Doctor Who: Target - Novelisations [045] - The Nightmare of Eden by Terrance Dicks

Author:Terrance Dicks
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426201304
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1979-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

7

The Rescuer

Romana heard the roaring as she turned the corner and came upon the barrier of frozen fog. She stopped in astonishment, listening.

Suddenly a monstrous shaggy figure lurched out of the fog and shambled towards her, green eyes blazing, fangs slavering, great clawed paws slashing the air.

Romana stood petrified with horror, the claws reached out – and another figure appeared from the fog. It was a man in coveralls and goggles, a blaster in his hand. He fired and the monster swung round, focusing on its attacker.

Springing to one side, the man fired again, and yet again. Romana realised that the shots were driving the creature back towards the fog. A final shot, and the creature fled.

The man looked at Romana for a second, as if assuring himself she was unharmed, then turned and vanished into the fog.

Before Romana had fully recovered from these events there came another surprise. The Doctor appeared, crawling out of the mist-zone on his hands and knees.

Delightedly Romana ran up to him and helped him to his feet. ‘Doctor, are you all right? Some sort of creature came out of there, it was horrible… We’d better get away from here. There was this man, he drove it off. And what were you doing in there any-way? Oh, come on, Doctor!’

She tried to drag him away and the Doctor said, ‘Stop making such a fuss, Romana. Do you realise I have just come through a matter interface – no mean feat that! I’m not even sure I am all here yet.’ The Doctor began patting himself, as if to make sure nothing vital was missing.

‘You mean you’ve been right through, from the other side?’

‘I most certainly have. Did you see anyone else, before I came out? Fellow in space coveralls and dark goggles?’

Romana nodded. ‘He rescued me from the monster, shot at it and drove it off.’

‘That was the man I was chasing, the same chap who jumped me in the luggage section,’ The Doctor realised he was clutching something in his hand. He examined it, then held it out to Romana. ‘Well, at least we know something about him now. That’s his radiation bracelet, it came off in the struggle.’

Romana read the lettering across the base of the little plastic strip. ‘Volante’

‘That’s right. The name of Tryst’s ship. Rigg said that Tryst and Delia were the only ones from the expedition to come on board.’

‘A stowaway?’

‘It’s possible. We’d better have a word with Rigg –’

‘I wouldn’t bother if I were you, Doctor. Rigg’s chicked up under the strain. He’s drunk.’

The Doctor stared at her. ‘He was unwell in the control room – rushed off suddenly – but drunk? Surely not. Rigg’s a professional, he’d never drink on duty, particularly at a time like this.’

‘Well, he was sitting about in the lounge just now, saying he didn’t care about anything and nothing mattered. He just giggles and laughs all the time, and there’s a sick grin on,his face.’

It could be drink, of course,’ said the Doctor slowly.

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