Doctor Who_ Nightshade - Mark Gatiss [94]
pulse is getting stronger. I think it’s on its way. Over.’
‘Right. Thank you. Over and...’
Holly, Vijay and Trevithick had hung back a little whilst
‘Doctor?’
the Doctor went ahead with his torch. After a time, he
‘Yes?’
returned, a look of puzzlement on his face.
There was a long pause. ‘Nothing. Take care. Over and
‘Come on. It’s all right.’
out.’
They followed him down the narrow tunnel until they Vijay’s eyes widened in fear. ‘Let’s get out of here.’
emerged in a large cavern, its black rock walls glistening
‘No,’ muttered the Doctor. ‘We came here to confront it with moisture. Rain from the drenched moor above trickled and that’s what we must do.’
down through the roof.
Trevithick looked about uneasily in the darkness. ‘I say, Trevithick chose a boulder and sat down, tired by his gone awfully quiet, hasn’t it?’
exertions. The Doctor shone the torch around the cavern, They all exchanged glances. A thick hush had descended picking out chunks of stone upon which the mark of human on the cavern. Even the steady drip of water from the interference was obvious.
surface appeared to have ceased.
‘The quarry,’ said the Doctor. ‘Smothered by soil over Holly shivered. ‘It’s so cold,’ she said wonderingly.
thousands of years.’
The Doctor was conscious of it too. ‘Temperature drop.
Holly picked up a small figure, crudely carved out of Like a cold spot in a haunted house.’
limestone. There were others dotted about the ground, some
‘Over there!’ Vijay pointed to the far wall of the cavern in almost perfect, others with only rudimentary work on them.
which a dark fissure was visible. As they watched, the wall
‘It’s like Easter Island,’ she breathed.
began to glow, almost as though a gateway were opening to
‘What do you think we’ll find here, Doctor?’ said Vijay.
the outside. There was a deep, thunderous rumble and tiny The Doctor was examining the walls. ‘I don’t know. I spheres of light began to split off and dance about in the suppose I half expected it to be here waiting for us.’
cold air, colliding off the walls to coalesce above their heads.
‘But the sky,’ said Trevithick. ‘All that activity. Surely it’s The Doctor gazed up in awe. The light continued to sparkle, on the surface now.’
shifting colours from gold to a brilliant cobalt blue.
‘No,’ said the Doctor. ‘I’m convinced it’s just sending out
‘It’s so beautiful,’ whispered Holly.
feelers. The main body is still here. This has to be it.’
‘The song of the Siren,’ said the Doctor cryptically.
There was a dull crackle from his pocket and he swiftly The cavern was suddenly alive with blinding light.
removed the walkie-talkie.
Trevithick shielded his eyes against the painful glare, his
‘Dr Cooper?’
brows knitting together. The Doctor peeked through his 264
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DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
fingers. ‘So strong,’ he breathed. Waves of heat shimmered Need
towards them.
The Sentience throbbed with delight.
‘Clear your minds!’ called the Doctor. ‘It’s the only way to
‘Let it go,’ cried the Doctor. ‘You can’t bring him back.’
remain safe.’
‘Hol,’ pleaded Vijay. ‘Let it go.’ He gazed into her Holly had seen this display before, the hypnotic light frightened eyes. ‘Need me.’
drenching her brain. The thought came before she could The Sentience rippled and grew more substantial, ethereal even acknowledge it and then refused to go away, like the light glancing off every feature. It opened its mouth, rushing refrain of some annoyingly catchy tune. She shook her head through Holly’s memory and piecing together fragments of and looked away from the burning gold light.
Time, moments of experience. Constructing a voice.
Vijay caught hold of her arms and shook her. ‘Holly?
‘Holly,’ it stammered.
What is it?’
Holly froze. The voice was strange, indistinct, as though She snapped shut her eyes and fought to wipe the image heard underwater. But it was James.
from her brain.
‘Holly.’ The voice was already stronger, almost
‘Can’t! Can’t do it!’ she whimpered, grasping her temples, commanding. The Sentience