Doctor Who_ Enlightenment - Barbara Clegg [2]
the sign of death.’ And once more it was only an echo in his head, ‘... Death... death... death...’
Without warning, all the lights in the TARDIS came on again, and the White Guardian vanished completely.
The Doctor was as startled by the sudden brilliance as Tegan, but she was the first to realise what had caused it.
She rounded on Turlough just as his hand was moving away from the lever.
‘You’ve reduced the power!’ she cried out, shocked. And then the Doctor was back in the room, with such a stony expression that even Turlough felt uneasy.
‘I thought we were going to blow up.’ he muttered defensively.
‘Never – ever – touch that console again.’
The Doctor’s voice was cold and cutting, and he turned his back on Turlough and began setting co-ordinates.
‘Who were you talking to?’ Tegan wanted to know. The White Guardian’s name meant nothing to her; but if she had not been so busy asking questions and if the Doctor had not been busy telling her there was no time to explain, they might have seen Turlough’s look of terror. It was clear that the name did mean something to him, and something that caused him extreme alarm. They never did notice, however, because no sooner were the co-ordinates set than the TARDIS lurched violently and the three of them were thrown across the room.
Tegan felt gingerly for bruises, but the Doctor seemed quite oblivious of any discomfort as he picked himself up and dusted himself down.
‘Time override,’ he remarked casually. ‘The locking must have been in the co-ordinates.’ And then he added with sudden gravity, ‘We’re here.’
There was a pause.
‘Where?’ asked Tegan.
The scanner showed total blackness outside, and the Doctor had to admit that he was as much in the dark as the TARDIS. He did not know where they were nor what they were supposed to be doing – the White Guardian’s instructions had been interrupted too soon. All he did know was that they were supposed to stop something happening. Something dangerous.
‘And when the White Guardian says there’s danger, he’s invariably right,’ he remarked briskly.
The atmosphere analyser showed the air outside to be breathable and Turlough was despatched to get two torches for himself and the Doctor.
‘Make it three,’ Tegan called after him. ‘I’m coming with you.’
She turned on the Doctor, ready to argue, but faltered at the look in his eyes. It was one she did not often see there.
The Doctor was seriously worried.
‘I need you here,’ he said. ‘The White Guardian is sure to try and make contact again.’
‘Why don’t you wait, then?’ Tegan wanted to know. But the Doctor shook his head.
‘No time to waste. It’s too urgent’.
Turlough was back in the room as he finished speaking, almost as though he had been eavesdropp’ng.
‘I’ll stay, if you like,’ he offered, his voice just a shade too casual.
The Doctor looked straight at Tegan.
‘I want someone I can rely on. It’s important.’
Tegan gave up.
‘All right,’ she said, resigned. ‘What do I have to do?’
Carefully the Doctor explained that she was to stand by, ready to operate the lever when the White Guardian tried to speak again. The message was vital, and his power was so badly depleted that he would need to draw on theirs to get through at all. Tegan was taken aback.
‘You mean – the power drain was the White Guardian?’
‘Exactly!’ said the Doctor. And then he and Turlough had their torches at the ready and he was opening the main door.
‘What shall I do if he tells me something important?’
Tegan stuttered.
‘Thank him politely.’ And with a smile the Doctor closed the door firmly behind him. It was not until she was alone that Tegan remembered that she still had no idea what the White Guardian looked like. Or, indeed, who he was.
Cautiously the Doctor and Turlough felt their way forward, shining their torches into the blackness. The ground had turned out to be a wooden floor, but there was no clue as to the sort of building they were in. Odd creaks sounded from time to time, and then a scrabbling noise.
The Doctor stopped so suddenly that Turlough bumped into him.
‘Rats,’ came his soft