Doctor Who_ Last of the Gaderene - Mark Gatiss [65]
‘That’s what we saw,’ whispered Noah.
Jo shuddered. ‘They look like coffins.’
Noah nodded. ‘We tried to open one but it was impossible.’
Jo raised herself up on her knees. ‘Where are they taking them?’
‘Dunno. This was as far as I got. They chased me out on to the marsh and...’
He trailed off. Jo squeezed his hand affectionately. ‘It’s OK. We don’t have to go on.’
Noah shook his head. ‘No. We do.’
He pointed ahead. The guards at the perimeter gate had stepped aside to allow a phalanx of troops to pass, shouldering their strange burden. They moved off further into the darkness until they were swallowed up by the mist.
‘Come on,’ said Noah, getting to his feet.
Jo held back. ‘What’s out there?’
Noah didn’t reply directly. ‘We have to see what the hell they’re doing with those things.’ He helped Jo to her feet.
They kept well back, watching as perhaps a dozen more of the black cylinders were unloaded and carried off into the night. Noah moved in a wide orbit, always keeping out of sight by ducking down among outcrops of spiky reeds.
The procession finally halted in an area of excessively boggy ground. The cylinders were lowered from the guards’
shoulders and then, to Jo’s astonishment, were slid slowly into the marsh. Gas bubbled to the surface, frothing over their sleek outlines. After several firm pushes, every last one of them disappeared into the ground.
Jo and Noah exchanged glances.
The Legion troops stood up, ramrod straight, and began to file back towards the aerodrome. In a few moments they were gone, leaving Jo and Noah alone on the lonely wetland.
Immediately, Noah splashed into the marsh, his legs quickly sinking up to his knees. He thrust his arms into the bog and began to grope in the cold water. Jo couldn’t help smiling.
‘Aren’t the trout ticklish today?’ she whispered.
Noah smiled back. ‘Give me a hand. I think I’ve got one.’
Jo waded in and gasped a little as the chilly water soaked her trousers. She felt around under water, grimacing at the thought of what might be lurking down there. Leeches, perhaps, or something worse...
Eventually, her hand connected with the smooth surface of one of the containers and she plunged her arm in almost up to the shoulder, pushing the sleek black form upwards.
Noah sloshed around to its opposite side and heaved with all his strength until it began to emerge once again into the air.
Filthy water seemed to evaporate immediately from its surface.
‘Pretty... heavy,’ gasped Jo. ‘Whatever it is.’
Noah nodded and gave a final thrust which propelled the black cylinder out on to the firmer ground that surrounded them. It thudded into the soil with a wet slap.
Jo and Noah dragged themselves from the marsh then stood for a moment, hands on hips, getting their breath back.
After a quick, furtive look round, Noah dropped to his knees and began, as before, to pass his hands over the surface of the cylinder.
‘We’re like Burke and Hare,’ said Jo and immediately regretted it. The comparison wasn’t pleasant.
Noah felt in his trouser pocket and produced a Swiss army knife. He held it up in front of his eyes and selected what he thought would be the most useful application. Then he unclipped a torch from his belt and tossed it to Jo.
‘Here,’ he whispered. ‘Keep it pointed at me.’
Jo clicked the torch on and swept the beam over Noah and on to the black cylinder.
Noah made a few tentative jabs at the surface of the container but the knife simply slid off. He beckoned Jo closer and then peered at the object with the benefit of extra light.
‘Anything?’ asked Jo.
Noah nodded. ‘I think so. There’s a little blemish here.
Almost like it hasn’t been...’ He thrust the blade at the spot,
‘...sealed properly.’
There was a low groaning sound, as though someone far away had been disturbed in their sleep. Jo crouched down next to Noah, suddenly