Doctor Who_ Beyond the Sun - Matthew Jones [116]
shit! – a little high.
Scott leapt up into the air and caught it. In return he threw Emile his respirator and sprinted towards the crystal structure.
Michael clambered over the side of the crate after him, but the big man wasn’t as fast as Scott.
One of the Sunless intercepted him, dragging him violently down to the ice-packed ground. The woman had already set off after Scott.
Emile looked between the two brothers. He wanted to follow Scott, but decided that Michael was in greater need. Emile pulled the respirator on to his face, before realizing that it was too little too late. He managed only a few steps before he stumbled and then crashed head first into the earth.
This time Tameka wasn’t there to save him.
Scott’s legs were cramping up by the time he reached the dark triangle beneath the two crossed crystal needles. As he passed under the threshold he was temporarily blinded as his eyes tried to adjust to the darkness.
‘Scott! Over here!’
He stumbled towards Bernice’s voice. She swam into focus and he saw her crouching close to the wall, Tameka and Jason next to her.
‘Bloody hell, is that what I think it is?’ she exclaimed, staring at the parcel in his hands.
He nodded, trying to catch his breath. ‘Iranda . . . behind me. Sunless too.’
Tameka was suddenly at his side. ‘Where’s Emile? Is he OK?’
‘I don’t know. Didn’t see. They got Michael. I think he’s dead.’
‘Shit. I gotta go see to the boy.’
Bernice nodded. ‘Jason, go with her.’
‘What?’ he said, surprised.
‘Jason. Just do it, all right? Keep the kids safe. Try and slow Iranda down. I’m sure you can think of a few ways to distract her. Tameka, try to get to the ship. Scott, you’re with me.’
The two pale figures departed. Bernice handed Scott her respirator. ‘You look like you need this,’ she said. ‘Come on, let’s find somewhere to hide the figurine.’
They turned and ran into the crystal building.
Jason sprinted out of the crystal structure and straight into Iranda, who was coming in. They hit each other with such force that they both tumbled to the floor.
Tameka was a few steps behind him. She leapt over them and continued out into the storm looking for Emile. Frozen rain was tumbling fast out of the sky. Sharp diagonal darts that stung where they struck her unprotected scalp and ears.
Two Sunless strode out of the storm. Sheesh, these guys hardly even squinted against the weather. One of them carried Emile, slung over its shoulder as if the boy were a doll. The other was dragging Michael by his legs; the big man’s arms flailed behind him.
On seeing her, the Sunless nearest her dropped Michael’s feet and began to move in her direction. Tameka put up her fists. She wasn’t going to go down without a struggle. But the Sunless ignored her. It moved smoothly past her. Scarcely able to believe her eyes, she swung around and saw it go through the entrance of the structure and pull Jason off Iranda.
Tameka didn’t want to take a chance on the second Sunless being equally loyal. She headed off at a flat run along the edge of the structure. It didn’t follow. She pressed her back against the base of one of the giant needles and waited as long as she dared before heading back.
The Sunless had disappeared. Probably inside. Michael lay where the Sunless had dropped him.
His eyes were closed and he wasn’t moving. She stood over him for a little while, staring down at his grey face; patches of purple were showing through the make-up.
She was just thinking that he had got what he deserved, when he opened his heavy, sad eyes.
‘Help me,’ he groaned.
She scowled and looked away. His still being alive was in bad taste. She focused on the ugly black spaceship standing in the near distance. On anywhere but him.
‘Tell me about your dream,’ Bernice said as they moved quickly down a long tunnel. The only light in the passageway came from the rays of the pale-pink sun which penetrated the frosted crystal walls. It was like running through a bag of strawberry