Doctor Who: Target - Novelisations [134] - Paradise Towers by Stephen Wyatt

Author:Stephen Wyatt
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426203308
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1989-02-14T23:00:00+00:00

7

Come into My Parlour

‘You feeling better now, dear?’

‘Yes, thank you. There’s nothing quite like tea and crumpets is there? I feel so much more relaxed.’

It was true. Mel was feeling nicely drowsy but a lot better for Tilda and Tabby’s hospitality. Tabby had toasted crumpets on a large metal toasting fork over a fire. And Tilda had provided seemingly endless amounts of cream and cakes for her to eat.

‘Oh, it’s so good to hear you’re relaxed, dear. Isn’t it, Tilda?’

‘Very good,’ Tilda agreed.

‘All the same,’ Mel began, ‘I really must be going now.’ She was so comfortable in her armchair that it did seem a pity to drag herself away but she knew she had to if she was ever to meet up with the Doctor.

She started to rise from her chair but Tabby gently restrained her.

‘We couldn’t possibly let you go,’ she said, her hand tightening on Mel’s arm in a slightly alarming way.

‘Oh, no, not this time,’ Tilda put in. ‘We can’t possibly miss this opportunity, can we, Tabby?’

‘No, we can’t, Tilda. Not since those horrid little Kangs got suspicious of our little ways.’

‘I am sorry dear.’ There was a regretful look in Tilda’s eye and Tabby’s grip had not lessened in force one jot. Mel watched mesmerised. She didn’t understand what they were talking about. Or, rather, perhaps she did and couldn’t quite believe it.

The bones. The fattening up. Tabby’s rat teeth. Surely not.

‘What do you mean?’ she demanded, trying to control a slight tremor in her voice.

‘Well, you see, dear,’ Tilda answered sweetly, ‘we would like you to stay. For a very long time.’

‘In fact,’ cooed Tabby, ‘we don’t imagine you ever leaving at all.’

‘You are joking, aren’t you?’ Mel strove to control the rising panic. If this was a nightmare she couldn’t wait to wake up. But no, Tilda and Tabby were there and regarding her hungrily.

Hungrily. There was no other word for it.

‘I’m afraid we’re not joking,’ Tilda insisted gravely. ‘We don’t see this as a matter for humour. We mean every word.’

Mel tried to rise but Tabby’s hand pinned her to the chair.

Tilda meanwhile had grabbed hold of some of Tabby’s knitting and now she threw it over Mel. Mel struggled but it was hopeless. The old ladies were surprisingly strong and wiry and in a few moments she was trussed up like a turkey.

‘In our experience, Mel dear,’ Tilda was saying as the Rezzies completed their task, ‘it is much better not to struggle. It only causes needless distress.’

And then the old ladies were bustling all over the kitchen, bringing out utensils of all sorts, chopping boards, saucepans, spices. It even looked as if Tabby’s toasting fork had more than one use. And the waste disposal unit was starting to throb loudly again just to add to the ghoulishness of the spectacle.

‘Look,’ Mel pleaded, ‘a joke’s a joke but this has gone on long enough.’

Tilda paused for a moment in her preparations. ‘Mel, dear, I do think by now you should appreciate

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.