Doctor Who_ Rip Tide - Louise Cooper [50]
Ruth's shoulders lifted slightly – she had, it seemed, learned the habit of certain human gestures. 'I can't survive on your planet for much longer,' she stated carelessly. 'A day or two more, maybe. But it's all right. I'm grateful for what you said, Nina, about my – my family, and going home. I know you meant it for the best. But even if I had the key, I wouldn't use it.' She faced Nina fully, and her look showed everything that mere words couldn't express. 'I haven't got the courage to go back. I just haven't.'
A mixture of fear, bafflement and the helplessness of trying to reason with someone who was being so impossibly unreasonable made Nina's voice shrill. 'You can't stay here and die! It's completely mad – I won't let you do it!'
There was a sound above them, a sort of sighing creak, as though the rocks and the old wooden props of the mine were expressing their agreement. Ruth stared into the tunnel again. 'It's my own choice. Nothing to do with you.'
'Oh, yes it is! If you think I'm going to have your death on my conscience for ever, because I said "OK" and walked away, then you can think again!' She flicked the torch on and stabbed its beam into the darkness behind her. 'I'm going to find the Doctor. If anyone can get you out of this mess, he can!'
'No!' Ruth shouted. 'You mustn't tell him; you mustn't tell anyone!' She made a convulsive movement towards Nina, but swayed, stumbled and had to clutch at the rock face to stop herself from sagging to her knees.
'You can't stop me, can you?' Nina said. 'You're too weak now. Wait here. I'll be back.'
'No, no!' Ruth reached a clawing hand towards her. 'Please, Nina! Let me die!' She waved a frantic hand towards the tunnel. 'I'll do it in my own way – my equipment's down there; it's where we made the gateway – I'll go back to it, I'll just wait. It'll be all right, it's the right thing to do. Forget about me, Nina. Leave me!'
The mine creaked and sighed a second time, like a huge, half-sensate animal. Involuntarily Nina cast a quick glance at the ceiling – and when she looked down again Ruth had vanished.
'Ruth!' She yelled into the tunnel, which was the only place that Ruth could have gone. 'Ruth!'
Ruth didn't answer, but a sound of hasty scrabbling came back from the tunnel's depths. Cursing under her breath, Nina slid into the entrance.
This passage was much narrower than the one that had led her to the cave. The rock walls pressed against Nina's shoulders until she had to turn and sidle, crablike, to negotiate the tight space. Ruth was thinner and despite her weakness was getting through more quickly; the sounds of her progress, just discernible against the intensified humming, grew further away until, afraid of losing track of her altogether, Nina called out.
'Ruth, listen to me! There's nothing to be afraid of – the Doctor's a friend, he only wants to help! At least talk to him!'
'There's no point!' Ruth's voice echoed back.
'There is!'
'No!' Suddenly the humming ahead swelled louder, and there was an ear-splitting electronic whine. It lasted only a second, but it made Nina's ears ring and she shook her head, gasping.
'Ruth?' Now there was only the humming again, but by contrast to the brief whine it was like silence. Ruth did not answer. Nina tried yet again. 'Please talk to the Doctor, Ruth! It's got to be better than –'
The rest of the sentence stuck in her throat as, from ahead and above, came an ominous groan. There was a tremor of movement in the rock face at her back, and a small shower of debris pattered down from the ceiling just within the oval of torchlight.
'Ruth ...' Stark fear flowered, and Nina dropped her voice to an
unsteady hiss. 'Ruth, something's happening. The tunnel –'
The next noise was the moaning protest of wood bending under enormous pressure. It was followed by a deep, soft grumble, like a giant clearing his throat. More detritus fell, including two sizeable chunks of blue-veined rock. Nina felt panic begin and fought to quell it. It's just settlement,