Doctor Who_ Combat Rock - Mick Lewis [74]
What happened next, happened swiftly.
A huge plume of water rose between Jamie and Santi and the pursuing beast.
A head three times larger than that of the reptile rose into view. It was covered in green slime, and there were no features discernible apart from a toothless maw, like a mossy cave. The armoured beast had no time to alter direction. A long tendril snaked out of the water, roped around its midriff to help it on its way. The reptile disappeared into the maw, which oozed shut so that only the tail remained visible, whipping madly. The slimy head lowered beneath the water.
Jamie and Santi had turned as the geyser of water splattered them, and were just in time to see the surreal episode. After the head had disappeared, three long green fingers groped up from the surface, searching for more prey.
They wasted no more time swimming towards the river bank. As if detecting their frantic movements, the fingers changed course to follow them.
Ussman lay panting on the bank. He had been oblivious to everything that had happened after the canoe capsized, beyond the obvious survival drive of making it ashore. That he had done, without being swallowed or molested in any way. Only now, after ten minutes of lying on his back pumping air into his water-logged lungs, could he begin to think about the preceding events.
He wobbled to his feet. The river was placid once more, only the floating upside-down canoe was present to mark the disturbance. There were no bodies in the water. He shaded his eyes with one hand and peered down-river. The other canoe was distant now. He was alone on the river bank. He was alone full stop. He was no longer a hostage, but that prospect didn’t fill him with much hope for his future well-being in this crazy jungle.
He thought of Jamie and Santi and a wash of sorrow struck him. He had liked them both. He thought of Budi, and was soon on the verge of tears. Only the good die young, someone had once told him. He couldn’t remember who now, but it seemed they had been right. He had nagged Budi into coming on this trip. The fisherman’s son had been pretty happy with his simple life until Ussman shattered it, and filled his head full of dreams of money. Now he was dead, because of him.
How would he ever be able to face Budi’s parents? And Santi
– while not exactly a saint, was not a bad girl as such. Ussman had detected a warmth of personality behind the bickering front she put up for Wma’s sake, and a wealth of good humour. Now she was gone too. Then there was Jamie: well, there was no mistaking the young man’s courage, and generosity of spirit.
What was he doing, standing here performing a wake for his friends and feeling sorry for himself?
He was alone; he’d better start trying to do something about surviving. Maybe then he could make it up to Budi’s parents in some way.
He had a purpose then. He was free, and he would survive.
The Doctor’s canoe was too far away now for him to be able to distinguish events clearly, but he had not missed the Goliath head that had intervened in the imminent slaughter of his comrade.
‘Oh, my giddy aunt,’ he moaned helplessly, unable to see whether this new monster had claimed Jamie instead of the reptile.
‘Snatcher,’ Tigus said respectfully.
‘Can’t we go back? They may have reached the river bank alive.’
‘They dead! Snatcher will have them now.’
‘Ohhh,’ the Doctor slumped despondently down onto the bed of the canoe. Wina put a hand on his shoulder, and he patted it distractedly.
‘I sorry for your friend,’ she said genuinely. ‘And I sorry for Santi too.’
The Doctor looked up. Her eyes were moist.
‘Yes, I can see that, my dear,’ he said, attempting to forget his own grief for her sake. ‘But you are still very much alive, and still have friends to care for you.’ As he spoke Wemus clasped her other hand warmly. She fell into the guide’s arms as the canoe rocked dangerously.
‘Row!’ Tigus yelled at Wemus.
Wemus ignored him, too busy consoling Wina, his hand caressing her hair as she sobbed openly now.
‘I said row, traitor, or you join friends in river.