbridge Cottage Hospital.'
  'Have you found any trace of those meteorites?'
  'No sir. All we've found so far is one unconscious civvie. I've just turned him over to the local hospital.'
  'Captain Munro,' said the Brigadier acidly, 'if you've nothing better to report than the finding of a drunken tramp sleeping it off inthe woods, I suggest you get off the 'phone and get on with the search.'
  'The chap wasn't drunk sir. Half-dead more like it. And I don'tthink it was a tramp. Weirdest thing you ever saw, sir. A police box slap in the middle of the woods, and this fellow lying spark-out beside it.'
  'A police box?' said the Brigadier. 'You did say a police box?'His voice was suddenly eager and excited.
  'That's right, sir,' said Munro cheerfully. 'Suppose I ought to tell the police, really. I mean they may want the thing back.'
  The Brigadier's voice was brisk. 'On no account, Munro. I want an armed guard on that police box right away. Nobody's to be allowed near it. Nobody! Is that clear?'
  'Yes sir,' said Munro automatically. 'But I don't quite understand, sir...'
  The Brigadier's voice cut in. 'This man you found. You say he's at the hospital?'
  'In Casualty now sir. The Doctor's taking a look at him. The man seems to be in a sort of a coma.'
  'Right,' said the Brigadier crisply. 'Armed guard on him too, Munro. Nobody's to talk to him till I arrive.'
  'Very good sir,' said Munro, by now thoroughly puzzled.'I'll come down right away. Oh—and Munro, I'll be bringingour new Scientific Adviser with me. Meanwhile, keep the patrols searching.'
  The Brigadier slammed down the 'phone and sat for a moment lost in thought. 'It can't be,' he said, almost to himself. 'But a police box! And it would be just like him, turning up like that out of the blue.'
  'Just like who?' said Liz, now thoroughly curious.
  The Brigadier grinned. 'Come and see for yourself. I'd like you to come down to Essex with me right away.'
  'But why? What's going on?'
  'That,' said the Brigadier, 'is exactly what I hope to find out. If my chaps do turn up any of these meteorites you'll be able to do a non-the-spot examination. And I want to see this man they've found for myself. Shall we go?'
  Liz Shaw hesitated for a moment. She realised that this washer last chance to insist on her rights, to refuse the ridiculous hush job she was being offered and return to the quiet, sane, sensible world of scientific research.
  'Shall we go, Miss Shaw?' repeated the Brigadier.
  Liz looked at him and saw the appeal behind the formal manner. Suddenly she realised that the Brigadier really was worried, that he really did need her help. Why me, she thought, why me?There must be heaps of people better qualified.
  But she also realised that she was now much too caught up inthis mysterious business of invading alien forces, intelligent meteorites and mysterious men with police boxes, to draw back now. If she did, she'd be torn with curiosity for the rest of her life. She got up and strode to the door which the Brigadier was holding open forher. 'Come along then, Brigadier,' she said briskly, 'what are we wasting time for?'
  The Brigadier stood astonished as Liz strode past him and marched off down the corridor. Then, deciding not for the first time that he would never understand the ways of women, he hurried after her.