Doctor Who_ Longest Day - Michael Collier [93]
Life was never that simple. Here was a woman who had probably maimed and killed her way through hundreds, maybe thousands of people. And here was Sam Jones helping her, in a determined, sweaty silence. She'd try harder not to preach in future. Maybe she'd let her actions speak for her.
Mind you, she couldn't for the life of her work out what she was trying to say by doing this.
'Those things are coming this way,' muttered Tanhith, climbing painfully down from the roof of a supply store. Fettal emitted a low groan of terror.
'Quick, in here!' Sam ordered, kicking open the corrugated-iron door of an outhouse full of decaying brukweed, brown and withered in the intense heat of the endless day.
Suddenly they heard a desperate scream. Having helped Tanhith inside the hut where Fettal was already leaning heavily against the pile of vegetation, Sam scrambled out to see what was happening.
***
In a panic, the weight of the massive creature crushing down hard on his struggling little frame, Nashaad skidded round in the mud until his legs found purchase on a small boulder. He pushed against it with all his strength.
Like a cork popping from a bottle, Nashaad and the Kusk went flying through the air. There was a terrible snapping sound, then silence.
Anstaar raised her voice a little, wincing from the pain in her leg.'What happened?'
The Doctor's eyes were closed tightly shut. 'His metal legs. They carried him straight into that cliff face. Too fast.'
'Is he...?'
'I think he must be.' The Doctor's voice was a mournful whisper.
"The Kusk -'She started trying to crawl away at the thought of it.
'Nashaad took it with him.' She heard him move over slowly to the bodies.
After what seemed like an age, he reported back, his voice hollow. 'They're both dead.'
Anstaar let her head slump against the ground. Her leg was agony.'What do we do now, then?' She was too tired and hurt too much to take any more responsibility for herself. Leave it to the Doctor. He didn't hesitate in his reply.
'I'm going to bury Nashaad. I'm going to get that platform working. And then I'm going back to the moon.'
'To a base full of those creatures? You're mad! They'll tear you apart!'
Anstaar shrieked as the Doctor turned her gently on to her back and inspected her leg.
'It's broken. In lots of places.'
'No more dancing for a season or two, then.' There, it had come. Obligation to cliche fulfilled. 'I can't go up there, Doctor. I just can't.' Anstaar started shivering, despite the warm muggy air.'I'd rather die here.'
The Doctor looked at her sympathetically, his brilliant blue-green eyes staring deep into hers. 'I'm afraid I've nothing left to wrap round you.'
'You could hold me, couldn't you?' She closed her eyes as she felt his arms slide softly round her. "Then you can tell me your secret plan for getting us both out of this alive.'
The silence that followed somehow wasn't as frightening as it should've been.
***
Shielding her eyes with one hand from the glare of the sun, Sam suddenly grasped what it was she was looking at.
A man was running for his life.'Crichter!' she cried, pleased that he'd got away, but then suddenly scared, unsure what she should do next.
He saw her as he rounded the corner, and pelted with a fast and painful limp towards her.'You!' he shouted. 'Hey,you!'
Sam shushed him desperately. 'Shut up, don't make them think there's anyone else left!'
"There isn't,' he said, panting. 'They've killed everyone.'
'Not everyone,' she said, taking him firmly by the hand and pulling him towards the shed, anxious in case the Kusks should round the corner and see them standing there.
'What...?' Crichter's voice died in his throat as he saw Fettal slumped against the pile of bruk.'What is she doing here.'
Sam shut the door, quietly and angrily. 'Trying to stay alive like the rest of us.' The heat