Doctor Who: Cats Cradle: Witch Mark by Andrew Hunt; Marc Platt

Author:Andrew Hunt; Marc Platt
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction:Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426203681
Publisher: Doctor Who Books
Published: 1992-07-15T10:00:00+00:00

***

Ace awoke to animal screams of terror. She tried to get to her feet but the ropes were still confining her.

‘Doctor. what's happening?'

‘Something's attacking the camp. It s been staggering around for the last couple of minutes.'

Above the scream Ace heard a low howling. 'What is that?'

'I don’t know. Bats, are you awake?'

‘Y-yes.'

'Do you know what would make that sort of noise?'

‘No, I’ve never been so far away from home before. I don’t know a thing about the world.’

'It's coming towards us,' Ace shouted. 'Professor, it's coming this way!’

'I know, Ace, I know.'

Bathsheba strained her neck round, looking to the Doctor for direction. 'What should we do?'

‘There's nothing we can do. Just hope for the best.'

The animal howling was right outside now. At such close quarters it became more distinct and sounded almost as though it was some garbled language, screamed by an alien tongue.

Suddenly the tree was knocked to one side. Their bonds jerked them along with it. The Doctor was pushed into the decreased angle of the tree. Another blow rocked the tree, and then another, and another.

Suddenly the impacts stopped and the howling drew away from the tent. As it went, the tent flap pulled open briefly and a shaft of white light spilled through. To Ace, the Doctor's face was thrown into a sharp image of light and dark. Then the flap swung shut again and they were plunged back into darkness.

Bathsheba cried out. 'The ropes have loosened!'

‘But how ... ?' the Doctor asked.

‘Never mind how, Professor,' Ace shouted, 'let's get loose and get out of here.' She shrugged off the ropes and helped her two companions free themselves.

'Come on!' She snatched up her rucksack and slipped her arms through the straps.

‘You'll have to help me,' pleaded Bathsheba. 'I won't be able to keep up with you.'

'It’s all right. Bats. Put your left arm around my neck and I'll carry you,' the Doctor said. He gathered up her small frame in his arms.

Ace pushed her head out of the tent and looked around. 'All clear,’ she said and emerged fully. The Doctor followed her out.

The camp was in disarray. The central fire had escaped its confines and was beginning to catch on the closest canvas sheets. Tents had been knocked over and Sidhe bodies littered the ground, their forms ghastly in the flickering glow from the fire. Moonlight shone through the trees in the distance.

‘We've got to get out of here,' Ace whispered to the Doctor. I mean, it might come back.'

‘Come back?' Bathsheba asked.

'It's a possibility,' the Doctor agreed. 'We'd better make our way back to the road and get out of the forest as quickly as possible. '

‘Which way is it?'

‘Come on, this way.' The Doctor, carrying Bathsheba, led Ace into the bramble and ferns which made up the ground layer of vegetation. Eventually they came out on the track, though in the dim starlight that filtered through the foliage, this was only evidenced by the Slight reduction in hampering plantlife.

'If only we had our horses still' Ace said wistfully.

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