Doctor Who: Target - Novelisations [038] - The Keys of Marinus by Philip Hinchcliffe & Terry Nation

Author:Philip Hinchcliffe & Terry Nation
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780491029216
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1980-08-25T22:00:00+00:00

8

The Demons

A thunderous hammering on the door of the hut momentarily distracted the trapper. In that instant Barbara jerked her neck free and squirmed away. She flew to the door and shot back one of the bolts. Vasor hurled himself on her again. Pressed between his enormous bulk and the door she thought she would suffocate. In a desperate effort she wriggled beneath him and aimed a hefty kick at his shins. He clutched his leg, and Barbara shoved him off balance. She quickly released the remaining bolt. As Vasor staggered to his feet Ian crashed into the big man, knocking his head against the wall. Dazed and out-numbered, the big man decided to offer no further resistance.

Ian turned to Barbara. ‘You alright?’

Barbara nodded. ‘The girls are safe too,’ she gasped. ‘They’re in a cave in the mountain.’

‘I meant them no harm,’ said Vasor, ‘I swear it. I gave them food and flint to light a fire…’

Altos advanced on the trapper. ‘You treacherous…’

‘No, Altos!’ said Ian, stepping between them. ‘We want him unharmed. He’s going to show us where the cave is.’

For the first time, a look of fear appeared in the big man’s eyes.

Susan bent over a pile of ashes and blew hard several times. There was no response and she soon gave up.

‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Sabetha. ‘There was hardly any wood left.’ The two girls looked at one another despondently. They were huddled in a gloomy cavern deep in the mountainside.

At last Susan said, ‘There’s no point in us waiting here. We must go out and take a chance.’

‘In these clothes we wouldn’t last an hour.’

‘How long do you think we’ll last here without any fire?’ Susan walked towards one of several tunnels which led into the cavern.

‘That wasn’t the way we came in,’ said Sabetha. ‘It was the opening on the right.’

Susan halted. ‘I could have sworn it was this one.’ She studied the various entrances, trying to visualise how the trapper had brought them in.

‘Well, if you’re certain,’ said Sabetha.

‘I thought I was certain. You’ve made me doubtful now.’

‘Come on, let’s try it,’ urged Sabetha finally. They set off down the tunnel.

Ian decided to wait for dawn before setting out for the mountain. Vasor provided hot food and drink and some extra furs for Altos and Barbara. Then, just before light, the four of them left the hut and struck out across the snow. The blizzard had died away and the morning air was crisp and clear.

They trudged in silence for an hour. Vasor seemed increasingly nervous as they neared the mountain. ‘How much further?’ asked Ian.

‘Just beyond the next ridge.’ Vasor turned to Ian. ‘When I get there… can I go back?’ A troubled look appeared on the trapper’s face.

‘You’re getting no promises out of me,’ replied Ian. ‘Come on.’ He prodded Vasor in the back. Grudgingly, the big man set off again.

Susan and Sabetha felt their way gingerly along a narrow tunnel. The walls and roof were lined with patches of ice. Susan could not help feeling they were moving deeper into the mountain instead of towards the surface.

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