Doctor Who_ Empire of Death - BBC Worldwide [102]
Remember me, he whispers. You close your eyes and when you open them he is gone...
Nyssa was pulled back to reality by the explosions, dull crumps of noise echoing down the valley. Atop Corra Linn the doppelgangers looked about in confusion.
`That's the dam being blown,' Morrison shouted to Nyssa.
`We've got to get out of here before the flash flood hits!' He was already running towards the riverbank, still holding James in his arms. Nyssa followed his example.
`Don't let them escape!' shouted the duplicate Hawthorne.
Òpen fire!'
Ìt didn't work,' Vollmer said, leaning back against a tree. When the dust began to clear, the temporary dam was still in place. A few new holes had been created in it but the rest of the structure remained resolute against the Clyde. `We must have put the explosives in the wrong places' The sergeant rubbed a hand through his hair, suddenly aware of how exhausted he was.
It had all been for nothing.
As the last echoes of the explosions died away, a new sound could be heard. Faint at first but growing ever louder was a distinct hissing. Vollmer peered down into the valley. `What the hell...?' His words faltered as he saw the streams of water arcing outwards from the dam. A deep rumbling began to build, overwhelming all other noises. 'It's going!' the sergeant screamed in delight. 'It's going!'
With that, a huge chunk of the dam was pushed out of place, tumbling away in a mighty surge of water. More and more of the dam began to give way as the river tore through, resuming its journey down the valley.
`Front rank - fire!' The first row of twelve shot at the advancing creatures and immediately began to reload.
`Middle rank - fire!' the general bellowed, the men of that row following the example of those in front of them. 'Rear rank - fire!'
By this time the first row was ready again, their rifles taking aim at the enemy. 'Front rank - fire!'
The creatures were humanoid but the resemblance stopped there as far as Doulton could see. Faces were demonic visages, the stuff of battlefield nightmares. Bodies were mottled blues and greys, flailing masses of flesh that seemed to blur before the general's eyes. They attacked in waves, flinging themselves at the soldiers. Doulton knew that the supply of ammunition his men were carrying was limited. There seemed no way they could win this battle. But he had made a promise to the Doctor and that promise would be kept. It was his duty and the duty of all his men. It was their honour.
To one side of the main enemy force the general saw the creature that had been masquerading as him. It had recovered and was now directing the demonic attackers with that damnable screaming. Doulton drew his service revolver and took careful aim, a single shot blowing the creature's head apart.
The screaming stopped, just the sound of battle filling the air.
'That's better,' the general muttered.
As the last echoes of the scream faded away, the dead duplicate of James collapsed to the ground. Whatever force had been animating it was gone. The Doctor examined the corpse before gently closing its eyelids. 'Rest in peace'
Victoria stirred on the ground. The Doctor crouched beside the Queen, helping her sit up. 'Your Majesty, are you all right?'
She nodded, her eyes wet with tears, one hand still clasped around the locket. 'I saw him,' Victoria whispered. `Not one of these impostors. I saw my beloved...'
Their attention was distracted by the sound of approaching thunder. The Doctor stood up, tilting his head to one side as he listened to the growing crescendo. 'The river,'
he realised. `Nyssa!' The Doctor turned back to the Queen. 'Your Majesty, if there is still a chance to save my friend -'
'Go,' she urged.
Morrison cried out in agony, stumbling on the stones as one of the shots punctured his right leg. Nyssa turned back to see the private struggling to reach the side of the riverbed. `Give me James!' she called, more shots zipping past her as she returned to Morrison.
`No,