Doctor Who_ Attack of the Cybermen - Eric Saward [33]
Charlie, always keen to lighten the atmosphere, attempted to blow rings with the billow of his steamy breath, but no one was interested. Instead they wanted to huddle in a tight bunch in an attempt to maintain the rapidly decreasing warmth in their bodies.
‘So this is Telos,’ Charlie muttered. ‘I must say I’ve had more fun with toothache.’
Lytton glanced over his shoulder of the Leader, who was in deep conversation with one of the guards. ‘Seems almost concerned,’ he observed. ‘As though we’ve landed in the wrong place.’
The Doctor grinned in a childish, self-satisfied way.
Shivering, Peri plunged her hands, with more force than necessary, deep into the cavities of her armpits. ‘I should have guessed you were responsible for this,’ she growled through chattering teeth. ‘Only you could find such an unpleasant place.’
Suddenly a Cyberman pushed the huddled group towards the Leader with the point of his gun. Grumbling, they moved as directed.
‘We must leave this place at once,’ he said. ‘There is danger.’
Danger? Peri and Charlie exchanged quizzical glances and assumed he meant the cold.
Leaving a Cyberman to guard the TARDIS – the Doctor wondered from what or whom – the group trudged off on their long, cold journey to Cyber Control.
Only Lytton knew the full truth of the situation, and as far as he was concerned, everything was going as planned.
Not only did the corridors seem to go on forever, but their total uniformity did nothing to alleviate the frustration and boredom of their trek. What was more, the temperature seemed to be dropping, making each step more and more painful. Even Charlie, who was tougher and fitter than the others, found the going hard. What was more, his boots had started to pinch again.
‘Can we rest?’ asked the Doctor.
The Leader raised a hand and the group came to a shuddering halt. ‘We cannot delay for long,’ he said.
Everyone was so tired that even the briefest pause was a pleasure, and they duly muttered their grateful thanks.
After brushing frost from her eyebrows, Peri then vigorously rubbed her frozen checks and chin. As she worked she became aware of a strong odour. ‘What’s that terrible smell?’ Her mouth was numb and she could hardly form the words.
Charlie sniffed the air. To him it smelt like an old foxfur his gran used to wear. Knowing this was an unlikely explanation, he decided to remain silent.
‘It’s death,’ intoned Lytton.
Peri almost skidded on a patch of ice. ‘What do you mean – death?’
‘It’s sour stench is unmistakable.’
Trust him to cheer everyone up, thought Charlie.
Peri turned to the Doctor. ‘You said the Cybermen were hibernating?’
The Time Lord shrugged. ‘I did,’ he said, staring at Lytton. ‘But I think our friend knows far more than he’s prepared to tell us.’
Lytton didn’t reply, and somehow managed to form an expression of deep esotericism. The Doctor was impressed.
It required enormous skill to blend such a look with that of his usual enigmatic mask. If nothing else, thought the Doctor, Commander Gustave Lytton certainly knew how to be a Man of Mystery.
The Cyber Leader’s respirator suddenly let out a loud rasp. Peri noticed that a small circle of frost, like an intricate lace doily, had formed on his forehad. ‘We must leave at once!’ he instructed.
‘Sounds concerned,’ whispered Peri.
The Doctor couldn’t deny it, and wondered whether modern Cybermen were now programmed with limited emotional response.
As the group prepared to move off, the source of the Leader’s urgency became apparent. Suddenly there was an enormous, penetrating roar from within a nearby sepulchre, like a huge monster in terminal distress. The bellow grew louder and more frightening. As the Cybermen raised their