Menagerie - Martin Day [100]
With no time for words or thought, the Doctor flung the red-hot rifle at Zaitabor and hurled himself to the floor. He felt the rush of the Mecrim as they dived over him and arced through the air, claws and mouths snapping, thrusting their brothers to one side as they fought to attack the huge, mysterious creature first. The silver-grey Mecrim hit Zaitabor just as he stabbed the last button.
The room exploded in an enveloping, shattering red heat.
Twenty
Jamie and Zoe were still some distance from the power station when they felt the explosion and saw the flames stab through the windows. Without a word they started running.
Zoe knew that somehow the Doctor had done enough to prevent the explosion of the entire power plant: the fact that they were alive was proof enough. But what had happened?
After what seemed like an age they found themselves running along the corridor towards the control room. Part of the ceiling had collapsed, and Jamie had to help Zoe over the rubble. Beyond that a huge metal beam had fallen against the control room entrance, but Jamie was in no mood to be stopped. He heaved at the post until the door was cleared, and then dropped to his knees to move the debris away from the door. The opening mechanism alternately groaned and sighed, Zoe tugging at the door until it finally started to move.
They darted through the gap and saw two storeys of rubble covering the room, the computers and chairs lost beneath a new landscape of stone and pipework.
In the corner an arm protruded from a pile of small grey bricks. Jamie ran to it and tugged it free from the rubble.
Nothing was attached to it, the stump terminating in wires and hydraulic tubes. Jamie kicked more of the bricks away with his boots until the smashed face of the android was revealed, a mock-human visage visible beneath a feeble mask. A voice crackled from somewhere in the android's throat, but the lips had stopped moving. The eyes were closed, as if in sleep. 'Thank God for that. I thought that —'
The android didn't speak again.
'Jamie, over here,' called Zoe. She was knee-deep in loose rubble, throwing great chunks into the air with her hands.
Jamie ran to her side, pulling free the half-covered body. It was Cosmae, white with dust, a huge gash across his face.
He looked feverish, his eyes darting from side to side.
'Stay with him,' said Jamie. 'I'll look for the Doctor.' He began picking his way more carefully over the debris.
Someone was coughing to Jamie's right. He ran to the spot, and saw a small figure emerging from a tangled mess of table legs and computer parts.
'Doctor!' exclaimed Jamie. 'You're all right.'
'Yes, thank you, Jamie,' he said, wiping his hands on a large blue handkerchief. 'I think I'll survive.'
'And Zaitabor?'
'He and the Mecrim took the full force of the blast.' The Doctor pointed towards the largest pile of blackened stonework. 'I'll explain later. Are you and Zoe all right?'
'Aye, we're fine. I think Cosmae's been badly injured, though.'
'Let's have a look at him, then,' said the Doctor, nimbly moving over the jagged concrete blocks.
Zoe was sitting at the young man's side, holding his pale hand. Cosmae's eyes were now half-closed. The Doctor put a hand to his forehead, and then felt for a pulse. 'His heartbeat is very weak,' he whispered.
'You're safe now, Cosmae,' said Jamie. 'Just don't give up.'
They watched over the boy for some time. Zoe knew his legs or even his back could be broken, but it was impossible to tell and she had no desire to aggravate his injuries.
Occasionally he cried out, and the Doctor and Jamie held him as firmly as they could to prevent him from hurting himself on the rocks. But it was clear that the light of life was fading from his eyes.
A few minutes later the Doctor stood up and breathed heavily. Zoe sat and stared at the boy's face, her mind numb.
'The Taculbain and Dugraqs will be here soon,' she said quietly. 'The old man will doubtless arrange the funeral.'