Doctor Who: Target - Novelisations [124] - The Rescue by Ian Marter

Author:Ian Marter
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426203087
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1988-03-14T23:00:00+00:00

7

Night had almost fallen. In the wreck of Astra Nine the power cells were still producing just enough energy to provide reasonable illumination in the hull compartment.

Outside, the air was already growing chilly, but inside the wreck it still felt hot and stuffy. The Doctor was sitting on the duct casing with Vicki, while Barbara and Ian hovered tactfully in the background.

The Doctor had been trying to comfort Vicki, chatting gently away like a favourite uncle. ‘So you see, my dear child, in a few hundred Earth years’ time there will be no night at all on this planet because Dido will be positioned exactly midway between its two suns… Here, take this and blow your nose.’ He handed Vicki his rather grubby handkerchief. ‘And give that pretty face of yours a wipe too. If you will excuse me saying so, you do look rather a mess at the moment!’

Vicki hesitated. Then she took the handkerchief, cleaned her grimy face and blew her nose. She managed a wan but grateful smile. ‘Is that better?’

The Doctor glanced round at Ian and Barbara, preening himself with his success. ‘Much better.’

Ian took another sip of brownish water from a mug and brandished the signal flare pistol he had been examining.

‘Cheer up and stop worrying,’ he cried heartily. ‘If this Koquillion chap shows his ugly face here again we’ll make a mess of it for him!’

But Vicki’s smile vanished as abruptly as it had appeared. ‘You must not talk like that,’ she gasped. ‘I keep trying to explain why Bennett and I have to obey Koquillion. He has protected us against the others all this time…’

The Doctor fixed Vicki with his cold, piercing gaze. ‘My dear child, have you seen any of the others?’ he asked sharply.

Vicki hesitated again, almost as if she were tempted to conceal something from them. She shook her head firmly.

‘No I have not and I hope I never will.’ All at once she sprang up and faced them like an animal at bay. ‘You will spoil it! I know you will. You will spoil everything!’ she shouted, pointing accusingly at Ian who was still brandishing the gun.

The Doctor rose and took Vicki’s hands in his. ‘It’s all right, Vicki, we would not wish to jeopardise your safety,’ he assured her quietly. ‘I promise you that we shall not interfere with the rescue. But I should like to have a chat with your Mr Bennett because I think I may be able to help you both. Would you be kind enough to take me to him?’

Vicki’s suspicious gaze darted from one to the other.

She seemed to have regained a streak of steely defiance.

She shook her head vehemently. ‘The rescue craft is on the way. It will arrive soon. It is going to take us back to Earth. Don’t you people understand?’

Barbara stepped forward. ‘Now, listen, Vicki, you’ve been here a long time,’ she began in her straightforward classroom manner, ‘and I don’t think you’re facing up to what Koquillion might…’

Vicki thrust her face into Barbara’s with unexpected ferocity, her eyes blazing with resentment.

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