Doctor Who: The Face of Evil by Terrance Dicks

Author:Terrance Dicks
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Tags: Science-Fiction:Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426200062
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1983-05-15T10:00:00+00:00

8 Beyond the Wall

The Doctor stared thoughtfully at the space-suit, hanging scarecrow-like on its stand. He was dealing with some kind of multiple personality, he decided. Or to put it more simply, his unseen opponent was raving mad.

The Doctor decided to humour him. 'I see. Tell you what, Xoanon, why don't we meet and talk things over?'

His own voice replied. 'We are together. We have said all there is to say, and know all there is to know.'

'Perhaps so. But we don't want to do anything hasty, do we?'

'Hasty?' Then the youthful voice again. 'It's been an eternity! I'm turning off the Boundary, to let in my pets from the Beyond. Goodbye, Doctor! '

A click and then silence.

'What does it all mean?' whispered Neeva.

'Trouble,' said the Doctor. 'Large, deadly and invisible.' He lifted the disruptor gun from the altar and studied it thoughtfully.

Deep in the forest, on the Boundary, the light on top of the hidden sonic disruptor the Doctor had discovered began to flash more and more slowly. Finally it stopped altogether. All through the forest the same thing was happening to the other disruptors in their hiding places. The Boundary was no more. The village of the Sevateem lay open to attack by the invisible monsters from Beyond.

In deference to Neeva's feelings, the Doctor had carried a pile of equipment, selected from Neeva's holy relics, out of the Sanctum and into the main Council hut. He had found a set of tools, and was using it to check over the long-disused disruptor gun. Leela crouched beside him, a willing if baffled assistant. 'Screwdriver,' said the Doctor, pointing. Leela took the little tool from the kit and passed it to him.

As the Doctor made a final adjustment, Tomas came rushing in. 'We've set guards all round the perimeter, Doctor. The village has been warned. Everyone knows what to expect.'

The Doctor went on working. 'You've explained about their attraction to vibration?'

'Of course.'

The Doctor studied the jumble of technological equipment. 'We're lucky the space travellers brought so much equipment with them. Let's hope we can profit from their misfortune.'

'Space travellers?' said Leela, puzzled. 'I don't understand.'

The Doctor pointed to some letters stencilled on the tool box. 'PLANETARY SURVEY TEAM. That's where your tribe got its name. Survey Team—Sevateem.' The Doctor rubbed his chin. 'Question is—were you lot here before they arrived?'

Calib entered in time to hear the Doctor's last re-mark. 'I see what you mean, Doctor. Are we their captors—or their descendants?'

'You catch on quickly, Calib. Whoever they were, the travellers certainly didn't get back to base.' The Doctor paused for a moment, as if haunted by some fugitive memory. Then, shaking his head, he returned to his work.

Calib said impatiently. 'When will the weapon be ready?'

The Doctor looked up, noticing the tone of command. 'Are you taking charge, Calib?'

'Do you object?'

Leela's hand flashed to her knife. ' I object.'

'Leela,' said Calib patiently, 'I don't expect you to like me...'

'Then you won't be disappointed. You tried to kill me—remember?'

'That is a thing to be settled between us.

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