Doctor Who_ Full Circle - Andrew Smith [23]
Romana felt a chill run through her. 'K9...' she gasped.
6
'You Will Answer the Questions, Doctor'
'That was your computer,' said Adric as he and Romana returned to the control room. She closed the doors.
'Still is, I hope,' she said. 'If the damage isn't beyond repair.'
Varsh glowered towards the doors, in his imagination seeing beyond them, into the cave. 'Senseless creatures!' he snarled.
'I don't think so,' said Romana softly. 'Have you noticed how fast they're adapting? And not just physiologically. They've obviously organised some kind of leadership. They've taken up shelter, a base of operations if you like. And their attempts to open the TARDIS doors were very systematic. That's intelligent behaviour.'
'Intelligent?' Tylos sneered. 'Trying to kill us?'
'Perhaps they have a grudge against you? This is their planet, after all. You're just intruders, imposing yourselves on their rightful territory.'
Keara was pondering something Romana had brought up. 'Wait a minute,' she said. 'Why do you suppose they chose this cave? There are dozens of others.'
'It does seem a little more than coincidence,' Varsh agreed.
'Why did you choose this cave?' Romana asked.
'To keep an eye on the starliner, of course,' Varsh answered.
'Yes,' said Keara. 'It looks straight down into the valley.'
'Then it would appear,' said Romana, 'that they also have an interest in the starliner. They'd like to get inside the starliner, to get at your people inside. They have intelligence... They probably also have a plan.'
'Decider Draith? You witnessed his death?' Nefred's shrill voice carried easily across the length of the Great Book Room to the Doctor. The Doctor detected in his tone something verging on... fear - the fear of discovery. But discovery of what? The Doctor was intrigued.
'You don't seem to be hearing me very well from up there,' he said. 'Have I got to repeat everything? Look, I'm sure all this ceremonial is considered very impressive by the general public, but it's beginning to get on my nerves. Can't we go somewhere more intimate? Some little football pitch, perhaps?'
The Deciders had no conception of what a football pitch was, and did not appreciate the humour. The Doctor could see he was going to have his work cut out for him.
'You will answer the questions, Doctor,' Garif intoned threateningly.
The Doctor's eyebrows went up.
'Decider Draith,' Login reminded him with a trace of irritation.
'Oh, that. Yes. Well, Decider Draith was dragged into the marsh. What have they got against you, these Marshmen?'
'We're investigating that question,' Garif replied.
'They seem to resent our presence as aliens,' Nefred put in.
The Doctor sighed. The same old problem. 'Why can't people be nice to one another for a change?' he said aloud. 'I mean, I'm an alien and you don't want to drag me into a marsh, do you?' He cast his gaze across their stern faces. 'Then again...'
'How do you know this about Decider Draith,' Garif inquired, 'if you did not witness the event?'
'I had a very reliable eyewitness,' came the Doctor's reply. 'Then, when I visited the scene of the crime -'
Login interrupted him. 'You went to the marsh?' There was incredulity in his voice.
'Yes.'
'But the mists?' Login's eyes veered towards his fellow-Deciders. 'How could you breathe?'
'There was an odd smell, certainly,' the Doctor stated. 'But definitely non-toxic.'
Login appeared shaken. 'Clearly the witness is lying. The manuals say the mists are fatal.'
Garif and Nefred looked at each other, then at Login. 'Not necessarily,' said Garif.
'Not necessarily?' Login stammered.
'Login,' Nefred began, 'as First Decider, I am now Keeper of the System Files.'
'The truth is known to Nefred,' Garif simpered. 'We must simply accept the inconsistency.'
'It is fitting the