Doctor Who: BBC Past Doctor Adventures [025] - City at World's End by Christopher Bulis

Author:Christopher Bulis
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780563555797
Publisher: BBC Books
Published: 1999-09-13T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

The Ship

‘You do look terribly tired,’ Susan said to Ian, her dark eyes full of concern as she sat propped up in her hospital bed.

‘Chesterton has been up most of the night looking for Barbara,’ said the Doctor, ‘but I persuaded him he needed a break.’

‘I’m sure you’ll find her,’ Susan continued encouragingly.

‘After all, you know she’s already survived a collapsing building. But I’ll understand if you want to get back to the search.’

Ian conjured up a reassuring smile for Susan’s benefit.

‘Actually there’s not much more we can do for the moment. Until the water level drops we can’t check the main tunnels properly. Meanwhile, Curton’s opening up the most likely access points. There’s a chance Barbara reached one of those. If she climbed the ladder into one of the manhole shafts she should be safe… if she can hold on for long enough.’

‘She will,’ said Susan, placing her small cool hand over his for a moment. ‘She’s very determined.’

‘I’m certain she will have reasoned the same way,’ the Doctor said. ‘She must have become familiar with the details of the system while she has been down there. It would be the obvious course of action.’

‘Yes, of course,’ Ian said, privately feeling less confident than he sounded. Had Barbara’s luck finally run out?

‘And now we must be going, my dear,’ the Doctor said to Susan. You must get some rest and we have things to do.

Since I am giving the Arkavians technical advice, I have requested a tour of their Ship. I want to see this remarkable machine for myself to understand it better.’ He glanced at Ian.

‘I’m sorry my task is more enjoyable than your own, Chesterton.’

Ian shrugged. ‘While you’re helping them, I know they’ll do their best for Barbara. And it means you’ll have the facilities to make a duplicate TARDIS key.’

‘I’m sorry I lost my key, Grandfather,’ said Susan. ‘I must have dropped it when the tower collapsed.’

The Doctor smiled. ‘I think it’s excusable in the circumstances, my dear. Never mind. I have ample time to make another one. Meanwhile you concentrate on getting well. However advanced the treatment you have received, there is no substitute for proper rest.’

‘I have been resting… though I did have a strange dream. I thought I was lost somewhere cold… dark and damp. It was very odd.’

‘Well, try to think of something more cheerful,’ the Doctor said dismissively. ‘At least the mayor assures me you will not be getting any more visits from over-zealous priests.’

Fostel sat in the private study of his palace gazing morosely out of the window. Through it he could see both the cathedral and the Ship.

And the simple fact was that the Ship overshadowed the cathedral. To be brutally honest it dwarfed it. The Ship might be necessary but it was not right that it was so vast and, yes, he had to admit it, so magnificent and overwhelming. But what was worse, the Church could not take the credit for it.

Functionaries and Technicians had been responsible and as a result they had gained hugely in prestige.

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