Doctor Who: Ribos Operation Read Online Free PDF Page B

valuation,’ he replied. ‘I am merely the agent...’
    The Graff Vynda Ka pondered a moment. Then he swung
round and fixed Garron with a brooding stare. ‘You are
empowered to accept an offer?’ he suddenly snapred.
    Garron hastily lowered his eyes from the inside of the hollow
shaft above the fire, where he had been gazing while the Graff
had his back to him. ‘A reasonable offer... Yes, Highness,’ he
replied with a reassuring smile.
    ‘What is wrong? What are you staring at?’ Sholakh
demanded suspiciously, going over to the fire. Garron recovered
himself instantly. He waved the sheaf of documents vigorously
about in the air. ‘I...I was just looking to see if the chimney was
obstructed,’ he said soothingly. ‘I do apologise for this smoke,
Highness. I trust you will be comfortable here.’
    Selecting several papers from the bundle, Garron led the
way to the massive wooden table and spread them out with an
impressive flourish. As he did so, one sheet slipped from his
grasp and fluttered unnoticed to the floor.
    ‘The documents of Title and Mortmain await your
consideration, Highness,’ Garron beamed, gesturing to the
parchments as he bowed himself towards the door. ‘Tomorrow it
will be my pleasure to conduct you on a tour of the city: until
then, may you rest in comfort, gentlemen.’
    Leaving the Graff’s quarters, Garron hurried a short
distance through the maze of deserted stone passages which
honeycombed the Citadel of Shurr, until he came to a deeply
recessed doorway. Glancing quickly about to make sure that he
was not being watched, he settled himself down in the shadows
and huddled tightly into his furs. Then. with a devious grin, he
put his wrist up to his ear and carefully adjusted the tiny
switches on the communicator device strapped to it...
    ‘I think that he will accept six million opeks.’ murmuted the
Graff Vynda Ka after rapidly scanning the documents Garron
had placed on the table for his approval.
    Sholakh had been staring at the paper which he had just
picked up from under a chair. ‘Look at this, Highness,’ he

breathed, ‘the Conglomerate’s Mineralogical Survey Report on
Ribos—Garron must have dropped it by accident.’
    The Graff glanced briefly at the document. Then he
grabbed it from Sholakh and started to read it eagerly, a deep
furrow appearing in the centre of his waxen forehead. After
several minutes he looked up sharply. ‘It is not possible...’ he
cried. ‘It must be a mistake.’ Sholakh looked inquiringly at his
master, amazed by the sudden outburst.
    ‘Point zero zero zero zero one per cent of planetary mass,
Sholakh!’ the Graff almost screamed, his eyes ablaze and his pale
cheeks twitching. His trembling hands almost crumpled the
paper as he held it up to re-read its incredible contents.
    Sholakh stared at his master’s face while he skimmed
through the document a second time.’ What is it, Highness?’ he
murmured as the Graff slowly laid down the paper and rose to
his feet.
    ‘Jethryk!’ the young Prince breathed hoarsely. ‘Jethryk: the
most valuable... the most powerful element in the Galaxy.’
    Sholakh frowned. ‘As you say, a mistake, Highness,’ he
shrugged. ‘Otherwise the Conglomerate would not be selling...’
    ‘Wait.’ the Graff cried, seizing the documents from the table
and feverishly shuffling through them. ‘There was a condition...
Here... “While relinquishing freehold in the planet Ribos... in
the constellation Skythra... Magellanic Mining retains to itself
sole right of exploitation in all mineral deposits... in
perpetuity"... There is no mistake. Sholakh.’ he cried his shrill
voice tinged with hysteria. He began to stride agitatedly round
and round the chamber, the firelight throwing his stalking
shadow over the walls, and his voice rising gradually to fever
pitch: ‘Sholakh... this is far beyond our wildest dreams... Jethryk
would guarantee success quicker than ever seemed possible...’
    Garron hugged himself with