Doctor Who: The Highlanders by Gerry Davis

Author:Gerry Davis
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science-Fiction:Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426196761
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1984-12-15T10:00:00+00:00

Trask’s rough voice shouted. ‘Here,’ he said, ’put ’em with the others.’ Two of the soldiers pushed them towards a group of some fifteen dejected Highland prisoners. The British Redcoats formed ranks around them, and as Trask nodded, the Sergeant in charge ordered quick march and led them out of the gaol entrance, down the hill towards the inn.

The road was rough and flinty, and Ben was relieved to see that Colin had recovered enough to walk almost unaided. As they passed the lighted inn, heading for the cluster of tall masts that proclaimed the river, an old woman staggered out and collided with the group of prisoners. Ben nearly knocked her over.

‘Sorry, old girl,’ Ben apologised.

The Doctor, for it was he in his old woman’s disguise, muttered something, and for a moment Ben thought he heard the familiar voice and turned sharply; but the old woman was already hobbling away through the darkness.

Once out of the range of the lantern, the hunched figure paused, watched and then followed the file of soldiers as they walked along the street down towards the wharf.

They stopped before a large, half derelict warehouse and Trask led the way in. The sergeant hesitated inside and looked around suspiciously, but Trask felt in his pocket and passed the man a couple of gold coins. ‘Over there,’ he said.

Aided by Trask, the men cleared a couple of barrels away from the bare wooden floor to disclose a trap door with a ring bolt. As Trask nodded, they seized and pulled it open. Underneath was a set of wooden steps leading down, and the sound of water.

‘Get them down there.’ Trask turned to the soldiers.

They started urging the tired, exhausted Highlanders down the steps towards the boat.

As Ben stumbled down the steps, he became aware of a long boat waiting to take the prisoners, manned by half a dozen rough-looking seafarers. He stopped and turned back to Trask. ‘Here,’ he said, ‘where are you taking us?’

‘Hold your tongue,’ said Trask, ‘you’ll find out soon enough.’

‘You’ve no mind to drown us, have you?’ said Jamie.

‘I wouldn’t pollute the firth with you,’ replied Trask.

‘Now get in the boat.’ They followed the others into the boat and sat on one of the thwarts.

Ben turned to Jamie as the boat pulled away. ‘Quick,’ he said, ‘we can swim for it.’ Jamie didn’t answer. ‘Well?’ Ben demanded.

Jamie shook his head. ‘I canna swim,’ he admitted.

‘Oh cripes!’ Ben turned away disgusted.

In the shadows at the back of the warehouse, the Doctor watched the soldiers form fours and march out, then quickly made his way along to the still-open hatch and gazed down. As he looked he saw the end of the boat making its way across the dark waters of the firth towards a black, sinister-looking brig.

The long boat had now moved alongside the sheer black hulk of the brig. ‘Belay there!’ Trask’s hoarse voice broke across the water, and the sailors rested on their oars. Above them in the moonlight – the

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