Doctor Who_ Full Circle - Andrew Smith [44]
They started as a Marshman suddenly reared up from behind the TARDIS and lunged towards them.
'Run!' Varsh ordered, and as Login, Garif and the citizens ran off up the second passageway, he and Adric aimed their oxygen cylinders at the Marshmen and let loose a stream of oxygen.
The marsh creature recoiled, but for some reason it didn't seem quite so violently affected as the others they had come across. More likely, Adric reasoned, it was one of those Marshmen. The Doctor had explained about their adaptability. The thought shocked him. Could they already be developing an immunity?
Adric's cylinder spluttered and fell silent. He tried the valve again, to no avail. Checking the pressure gauge, he saw it read zero. 'Varsh - my cylinder's run out!'
'Then leave this to me - get the others back to the Doctor!'
'I can't leave you on your own.'
'Adric - don't argue, go!'
Adric realised that he had little option. Throwing his cylinder at the Marshman, he turned and sprinted up the passageway after Login and the others.
The Marshman swung its arms feebly towards Varsh, still daring to come no closer due to the oxygen.
Varsh became aware his cylinder felt lighter than before. He looked down at the pressure gauge.
It wavered just above the zero reading.
'Forty generations?' Romana queried, straightening from the microscope. 'More like four thousand, I'd say.'
'Since the starliner crashed?' said Keara, amazed.
The Doctor was standing behind them. 'Your Deciders have been procrastinating longer than we thought.'
'I don't understand,' said Keara. 'How can you tell all that from the marsh creature's cells?' She looked into the microscope.
'Not the marsh creature,' the Doctor corrected her. 'That's Dexeter.' He removed the slide and replaced it with another. 'That's the marsh creature.'
Keara scowled. There was no recognisable difference between the specimens. 'The same cells...?' she pondered.
At that moment, Adric burst through the doors. He made straight for the stack of oxygen cylinders and snatched one up.
'Adric?' said the Doctor. 'What - ?'
'Varsh needs help!' Adric cried, then turned and ran out, past Login and the others, who had just arrived in the doorway.
The Doctor, Keara and Romana ran after him. Telling Garif to wait with the citizens, Login ran to join them.
'Come on!' the Doctor cried.
12
'We're Trapped'
Varsh's oxygen cylinder was empty.
He tossed the useless metal cannister at the Marshman as it ventured towards him, then he turned and ran for the passageway. On the wall just inside the passageway, he found a wheel control. He turned it rapidly, and a fire safety panel started to descend from the ceiling, to seal the passageway off from the boarding area.
The panel came down slowly, and was only halfway towards the floor when Varsh felt the hand of the Marshman around his ankle. The creature pulled and Varsh crashed to the floor.
As the panel descended still further, the Marshman started to drag Varsh through.
The youngster clawed helplessly at the smooth metal floor, trying to struggle free. In vain. He could no nothing against the strength of the Marshman.
He heard running footsteps approaching, and looking up was amazed to see Adric racing urgently down the passageway towards him.
'Varsh!' Adric screamed. He dropped the cylinder he was carrying and threw himself forward onto the floor. His outstretched hand caught Varsh's, he tightened his grip and pulled. But the Marshman was too strong for him, and the panel was nearly closed. It would trap Varsh's arm any moment.
Varsh said, 'Goodbye, Adric!' and jerked his hand free.
'Varsh, no!' Adric saw his brother's hand vanish, and then the panel met the floor.
Adric heard the sounds of a scuffle behind the panel, the snarling of the Marshman, a stifled cry from Varsh... then there was silence. He leaned forward, on his knees, against the panel, his cheek and hands pressed to the cold, harsh metal, and he started to cry for his brother.