Doctor Who_ The Bodysnatchers - Mark Morris [102]
Then his right foot slipped on the slick cobbles and suddenly he was falling.
The palms of his hands made a splat as they hit the stinking pool of sewage. Human waste shot up his nose and down his throat and into his eyes, blinding him. Choking, Jack tried to scramble to his feet, but before he could do so he felt a sharp tug on his ankle. Instinctively he put his hand down to his foot, but oddly there was no foot there. His groping ringers reached a little higher, and suddenly encountered what felt like a shattered stick where the lower half of his leg should have been.
He screamed then, realising what had happened, as hot, sticky fluid flowed over his hand. He dug his fingers into the sewage and tried to crawl away, but had managed to advance only a few feet when he felt something of immense strength dragging him back. Pain shot through him as what felt like gigantic meat hooks dug into his body. Jack did not stop screaming for a long time.
***
Hands grabbed the Doctor and dragged him up through the water.
Breaking the surface was like another explosion, light and sound assaulting his senses.The Doctor gulped air, then began to choke, water streaming from his nose and mouth. He could survive without air for far longer than any human being, but it really did feel as though he had been down there for hours.
He was hauled on to a stone banking and lowered gently to the ground. He lay for a moment, gasping, letting the water run off him and out of him.
Already he could feel strength seeping back into his limbs. He pushed himself up on trembling arms and looked around.The first thing he saw was Sam's smiling face, her wet hair standing up in spikes. There were tears, or water, in her eyes.'What kept you?' she asked.
The Doctor grinned.'Had one or two things to do. You know how it is. Is everyone accounted for?'
Sam's lips pursed and she shook her head quickly.'No.There are two missing and one who died after we pulled him out. I think he had a heart attack.'
The Doctor looked at the survivors. They were all shivering, hugging themselves, their eyes downcast and faces slack with the trauma of recent events. Their clothes were plastered to their bodies. Pools of water formed around their feet where they stood or sat. It was evident they had no more fight left in them. They were merely hanging around, waiting to be told what to do.
A little way away, a man lay on his back on the ground, his toes pointed upwards, his wet jacket laid over his face. The Doctor scrambled up and rushed over to him, pulled the jacket back.The man's face was purple, his eyes open and glazed.
'Emmeline and I gave him mouth-to-mouth and heart massage for ages, but he didn't respond,' said Sam. Her voice was calm, matter-of-fact, but suddenly she gave a deep, shuddering sob.The Doctor looked at her.
Tears were rolling down her cheeks. She looked stricken, but tried to cover up the expression with the hand she clapped to her mouth.
'Sam,' he said, reaching towards her.
She stepped back and almost angrily said, 'I'm all right, just ignore me.'
'Sam, it's all right to let it out now and again.
'No it isn't. You never do.'
She turned her back and walked away, further down the towpath.The Doctor sighed, then went after her. He stood three paces behind her and looked out over the river.
'Sam, I'm an alien,' he said gently. 'You don't want to use me as a role model. I'm different from you. I react differently.'
She made a spluttering sound that was halfway between weeping and laughing. 'Who said anything about role models? Arrogant sod.'
He smiled, and suddenly she swung round on him. Her nose and eyes were red, but her face was set. 'Don't you ever get upset?' she said. 'Don't you grieve when people die? Doesn't it ever all just get on top of you?'
'Oh yes,' he said quietly.
'Then why don't you bloody well show it?'
'I can't afford to,' he said. 'I