Doctor Who_ Wetworld - Mark Michalowski [31]
There was something eerie about the One Small Step now, not least because the light was fading rapidly outside, as it did on Sunday. But mainly because it was just so quiet. When the settlers had boarded, back on Earth, the ship had been humming and buzzing with power and electronics and people. Even after they’d landed and unloaded all their stuff, even after they’d set up Sunday City, the ship had been left on low power, just to keep all the computer systems ticking over. It was where she and Orlo had come to learn Morse code, to play games against the shipbrain, to mess about.
But now it was like a haunted house. The only sound was a distant drip-drip-drip of water and the occasional creak or groan from the vessel’s rusted fabric. Candy found herself holding her breath without realising it, and felt a sudden need to call out to Col, to find him, give him a hug.
And then get the hell off the ship.
Although there was no power for the lifts, there were tube-ladders alongside them all. It was getting dark now, so Candy pulled out her torch, steeled herself, and headed up towards the flight deck. As she heaved herself into the central passageway she could see dim, flickering light from up ahead. Col must be there.
Her foot clanged dully on the floor as she took a step forward.
‘Col?’ she called, wondering why there was no noise from up ahead.
Something metallic and echoey sounded behind her, away down the passage, and she jumped. But the trembling light from her torch showed her nothing. She turned back and continued her way towards the prow of the ship. Fortunately, the vessel was only leaning at a slight angle, otherwise she’d have had to walk along the walls and jump over the open doors.
‘Col!’ she called again, louder, as she approached the entrance to the flight deck. ‘It’s me – Candy! You there?’
Taking a deep breath, she gripped the edge of the door frame and pulled herself in. The room was bathed in deep orange light from the sinking sun, washing over everything. But it cast shadows over some of the computer consoles where she could see lights flickering and winking. Col must have got the power going. So where was he?
‘Col!’ she hissed as loudly as she dared, gripping the torch like a gun. Above her she could see that the other main window was shattered too. A plant creeper or something had grown in through it.
Candy almost jumped out of her skin as a cracked, broken voice whispered her name, and she swung the torch in its direction.
Lying on the floor, half-concealed by a desk, was Col – staring up at her with coal-black eyes.
∗ ∗ ∗ The Doctor paused to catch his breath only once he was at the old settlement, more than a little disappointed that he hadn’t had a chance to check out the settlers’ ship – but that could wait.
He glanced back, briefly, at the top of the rise. The pile of otters, like a huge, chocolate sand dune, was slowly disentangling itself and spreading out – spreading out back to the water. Either they’d been scared off by the ultrasound, or they’d decided that it wasn’t worth chasing him. Of course, he mused, it could be that they’d prioritised the dismantling of the dam. He glanced up to see that clouds were once more gathering. He hadn’t thought to borrow an umbrella, either.
Were the otters acting on instinct, or with intelligence? Attack as a means of defence could be either. Or both. But they’d only attacked when Ty had shot the otter. Most animals would take flight if they saw that happen. Most animals acting on instinct, at least.
He knew he had to get back to the zoo lab fairly quickly and take a closer look at their new little friend – have a poke about, see what was making it tick. But he couldn’t resist taking another look at the remains of the first Sunday City before he went.
It was certainly more impressive than the collection of log cabins they’d cobbled together since the flood. Many of the buildings were plastic