Doctor Who_ Nightshade - Mark Gatiss [96]
happened to it?’
The Doctor was already making for the tunnel. ‘It’s so The Doctor shook his head wearily.
strong,’ he said again. ‘Not even a body left this time. I must... I must think.’
The Sentience squirmed and gushed with pleasure. Didn’t A huge sigh, almost a sob, was wrenched from his chest.
he realise that sending the female into unconsciousness was 268
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Trevithick pulled Vijay to his feet. The young man was The beamed roof shook and plaster cascaded down on to shaking his head silently, tears running down his cheeks.
the frightened survivors.
He had been too weak, then, after all. Unable to fight Outside, the Sentience lashed about the church gables like against a dead man. Now she was gone.
a kraken attached to a storm-tossed ship. Tendrils of golden The Doctor strode down the tunnel, scarcely bothering light ranged through the graveyard, lapping at tombstones.
about the rocks into which his shins slammed. Trevithick There was a deafening roar as the portion of its hobbled behind, helping Vijay as best he could.
consciousness which had been below ground blasted back
‘What are we going to do?’ cried Trevithick to the little through the village like a typhoon, flattening houses in its figure ahead of him. The Doctor said nothing. In fact, path.
Trevithick thought he might not have heard until the Doctor The Sentience felt almost whole again and flexed itself, the stopped abruptly just in sight of the tunnel entrance.
energy infusion from Holly gushing through it. Soon it Trevithick wheezed and let Vijay slide to the ground.
would be strong enough to summon its entire self from
‘Doctor, I said...’
below.
He stopped, conscious of the Doctor’s back turned But still there was need. There was always need.
towards him. ‘What is it?’ he asked, turning to look out into It scanned the minds of those gathered in the church the open air.
below and felt good. There were rich pickings to be had.
The light was still a dismal grey, wind and rain lashing The Sentience prodded and encouraged every fugitive down on to the moor, and lashing also on to three of memory.
Trevithick’s monsters; their obscene heads twisting and Believe
clicking in pleasure...
The soldier in the church promised most. He was old and steeped in Time, like the other it had encountered in the Lowcock and Medcalfe had jammed over a dozen pews monastery.
against the window. The figures outside continued to press But was there yet more?
against the glass and Medcalfe kept a weather eye on their activity.
The Sentience scanned experimentally and picked up a Jill had managed to keep the villagers calm, using an trace from Trevithick’s mind. He had defeated it once...
authoritative voice of which she didn’t know she was Instantly, the Sentience propelled a tendril to the tunnel capable. She did know, however, that, sooner or later, faces entrance, assuming the familiar image of Trevithick’s would begin to appear at every window. And when they monsters.
did... Well, they would cross that bridge when they came to The Doctor stepped back from the entrance. ‘Impasse,’ he it.
said under his breath.
Vijay looked up from the ground. ‘No. No more. Please.’
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Trevithick regarded the creatures with tired old eyes. He The Doctor took his hand and looked down at the ground.
had given them a good run for their money.
Vijay scrambled to his feet. ‘Mr Trevithick! Wait!’
The Doctor grasped his arms. ‘Don’t remember them,
‘Use the chance I’m giving you, my boys,’ called the old Edmund! Don’t you see that they can have no existence man. ‘And don’t look back. Never look back.’ With that, he without you?’
ran out into the fog.
Trevithick closed his eyes and concentrated, but the For a moment, he faced the three creatures, the rain images became stronger not weaker. In his mind, he was soaking his hair. He looked at them steadily, his eyes steely shoulder to shoulder