The Savages by Ian Stuart Black

Author:Ian Stuart Black [Black, Ian Stuart]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426202301
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1987-05-14T22:00:00+00:00

6

‘Not Exactly A Witness’

The Doctor was more than a little put out by his treatment.

And also by the lecture he received from Jano, who spoke to him as if he were a naughty child.

‘We do not understand you, Doctor,’ he said. ‘You took our honours gladly enough. So how can you now condemn this great artistic and scientific civilisation of ours? It isn’t logical. And all this fuss you make about a few wretched barbarians.’

‘I see.’ The Doctor drew himself up to his full height, fingers inside his crumpled jacket. ‘Your honours are only for those who agree with you and all you do?’

‘Of course not.’ Jano made everything sound reasonable.

‘But it looks as if you are set to oppose us.’

‘Oppose you!’ The Doctor was indignant. ‘Of course I’m going to oppose you! Just as I have opposed the Daleks, and this, that, and the other, that may have menaced common humanity through the annals of space and time. That is, if you don’t hurry up and change your ways.’

The Elders, Jano, and the Guards looked at him with amazement. This solitary old man was prepared to stand alone against them, against their powerful community. It was incredible! ‘This is most unscientific of you,’ said Jano. ‘I am sorry you take this stand. It is an obstacle in the way of human progress.’

The Doctor was further outraged. ‘How dare you call your treatment of these people “human progress”!’

‘They are hardly people,’ said Jano. ‘They are not like us.’

‘I fail to see the difference,’ said the Doctor coldly.

Jano felt he had one last duty to try to explain: ‘You must realise, Doctor, that all progress is built on exploitation of some sort.’

‘Exploitation!’ exploded the Doctor. ‘This is protracted murder!’

Jano sighed. ‘We have achieved a very great deal, more than you have seen yourself in any other planet on your travels – you admit as much – and all at the expense of a few savages.’

Surely the Doctor would now see reason. But he didn’t.

Looking at Jano coldly, he said, ‘The sacrifice of even one poor soul would be too great for all the triumphs of your sort of civilisation.’ And, as he turned to march away, Jano signalled to the Guard.

‘Arrest him, Captain. Take him to Senta. Tell him this is an emergency, and I shall be sending him special instructions.’

The Captain caught the Doctor by the arm. ‘This way,’ he said.

‘Keep your hands off, young man!’ snapped the Doctor.

‘Move,’ ordered Edal, and he pushed the Doctor forward.

As the Doctor stopped, Edal was quick to use the light gun again. He wasn’t going to put up with any more nonsense from this old man from beyond time.

The light ray gripped the Doctor in its vice, and Edal projected him towards the door.

‘We have to do something to help him,’ said Steven.

‘There is nothing that can be done,’ said Chal.

Steven was exasperated by their resignation. ‘They are only men like us,’ he said. ‘We can fight them if we have to.’

‘They are too strong,’ said Chal.

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