Doctor Who_ Nightshade - Mark Gatiss [97]
off the razor-sharp claws as they ripped through the walls.
Then he launched himself at the central creature, grabbing And there was Margaret, his dear wife, standing just off the its thick neck with both hands. The other two were upon set as the cameras rushed in for the close-up. Little Paula him immediately, their vicious claws flailing at his skin.
had been so frightened of the creatures that he’d arranged Trevithick managed to rain several good blows on to the for one to unmask itself in front of her.
creature’s eye before he felt a strange numbness rising
‘You see, my dear,’ he had said, holding her in his arms, through him. Light began to sparkle under his skin and he
‘just a fella in a costume.’
felt unconsciousness overwhelming him.
But now she was gone. Margaret too. And he was just an Believe
old man with nothing but memories left to him...
Believe
‘Edmund?’ The Doctor touched his hand.
With one last effort, he flung his arms around the Trevithick opened his eyes and smiled. ‘I’m an old fool, creature’s head and fell with it on to the moor, kicking his Doctor. Never been a real hero. Not the way people thought boots into its brittle eyes.
I was.’
The Doctor grabbed Vijay by the scruff of the neck and The rain hissed down. Trevithick looked at the silent, dragged him outside. Then they sprinted across the ground waiting creatures.
towards the telescope, trying to ignore Trevithick’s agonised
‘They’re a part of me. I can’t be rid of them, hard as I try.
screams as he twisted and melded into the beasts.
I’m the only one who can get you out of here.’
They didn’t look back, even when they reached the
‘There must be another way, Edmund,’ cried the Doctor, double doors.
his voice hoarse with despair.
The Doctor slammed and bolted both doors and, turning,
‘Not this time, Doctor. No cliffhanger with a miraculous put out his hand to enter the control room. Vijay stopped escape. It’s time for Nightshade to do his bit.’
him and shook him desperately. ‘Why do people have to The old man’s wrinkled face creased into a sad smile, his keep dying?’
eyes misting over. He held out his hand.
The Doctor looked at him grimly, then pushed open the
‘Goodbye, old fellow.’
interior door.
272
273
DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
A gas-masked soldier thrust his face at the glass and the snoutlike filter crashed through.
There was a strangled cry from a woman crouched by the altar and Jill whirled around. Just as she’d feared, there Chapter Eelven
were dark shapes hovering outside the other windows, their shadows lurching against the glass.
At once, another gas-masked soldier smashed through, his breathing hoarse and terrifying.
Lowcock glanced up at the vaulted ceiling and his heart leaped. He threw himself on to a pew and began wrestling with a mouldering banner which projected over the aisle.
The church shuddered again as the Sentience heaved itself He succeeded in prising the lance out of its socket and together, sliding and thrashing about the eves with tottered back to floor level, brandishing the faded colours of Trevithick’s energy within it.
some forgotten Yorkshire regiment.
The dead figures pressed to the window had redoubled The soldier stood on the wide sill of the shattered window, their efforts and Medcalfe picked up a heavy brass candle gazing impassively around him. There were people snuffer with which to defend himself.
screaming now and further ghostly figures attempting to A pane of ruby-coloured glass shattered and John force their way inside.
Cleminson’s pale hand pushed its way through.
Lowcock sprinted down the aisle, holding the lance like a Lowcock watched Cleminson’s wrist scrape against the pole-vaulter, and clambered over a row of broken pews broken glass and wondered why it didn’t bleed.
towards the window. He rammed the lance into the Instantly, the cold flesh was bright with blood.
soldier’s neck and the apparition fell with an agonised cry, It was necessary to maintain the illusion. To