Doctor Who_ Winner Takes All - Jacqueline Rayner [45]
The Quevvil holding her snarled, and she started. But it was snarling at the view. ‘A world blighted by Mantodeans,’ it said. ‘But not for much longer…’
‘Have you ever thought of, you know, just trying to be friends?’ said Rose. The Quevvils ignored that, and the second one grabbed hold of her arm. ‘Ow!’ she said. ‘Or you could just put up curtains so they don’t spoil your view…’ They took no notice of that, either.
There were several workbenches in the room, and one Quevvil led – dragged – her over to one on the far side, away from the window. It kept hold of her, as the other picked up a metal disc, and held it to Rose’s head. She instinctively tried to back away, but only succeeded in standing on the foot of the Quevvil holding her. It pushed her forward impatiently, and the second Quevvil then slammed the disc against her forehead.
The disc had little claws sticking out of it on one side, and to her horror it didn’t stick on to her forehead like she’d expected, it stuck into her forehead. She could feel the claws grab hold, push their way into the flesh, and then clench up, as if they were making a fist. It was a horrible experience, but to her surprise the boy had been right, it didn’t really hurt; just a short, sharp shock like having your ears pierced, then a nagging unpleasantness, but no actual lingering pain.
Then one of the Quevvils pressed a button on a small silver box, and the pain began.
Or maybe it wasn’t pain. But it was the most unpleasant sensation. Something was happening inside her. The feeling started at the disc on her forehead and slowly spread throughout her body. It was as if tiny wires were threading themselves along every nerve. Worst of all, she couldn’t react: couldn’t shout or back way; couldn’t move a single muscle.
The Quevvil then picked up a small metal cube. Rose realised what it was doing – this was like the beginning of the game, only she wasn’t in a title sequence, they were preparing her to play for real.
The cube was on a thick metal wire, and the Quevvil hung it around her neck, twisting it so the wire encircled her like a noose. Two more wires, taken under her arms, were attached behind Rose’s back. Without cutting the wire – or removing her head – it would be impossible to get rid of the cube.
She watched the Quevvil who had been holding her go over to a device on the wall, just like one she’d seen on the wall of their underground lair back in London. It spoke into it: ‘Is the controller ready?’
‘The controller is ready,’ a voice confirmed. ‘You will dispatch the carrier.’
‘Understood.’
The Quevvil did something at the control panel. Rose had a split second to register the tang in the air that spoke to her of the Quevvils’ teleportation devices. And then – she was somewhere else.
* * *
FOURTEEN
The man had let the wonderful girl be taken by the porcupines. Robert couldn’t believe it. He’d only just met her, and she was being taken from him already.
Mind you, the man really didn’t seem happy about it. He wasn’t doing anything now, but from the way he looked, Robert was pretty sure he wasn’t just going to accept the situation.
The tall man turned to the nearest porcupine. ‘I was planning on just rescuing everyone and, you know, maybe destroying your technology so you wouldn’t do it again,’ he said conversationally, acting totally coolly about it all. ‘If she gets hurt, though, this planet’s dust. Just thought I’d mention it.’
Yeah, thought Robert. Dust. If they hurt her, he’d be there helping this man smash it all up.
The other man, the ugly one who had come in with the porcupines, snorted with laughter. ‘You and whose army?’
The tall man turned to him. ‘You know what, Darren? That thing I said about dust? Applies to you too. If she gets hurt.’ He really looked as if he meant it, and Robert was pleased to see the ugly man – Darren – look a bit nervous.
But the porcupine didn’t seem to care what the man was saying. ‘Your carrier will soon