Doctor Who: The Image of the Fendahl by Terrance Dicks

Author:Terrance Dicks
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction:Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426200772
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1979-02-15T10:00:00+00:00

7 Stael's Mutiny

Leela moved cautiously into the empty kitchen, crossed it, and went through into the corridor beyond.

The oak-panelled corridors of the Priory were gloomy and silent. Leela was filled with a mounting sense of unease. She paused, almost as if sniffing the air, sensing danger. Somehow she knew the Doctor was nearby, and in trouble. Following her instincts, she hurried on.

Soon she became aware of a high-pitched noise, a kind of rushing of energy-sound. She ran towards it, and a few moments later she ran into Colby's laboratory.

With the last of his strength, the Doctor was desperately trying to free himself from the skull. Leela moved to help him, then stopped herself. If she touched the Doctor, might not the skull's evil power flow through him and into her?

She stepped back and kicked the Doctor's lab stool from under him. He fell, breaking the contact with explosive force.

The Doctor was catapaulted across the room, slamming into Leela, and knocking her to the ground. For a moment he lay across her, a dead weight. Leela was afraid she had been too late. Then the Doctor stirred, and groaned.

Relieved, Leela said reproachfully, 'Doctor, you are very heavy!'

Slowly the Doctor began getting to his feet. Leela helped him to rise, and he climbed painfully onto a stool. 'How did you find me?'

'I just felt something was wrong and followed the feeling!'

The Doctor smiled. 'Yes, of course you did!' he said affectionately.

'Have I saved your life?' asked Leela, pleased. 'Yes, I was careless.' The Doctor looked at the skull. 'You're becoming a mutation generator, aren't you?'

Leela gave the skull a horrified look. 'It's alive?'

'Yes, in a way. It's seeking appropriate genetic material to recreate itself.'

'But what is it?'

'I think it's the Fendahl,' said the Doctor sombrely. 'It exists and grows by death.'

'So do most creatures. You taught me that yourself.'

'Yes, but the Fendahl is insatiable, it can consume an entire planet. The Fendahl absorbs the full spectrum of energy, what some people call the life force, the soul.'

'That must be what the old woman saw,' said Leela suddenly. '“Huge and dark” she said. “Hungry for my soul”.'

'Is she still alive?'

'Yes.'

'Take me to her!'

'What about that skull?'

'That's indestructible.'

'What about the Time Scanner?'

The Doctor hesitated. In a way, Leela was right.

But every moment they stayed in the Priory increased the risk of detection. 'First things first. Anyway, Fendleman can operate the Time Scanner for a hundred hours before there's an implosion.'

'Suppose he's already used up his hundred hours?'

'That's a risk I'll have to take;' said the Doctor exasperatedly. 'Now, come on, Leela!'

He realised he was still clutching the bone, tossed it onto the bench, and they hurried away.

Colby was still in Fendleman's laboratory, listening to his plans and projects for the Time Scanner. Now Fendleman seemed eager to talk, Colby was prepared to listen. Perhaps he would be able to decide if Fendleman was a scientific genius, or an obsessional madman. After all, suppose Fendleman was right? Colby didn't want to miss out on the greatest discovery in the history of science.

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