Doctor Who_ Nightshade - Mark Gatiss [90]
even America, which sounded so exciting in the Conan Doyle books.
His gaze moved swiftly to the base of the broken pillar There’d even been one or two brushes with the law back where a fairly fresh wreath of poppies fluttered in the wind.
at the turn of the century. Nothing too serious of course, but WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
it had taken more than a magistrate’s fine to sort out Mr Woodall’s daughter when he’d got her in the family way.
The sky above the ruined monastery tower rippled like But after the Somme, he had never yearned for excitement water, great bolts of burning light shooting through the again.
clouds. There was a distant rumble of thunder followed Of all the men in Crook Marsham who had joined up (and only seconds later by a vicious fork of lightning.
almost all had gone voluntarily, poor devils), only he and The Sentience licked about the tower and slowly, almost Jack Prudhoe had returned alive.
unconsciously, began to swirl into a vortex. This time the They’d never really been friends before but after the Great thunder seemed closer, booming from horizon to horizon, War they had an unspoken bond, something no one else the accompanying lightning flared across the sky. The could penetrate. Even though neither said a word about atmosphere crackled as though alive.
their experiences, both recognised the haunted look buried A massive shock ripped through the tower and the deep at the back of the other’s eyes.
ancient masonry shattered into limestone dust. Trails of Medcalfe coughed loudly and spat up a ball of phlegm light sparkled in the vortex, spiralling from a rich purple to into his grubby handkerchief. He’d caught a whiff of gas in a dense, terrifying blackness. Wind roared across the moor, the trenches and was still suffering for it.
tearing up clumps of heather and rock. The old bus shelter Now old Jack was gone too: a victim, so George Lowcock and the road sign gave little resistance, exploding in a cloud said, of this mysterious accident. Ironic that it should be gas of rotten wood. Only the TARDIS stood firm, like a watchful too.
policeman, calmly biding its time.
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DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
The Sentience spread its nebulous fronds, gushing down he was enthusiastically received by Cooper and Holly. It from the heavens like an avenging angel. The sky boiled was better than a hundred ovations, he thought, chuckling with fire.
to himself.
It felt the blackness at its heart, the great, awful Trevithick recounted his adventures with some pride and hollowness. There had to be more. There was still need.
then told them of his discovery in the base of the lift shaft.
Need
Cooper threw him a glance. ‘Describe it.’
Flicking a shimmering tendril, it covered the whole Trevithick sat back in his chair. ‘I can’t. It’s all lit up like a distance to the village in a fraction of a second. For a few TV studio. Too bright to make anything out. But it’s pulsing, moments, it gurgled and twisted around every house, as if it were alive. I managed to get back up the stairs to this loosening bricks and shattering roofs.
level but I think I must’ve passed out. Getting to be a bit of a Need
habit, I’m afraid.’
Then there was a tiny trace in its mind. Insistent. Powerful.
‘Well,’ said Vijay, ‘we’re delighted...’
Bountiful.
The double doors burst open at the suggestion of Robin’s Need
foot and he, the Doctor and Ace ran into the room, bringing A torrent of emotion raced through every brilliant particle a mass of wind-blown foliage with them.
of its essence and sadness overwhelmed it. Such regret.
‘Doctor! Thank God!’ exclaimed Trevithick.
Such regret.
Cooper ran a hand through her blood-stiffened hair and Regret was good. Regret was strong.
grinned broadly. ‘Good to have you back.’
Need
‘What’s the situation?’ said the Doctor quietly.
Need
Cooper gestured around desperately. The room was Suddenly, there were images too. Faces and names and clattering with data again.
voices, all