Doctor Who_ Longest Day - Michael Collier [34]
Self-pity gnawed at him. He wished Vost would suddenly appear, explain that it was all a big joke, that the Doctor was an old friend of his and that everything was fine. Tell him to get some sleep, then to get back to work.
life as usual.
He wandered aimlessly, not knowing where he was going, at times breaking into a stumbling run, at others slowing down and gasping for breath. Then, wiping hot tears away with the back of his hand, he came to a standstill as a dark, massive shape blurred into view close ahead of him.
His heart missed a beat and he stopped breathing.
He got the impression of something huge, some kind of creature, almost reaching up to the ceiling. Its skin was dark, brown and shiny, with the texture and smell of charred flesh.
Vasid didn't know whether to scream or start crying again. While he made up his mind, he turned and ran desperately along the corridor.
***
The sun was still sitting like a huge welt in the pink flesh of the sky. Sam reflected on the men milling about outside, talking, arguing, all the time shooting suspicious glances up at the sky as if expecting the sun to have leapt half a mile across it and for everything to be normal again.
But then, she couldn't blame them. It was frightening. As simple as that.
Somehow, fighting Krotons, Daleks, whatever -however scary or deadly they were - you could understand them. They wanted to kill you, or to subjugate you, or to do something undoubtedly very unpleasant to you, and you either resisted or gave in.
The sun didn't give a bugger what you did. If it wanted to stop, well, what the hell did that mean?
Shivering despite the heat, she sat down on the bunk again, wincing at its unexpected hardness against the small of her back.
The chain suddenly rattled against the iron door, and she tried to assume a pose of studied boredom for her imminent visitor.
It was Tanhith, and she relaxed.'Hello. Nice day, isn't it?'
'I think we've all had enough of it,' said Tanhith, smiling grimly. He sat down, eyelashes swaying as he positioned himself on the stone floor. Sam couldn't help smiling, and he noticed.'What?'
"Those lashes. Unbelievable!'
Tanhith stared at her.'What do you mean?'
'Have you any idea how many of my old schoolfriends would kill for lashes like those?' She started laughing as Tanhith distracted her by suddenly flexing them so they performed a small Mexican wave under, then over, his eyelids.
It was strange, to suddenly laugh like that, and it fleetingly occurred to her just how happy it could make her to be a traveller in time and space.'That's a neat little trick.'
'Elementary grooming. We're taught it at a young age. It's a custom in the Outer Worlds.'
'Well, Tanhith, I am well accustomed to customs, and I still say it's a neat little trick.' Her smile dropped a little.'Why am I locked up here?'
Tanhith shrugged.'Felbaac's reminding us all he's in charge, I suppose.
Deity knows, he does it often enough.'
'In charge of what?'
'Of everything we are. He is the custodian of our cause, and of our selves.
Of the entire rebellion, it seems.'
'Rebellion, eh?' Sam nodded. 'Is that why you're banged up here?' Tanhith looked blankly at her. 'Stuck in this dump, I mean.'
'Obliquely, I suppose,' said Tanhith, wryly, stifling another hacking cough.
'We aren't prisoners any more - not officially anyway. Our ship was damaged as we descended into this inferno. It seems we can't get back out again, nor get our...' He tailed off, and smiled a little sadly.'Felbaac brought us here because we need a small army to help us in our attack:
'Attack?' Sam's voice was unapologetically harsher.
'Well, in our struggle to assert and maintain the liberty of the Outer Worlds, then.' He was well aware of the disappointment in her eyes. 'You are quick to judge me, Samantha Jones.'