Doctor Who - Target Novelisations - 137 - Dragonfire by Ian Briggs

Author:Ian Briggs [Briggs, Ian]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, General, Science Fiction, Doctor Who (Fictitious Character)
ISBN: 9780426203223
Publisher: Carol Pub Group
Published: 1989-06-14T07:00:00+00:00

The Creature was advancing down the passage towards them, as the Doctor and Glitz heaved on the door. Finally, it swung shut, and Glitz pushed the sealing bolts home.

Exhausted, he fell back against the door and looked at the Doctor. ‘Well, now that we’ve found the Dragonfire, what’s next on the map’s list of tourist attractions, Doctor?’ But the Doctor’s attention was fixed on a lower quarter of the door.

‘Ah – I’m not absolutely certain that this one is over yet...’

Glitz followed the Doctor’s gaze, and saw a small spot on the door that was beginning to burn through. Quickly, the hole worked its way around the edge of the door.

‘Fascinating,’ murmured the Doctor. ‘It must be generating a spot temperature in excess of 1500°C.’

Glitz felt a sudden cold chill that was nothing to do with the ice all around – it was the chill of death. He turned to the Doctor for possibly the last time. He would have preferred to die some other way – full of glory – but at least he wouldn’t die alone. ‘I’ve never been one for mindless heroic gestures, Doctor. Couldn’t see any future in them.

But just in case I don’t get another opportunity to say this: you’re all right by me.’

The Doctor turned to look at Glitz, and was about to say something when Glitz interrupted him. ‘Stand back, Doctor.’ A neat line of scorched metal ran round the outside edge of the door, and was beginning to splinter as the Creature heaved against it from the other side. Glitz fingered the trigger of his gun. The doorway burst in.

Glitz raised his gun and braced himself. There stood the Creature, in the doorway, right in Glitz’s line of fire. He squeezed on the trigger.

‘No!’ The Doctor grabbed Glitz’s arm and pulled it away. Glitz’s shot exploded into the wall.

‘Doctor!’ cried Glitz in terror and amazement. He tried to pull his arm back, but the Doctor held on. ‘No, Glitz –

don’t!’

Glitz waited for the beam of fire that would certainly kill them both. Nothing happened.

The Creature was standing in the doorway, looking at the Doctor and Glitz uncertainly; they were at its mercy, if it wanted to kill them. Instead, the Creature backed away, and lumbered off into the shadows.

Soon, its rasping breath was gone, and the passages were silent again.

Glitz looked at the Doctor. ‘Why?’

The Doctor spoke with the quiet conviction of absolute certainty, the certainty of one who has seen all the terrors of the universe. ‘Because we don’t have the right to kill –

ever.’

‘But why didn’t it kill us?’

‘Perhaps we’d better ask it...’

In the Cryogenics Chamber, Belázs was wandering silently amongst the inert figures in their shadowy tubes. Her expression was sombre.

‘Can’t sleep, Belázs?’

Belázs started, and turned to see Kracauer step out of the shadows. His voice was warm and honeyed. ‘Bad dreams again? Or good dreams?’

Belázs didn’t reply, but continued to wander amongst the tubes. Then she turned back to Kracauer. ‘How old do you think I am, Kracauer?’

Kracauer shrugged.

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