Doctor Who: Full Circle by Andrew Smith

Author:Andrew Smith
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science-Fiction:Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426201502
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1983-05-15T10:00:00+00:00

'I trust you haven't harmed it?' The threat in the Doctor's voice was none too veiled as he looked down on the body of the Marshchild, laid out on the operating couch in Dexeter's Science Unit, covered with a surgical sheet.

'Merely a little anaesthetic,' Dexeter assured the Time Lord. 'Completely humane, I assure you.'

'At least it won't cause any trouble in that condition, eh?' the Doctor growled.

Dexeter's mouth twisted wryly. 'Unfortunately.'

The Doctor scowled. 'What?'

Dexeter passed his eyes over the Marshchild and, slowly shaking his head, explained, 'It's far too passive for my purposes. I'm trying to research the psycho-dynamics of these creatures. Their motivation to attack us is immensely powerful, you know - it's well documented. But no one has yet troubled to discover why.'

'This one will have the same basic brain type, though,' said the Doctor. 'The main difference is physiological.'

Dexeter regarded the Doctor with a respect that was growing stronger all the while. 'You think so?' he asked.

'Certainly. The behavioural clues are all there. You'll just have to look a little deeper for - ' The Doctor stopped himself, frowning towards the Marshchild's right arm. Lifting the sheet which half-covered it, he saw a small, rectangular patch of red where skin had once been. 'This isn't psycho-dynamics,' he growled. 'You've been taking tissue samples.'

'I try to be thorough, Doctor. It is the scientist's first prerequisite.'

'You said you wouldn't harm it.'

Dexeter responded apologetically. 'A scientist is responsible to the community, Doctor. Each of us has his task to perform.'

'Yes,' said the Doctor, beginning to move around the room, studying the apparatus, gathering information as was in his character. 'That's one thing I don't understand and I'd like you to explain to me, Dexeter. Your tasks.'

Dexeter was adjusting the sheet over the Marshchild to again conceal the ugly patch of red on its arm. 'How do you mean?'

'You're all so busy.' The Doctor waved an arm eloquently. 'Maintenance crews everywhere. What are you all up to?'

'Preparing for the Embarkation, of course.' Dexeter made it sound as if it had been a silly question.

'You're leaving Alzarius?'

'All our endeavours are directed to the return to Teradon.'

Quote-unquote, the Doctor remarked inwardly. 'If you're leaving the planet,' he asked, 'why all the fuss about the Marshmen?'

Dexeter smirked. 'The Deciders', he said, in a tone and with a short wave of the hand that dismissed them as simpletons, 'are returning us to our historic roots and our old knowledge. But my quest, Doctor, takes us forward - to new knowledge.'

'It does? Oh, goody.'

Dexeter, with some effort, ignored the Doctor's quip and went on, 'There are anomalies unaccounted for by the Deciders. Look at this tissue sample.' At this he caught hold of the Doctor's sleeve and virtually dragged him across to the bench microscope.

At Dexeter's eager invitation, the Doctor stooped to place his eyes to the microscope eyepieces.

'Remarkable, isn't it, Doctor?' Dexeter's voice was hushed with excitement. 'The organisation of the cell structure.'

The Doctor could not become so excited. The specimen looked quite normal -

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