The Oil Well (comic story)
The Oil Well (comic story) was the third story and second comic strip in The Dalek Book. It continued the story of the Stone brothers' search for their sister, begun after the brothers were reunited in the closing moments of Red for Danger.
Summary
On Skaro in the Dalek Council Chamber, the leading Daleks are growing impatient. They want to invade Earth now. One of their ranks tells the other that the wait is being caused by a lack of oil. Venus holds the richest supply outside of Earth, so they order their compatriots on Venus to work the slave labour harder. Oil production must be dramatically increased.
Mary Stone is at one of the oil wells on Venus. She's suffering along with many other native Venusians under the Daleks' new production regime. She goes to the lead Dalek to offer an alternate work schedule. She syas that they should work for four hours and rest for four hours. This cycle will ensure round-the-clock production, but also mean that the humans will get adequate rest. The Daleks agree, but Mary's fellow Venusians immeditely think she's colluding with the enemy. After she explains that her plan will keep them all alive, they calm down. The Daleks are soon satisfied with the increase in efficiency and they move Mary to [{New Paris]]. From the Venusian capital, she will now direct a changeover of all mines to her new schedule.
Meanwhile, her brothers have found the oil well where she was stationed, and have even caught a glimpse of her. Somehow, they must break her out of the effective labour camp. Jeff uses some glass he has to start a fire in the nearby forest. The Dalek guards order their prisoners to evacuate the oil well in order to keep the fire from reaching the camp. Meanwhile, Andy uses glass to magnify heat directly onto the oil well. While the Venusians are safely away from the camp, the oil rig explodes, taking some Daleks with it. The remaining Daleks are overpowered by the humans.
Unfortunaely, the boys' plan has come too late. Yes, the humans at this location are now all free, but Mary's not here anymore. The duo set off to find their sister in New Paris.
Characters
References
to be added
Notes
- It's never explained why the Daleks need oil so desperately. This is made even more curious by the fact that a later story explicitly states they have nuclear power plants.
Continuity
to be added
Timeline
The story follows directly on from Red for Danger and leads into The Message of Mystery.
