Doctor Who_ The Visitation - Eric Saward [20]
They ran back into the main hall and Adric scrambled up onto the sill and started to work on the window catches.
'How are they?'
'Stiff.' Suddenly the latch gave and the window was open. 'Quickly,' he said, extending an arm towards Tegan.
As she reached for Adric's hand, the landing door was pushed open by the android.
'Jump!' shouted Tegan.
But Adric hesitated. 'What about you?'
'Get out of here!' she screamed. 'Save yourself!' Adric still hesitated. In desperation Tegan threw herself against his legs, causing him to topple through the window. At the same moment, the android fired. The wall close to Tegan's head exploded, the shock waves throwing her to the floor.
'Run, Adric!' Tegan spluttered, a sudden inhalation of flying stone-dust causing her to choke.
Tegan looked up at the massive shape that was making its way towards her.
Cautiously she got to her feet. Unable to think of anything more positive, she raised her hands and said in a dry, unnatural voice, 'I hope you realise I've surrendered.' She tried to sound flippant, but her voice lacked conviction.
The stable appeared empty but for Richard Mace and the donkey.
'Are you capable of carrying a tired thespian?' he muttered, staring into the animal's mournful eyes.
The Doctor emerged from the harness room and closed the door. 'Who were you talking to?'
Mace patted the donkey and smiled awkwardly. 'No one. I merely enquired after the donkey's health.'
The Doctor eyed the beast, realising what the actor was about. 'You're too heavy. He would never be able to carry you.'
Mace snorted. The donkey joined in in sympathy.
'Let's get back to the TARDIS and help Nyssa.'
'Not without the donkey,' he said firmly.
But their argument was curtailed as a dozen men suddenly poured into the stable and overpowered them. Kicking and struggling, both men were forced to their knees and Mace disarmed.
'We seem to have upset them,' grunted the Doctor as his arms were pulled back behind him.
A tal , thickly bearded man dressed in a shepherd's smock, detached himself from the main group of villagers. 'These people are plague-carriers,' he shouted.
'You jest, sir,' said Mace. 'We are free of the plague.'
'Quiet! The marks are apparent!'
The villagers shouted their agreement, although nothing could be seen.
Their fear was justification enough for convicting the two outsiders.
'I can help you,' said the Doctor. 'We haven't got the plague.' He tried to reason with them, but they refused to listen.
'Execute them,' shouted a voice.
'Execute them indeed!' screamed the man in the smock.
Hands gripped the Doctor's head, and before it was pushed forward and his neck bared, he caught sight of a man moving across the stable carrying a large scythe.
'Oh no!' screamed Mace, as he realised the reason why a basket had been placed beneath his head.
The man with the scythe positioned himself carefully and raised his curved blade.
The villagers jostled each other excitedly.
'Now,' they shouted as one voice. The scythe hovered above the Doctor's bare neck.
'Wait!' a voice boomed from the stable door. The villagers turned. The man who had spoken out was the headman and with him was the poacher.
'They must die. They bring plague to the village,' the man in the smock said.
'These men are wanted criminals.' The Headman's voice was firm and authoritative.
'There is a reward.'
'What's the use of money if you're dead?' The scythe still hovered in the air. 'Kill them both!'
Rapidly the poacher fitted an arrow to his bow and raised it to the firing position.
'I am your Headman. You will listen to me!'
The villagers started to mutter among themselves, their voices indistinct, but their nodding heads and general demeanour seemed to indicate agreement to what had been said.
The scythe was lowered and the Doctor and Mace were helped to their feet.
Both men were pale and a little unsteady after their experience.
'Thank