Doctor Who: BBC Past Doctor Adventures [023] - Storm Harvest by Mike Tucker & Robert Perry

Author:Mike Tucker & Robert Perry
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780563555773
Publisher: BBC Books
Published: 1999-06-13T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

For the second time Bavril crept along the forbidden kitchen corridors of the Cythosi ship. Peck had successfully slipped him the laser-cutter, which he now clutched like a gun. He found his way to the cages.

Scratcher, like the others, was slumped in his cage.

‘Wake up!’ Bavril hissed. ‘I told you I’d get you out.’

He switched on the laser-cutter and began burning through the cage’s lock.

‘Bavril…?’

Scratcher seemed to be drifting in and out of consciousness.

‘Tired…’ said Scratcher. ‘Hard to concentrate… Bavril, listen to me.’

Scratcher clawed his way across the cage towards him. ‘I’m losing movement in my arms and legs. Soon… I’ll be like them. The Cythosi… pump something into the air down here. They say it flavours the meat before cooking. It’s poison to us… paralyses us… It’s in my system…’

‘I’m getting you out of here,’ said Bavril.

The lock suddenly shattered and the cage bottom swung downwards, dropping Scratcher to the floor with a thud. He lay, motionless.

There was a scuttling behind Bavril.

‘Naughty, naughty,’ said a high, chirruping voice.

Bavril spun round. The dolphin Blu’ip was looking at him, tapping a single metal tentacle on the ground.

‘Little boys aren’t allowed to raid the larder between meals. You’ll just have to wait until supper time.’

‘What the hell do you want!?’ Bavril spat.

‘I’ve been watching you,’ said the dolphin. ‘I know all about your little conspiracy.’

‘Are you going to report me?’ Bavril asked tensely.

‘I don’t know…’ said Blu’ip. ‘I’m still thinking about it. You… the human who stole the cutter for you, the rest of the men who were privy to your little discussion. Your friend here… not that it will make much difference to him. I could report you all. But then I got to thinking..?’

He scuttled forward. Bavril backed away.

‘… it’s been a long voyage, and Cythosi don’t make the best of companions. I find myself longing for a little… civilised company.’

He stretched out a tentacle and stroked Bavril’s cheek. Bavril shuddered at the cold touch.

‘You hate humans,’ he said.

‘Even so,’ clicked Blu’ip, ‘they are not entirely without their attractions.’

He shot a tentacle around Bavril’s waist, and pulled him forward.

‘Get off me!’ Bavril shouted.

‘My, you put up a struggle,’ said the dolphin.

Bavril punched at the dolphin. Tentacles effortlessly blocked his blows.

Behind the dolphin he could see Scratcher clawing his way across the floor towards them.

Almost without knowing he was doing it, Bavril triggered the laser-cutter and swung it at the underplate of Blu’ip’s exoskeleton. There was a flash and the dolphin scuttled backwards, squeaking and whistling in fury.

‘You dare cross me?’ he clicked.

He shot out a tentacle and pressed the release button on a wall hatch.

A service robot scuttled from the hatch. Bavril froze instantly. So did Blu’ip.

Scratcher kept crawling forward.

The little robot whirred and spun, caught Scratcher in its sights and sprang forward.

‘No!’ Bavril called. He ran forward. Blu’ip stuck out a tentacle and Bavril sprawled to the ground.

The machine was on Scratcher. Its tiny rotating blades were cutting him to ribbons. Bavril groaned in horror. Scratcher made no sound.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.