Doctor Who_ Nightshade - Mark Gatiss [98]
believing.
Lowcock crouched down and ripped off the gas mask. His Need
spine froze as he took in the soldier’s perfectly blank face: a Need
smooth, round head without a single feature.
‘Who are they?’ cried Jill, throwing her arms around a
‘George! The door!’ Jill called.
couple of terrified children.
Lowcock spun round. The big oak doors were beginning Medcalfe tried to reply but his throat was bone dry.
to shake as something battered at them from the outside.
Cleminson’s fingers began to pull at the leadwork.
Lowcock bit his lip. ‘Albert, Harry, Alan,’ he cried rapidly.
Lowcock looked about the church for weapons. There
‘Get those lances down.’ He gestured at the remaining were none visible.
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banners projecting from the walls. ‘And push the pews
‘No one did ask,’ he said bitterly. ‘I came here to get away against the doors. Quickly!’
from this kind of...’ His voice trailed off hopelessly. ‘There’s The villagers were mobilised now, ramming anything no rest for me. I got involved. Yet again.’
they could find against the windows and doors.
Cooper rubbed her eyes. ‘What I don’t understand is why
‘It’s no good,’ whimpered Medcalfe. ‘They’ll be in any it - whatever it is - has suddenly become active. I mean, if minute. Oh, God!’
what you said is right, it’s been here millions of years.’
Lowcock began to move towards the doors but stopped as The Doctor shrugged. ‘I don’t think it was strong enough.
his shoes clanged on a floor tile. He looked down. The tile Those incidents in the past. The Civil War ghosts. Things had a brass ring set into it.
before that, even. It must’ve detected them and made what Lowcock rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
it could of the situation without being fully aware. Like a hibernating animal turning over in its sleep. For some The Doctor and Vijay almost fell into the control room.
reason, it’s never realised its full potential. Perhaps because Ace ran to them.
this has always been such an underpopulated place.’
‘Doctor? Are you all right? What happened?’ Cooper
‘No food,’ said Ace gravely.
looked across from the buzzing consoles anxiously.
The Doctor nodded, gazing around the room with red-
‘Vijay? Where’s ...?’ Vijay looked at her steadily. Cooper rimmed eyes. ‘Or at least, not sufficient to give it a critical felt her throat constrict.
mass...’
‘Oh no.’
Cooper whistled slowly. ‘Until they built this place on top
‘And the old bloke too?’ said Robin incredulously.
of it!’
Vijay nodded. ‘It’s because of him that we got back.’
‘Very probably, yes. All that activity, followed by huge Ace looked at the Doctor. ‘What were you trying to do?’
amounts of electricity, must’ve acted as a lure. It started He shook his head hopelessly. ‘I thought I could reason sending out feelers, gauging the potential energy in the with it. I’d already spoken to it once. I thought I might find village population. So many people with fond memories...’
out how to stop it.’
Ace shuddered. ‘It’s horrible.’
‘And did you?’ asked Ace.
‘Just trying to survive,’ said Vijay quietly. ‘Like all the rest The Doctor didn’t look up. ‘I’ve failed. It’s simply grown of us.’
more powerful.’
Ace felt Robin’s hand slip into hers and was glad of it.
Cooper crossed the room and sat down next to him.
‘What can we do then?’
‘Don’t blame yourself, Doctor. You’ve done your best. No The Doctor rested his head on his hand and sighed. ‘I one could ask for more.’
don’t know any more. I can’t think. I just can’t...’
His voice broke into a sob and Ace ran to him, cradling his slight frame in her arms.
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‘It’s OK, Doctor. Come on. You’ll be fine. You always are.’
empty front room. He looked around rapidly, almost as if He looked at her but once again his eyes were focused he could detect movement in the atmosphere itself.
somewhere far distant.
‘Ace!’ he called.
‘I saw Susan,’ he whispered. ‘It knew. It knew everything The Doctor looked up from his