Doctor Who_ Nightshade - Mark Gatiss [87]
DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
Ace spotted her rucksack, now a good few feet from what Robin launched himself back through the window and was left of Billy Coote. She scrambled across the room and began to descend the rope.
picked it up, immediately retreating to the window.
Ace cupped the explosives in her hand and turned around.
‘We’ve got to get out, Doctor!’
The Doctor was against the wall, the huge miasma of energy The Doctor glanced at the trap door, which was now floating about him. It was roaring with power now, totally enveloped by the clouds of whispering energy.
beautiful colours like frozen flames rippling within its
‘Need!’ bellowed the disembodied voice.
nebulous structure.
Ace found a coil of rope in her rucksack and hastily tied
‘Need you!’ came the chuckling voice.
one end around the nearest beam. It was further from the
‘Doctor! Get away from it!’ cried Ace in a hoarse whisper.
window than she would have liked but it would have to do.
She rolled the globes of nitro-nine-A across the floor.
She ran back to the window and fed the rope down the wall.
‘No, Ace!’ yelled the Doctor.
It was a good twenty feet short.
The cloud’s tendrils retreated a little, slipping around the
‘Robin!’ cried Ace, pushing her head through the stone explosives inquisitively.
arch. ‘Come on!’
Ace grabbed the hood of the Doctor’s coat and dragged
‘What do you need?’ shouted the Doctor to the air around him towards the window. She found the rope and pulled him.
herself through, abseiling down the face of the tower.
A tendril of energy appeared and stroked his face almost Freezing wind bit at her face and hands. She looked up. The tenderly.
Doctor was just emerging through the window. Looking
‘Need you,’ gushed the voice. ‘Need your life. Warm life!’
down, she saw Robin gazing up at them. He was all right.
‘Doctor!’ screeched Ace. She tipped up her rucksack. No Ace pushed her feet off the stones and slid down the rope, more rope. Just a small collapsible ladder and... and...
trying to ignore the vicious burning sensation it induced.
Two globes of nitro-nine-A.
The end of the rope came in sight and she jammed her She’d been right then. Thank God she had foresight.
fingers into the brickwork. Twenty feet to go. Twenty feet.
It was the same formula she’d brewed up in Nazi And that nitro was so unstable...
Germany during their fight with the Timewyrm. Bit of an She looked up anxiously. The Doctor was still too high up.
unstable formula but effective. And that was what they
‘Come on, Doctor!’
needed now.
Her voice was blown back at her by the wind.
Robin pulled himself through the window but Ace
‘Ace!’ Robin cried, holding out his arms to grab her. ‘Jump!
immediately shook her head.
You’re close enough!’
‘No time! Get down the rope!’
She saw that there was only ten or twelve feet to go. Time
‘It’s too short!’ he cried.
to put some of that training into action. She thought of
‘Just have to try it, mate,’ she said, smiling.
Sergeant Drew Smith and the parachute team he had 244
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DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
brought to Perivale Youth Centre one wet bank holiday.
He’d been one of her earliest crushes. This one’s for you, Drew, she thought.
Ace threw herself to the ground, rolled expertly and found herself gripped by Robin’s hands. He kissed her Chapter Ten
gratefully. Then they both looked up at the tower.
The Doctor was reaching the end of the rope. He swung in the wind, trying to get a grip on the loose masonry of the tower wall.
In the attic chamber, the cloud of energy shimmered over the globes of explosive. There was potential energy in there, it knew. Delicious energy. And any moment now...
Trevithick pulled at the banister and leant heavily over it, wheezing and spluttering. He stared into the gloom and The tower roof erupted in flame as the entire attic made out a large red sign on the far wall. Level 8. He was disintegrated. Chunks of stone and roof-slate blasted into almost there now. Just through the door and back down the the air. The whole structure tottered