Doctor Who_ The Zarbi - Bill Strutton [24]
As it did so, a spark crackled and flashed between the hull and its claw. With a loud, high-pitched shriek, the Zarbi leader pitched backward, hurled from the ship’s door, and collapsed sprawling on the floor, its legs waving feebly, the luminous glare in its eyes blinking and fading.
Slowly, dazed, it scrambled to its feet, and pulling at its companion, it scuttled in retreat from the ship’s doors.
A high-pitched whistle came from the control wall and the Zarbi turned. The cluster of lights which had been inching forward now reached the centre of the web pattern, which flashed a bright winking light signal.
The Zarbi leader motioned and turned towards the doorway of a tunnel leading into the room.
On the threshold stood Doctor Who and Ian. Behind them in the tunnel their Zarbi escorts swarmed. Prodded forward by their captors, Ian and the Doctor stumbled, staring about them, into the control room.
Ian turned, saw the ship — then Vicki.
‘Vicki!’
Vicki remained impassive, blank, unseeing. Ian strode across, ignoring the Zarbi now, and grabbed Vicki by the shoulders, staring at her.
‘What’s the matter? Vicki — what have they done?’
She gave no answer, staring through and past him. He shook her, then saw the wishbone-shaped necklet around her throat. He snatched at this and dropped it on the floor.
As he did so, Vicki blinked. Life and awareness returned,
flooding her face, and she awoke to a delighted smile.
‘Ian! Oh — Ian...!’
She threw her arms around Ian’s neck and buried her head on his chest. He patted her, murmuring, ‘It’s all right, Vicki — it’s all right...’
The Zarbi had concentrated their attention on Doctor Who, propelling him against a wall. He stood there stiff and austere — and now the Zarbi leader gestured.
From one of the hatches along the outer wall a creature emerged. It was a venom grub. It waddled forward on its countless legs with incredible swiftness, entirely under the direction of the leading Zarbi’s pointing claw. It turned until it was opposite Doctor Who, its long spear-shaped snout pointing directly at him.
Ian let go of Vicki and started forward, glaring. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’
Two Zarbi reared and snatched at him, clamping their claws tight on him... Ian struggled and fought, raving, but was held mercilessly firm. Other Zarbi guards grabbed Vicki. She shrieked.
Doctor Who, backed up against the wall, stared helpless and a little unnerved at the venom grub’s snout which pointed implacably at him. Ian, still struggling, stared horrified.
‘Doctor!’ Vicki shrieked. ‘What are they doing? Please
— no!’ She lapsed into terrified sobbing. Doctor Who put up a trembling hand and summoned a smile for her.
‘Try not to be afraid, child,’ he said gently. ‘There’s nothing you can do.’
The Zarbi leader gave a sudden sharp gesture with its claw. At that, a spark crackled from the snout of the venom grub. Ian flinched.
Beside the Doctor’s head, the wall discoloured. It singed and then began to smoke.
Now the Zarbi directed the venom grub slowly. Its snout spat more sparks, and in obedience to the Zarbi’s directions, the smoking the discoloration on the wall moved upward, then across,... and finally downward —
until it had described a burned circle outlining the Doctor’s head against the wall.
Now the Zarbi leader paused and directed the venom grub away with a final gesture. It backed and retreated.
Doctor Who expelled a long breath. He managed an ashen smile.
Vicki went limp. Ian relaxed and ceased to struggle.
Doctor Who wagged his head wonderingly.
‘Hmm — yes... I must say, I did have my doubts for a moment — but I thought, or, er, at least, I hoped it would turn out to be... a demonstration only.’
‘What of, for goodness sake?’
‘Of their power,’ Doctor Who said simply. ‘That’s clearly what it was.’
‘But why bother?’ Ian protested. ‘They can do anything they like with us!’
Now the Zarbi leader confronted Doctor Who menacingly. It held