Doctor Who_ Earthworld - Jacqueline Rayner [34]
‘You don’t have feelings,’ said the Doctor. ‘You only feel as if you do.’
Anji cursed her heels and her short legs again. She’d been here before. This was level two of the game. Level one: caveman and pterosaur. Level two. . .
well, she didn’t know what half these things were. Not that she was a dinosaur expert, but she was fairly confident that several had more basis in animation than in prehistoric reality. The bright pink polka dots were a bit of a giveaway.
That detached bit of her mind was still telling her that being chased by cartoonlike monsters was just ridiculous. She was running away from things that wanted to kill her, and she was more irritated than scared.
She could tell the boys were scared, though, and she – the token grown-up
– had to deal with it. Poor Xernic was desperately trying not to show his terror A Man is the Sum of His [False] Memories 63
in front of the other boys, and valiantly zapping any android that got too close.
It was working, too, but there was only one of him and lots of them. What was really annoying Anji was that she could still see in her mind that smug blonde kid laughing at them as she pressed the buttons.
‘Why didn’t the zapper work?’ Xernic had gasped as they had begun to run.
‘It must be a pile of junk,’ Zequathon had said. ‘Ditch it.’
‘No!’ Anji had dived back and rescued it. ‘Don’t just give up! Try it again!’
And, as the dinosaurs began to close in on them, he had done so. And this time, it had worked.
‘Try to clear a path away from the barrier,’ Anji had instructed. ‘They’re trying to herd us towards it so we’ll be trapped.’
And again, brave Xernic had done his best. But inevitably, with monsters closing in from all sides, they were getting closer and closer to the invisible barrier. The Edge. The Point of No Return. Game Over. You Have No Lives Left.
Closer and closer. And then there they were.
The creatures were slightly wary of the barrier. They must have been programmed to avoid it – or perhaps, as electrical beings, they could sense it; like forces repelling, or something like that. That – and the zapper – were giving Anji and the boys the tiniest degree of breathing space. Or, to be more accurate, the tiniest space in which to carry on breathing. Life – for a limited time only, Anji thought. Hurry! It won’t be here for long.
The dinosaurs moved in on them. And in the distance, Anji could see the blonde girl approaching, laughing.
The android-Asia had seemed subdued after telling her tale. She’d wandered off on her own, as the other two told their versions of the same story. They seemed to expect sympathy. They didn’t get it.
‘I came here because I thought there was some sort of robot revolt in progress,’ said the Doctor. ‘Obviously there isn’t – just your ridiculous selfish doubles causing mayhem. So I really don’t think there’s much point in me spending another few hours while you lie on a completely unnecessary psychi-atrist’s couch. I have friends who may be in danger.’
Then android-Africa began laughing.
Android-Antarctica tried to shush her, but it was too late. The Doctor had spun round to see what was so funny over his right shoulder – and saw the screen.
‘That’s Anji!’ he cried. ‘What are you doing?’
64
EarthWorld
‘A dinosaur can break a person’s arm with a single blow,’ said Africa.
The Doctor frowned. ‘I think you’ll find that’s swans.’
‘Can I get a swan?’ Africa asked Asia, who’d returned.
‘Call those monsters off!’ the Doctor ordered.
‘Shan’t!’ said Africa.
‘Can’t,’ said Asia.
‘Or won’t?’ asked the Doctor. ‘How do the triplets get through