Polly turned to the Doctor, as always for an explanation, but to her surprise he was no longer by her side; in fact she couldn’t see him anywhere in the room.
4 There’s Really Nothing There
Medok had watched the patrols go past. They would have a wide area to search, and he guessed his best chance was to lie low until it was dark. The people of the Colony had a deep-seated resistance to going abroad once night had fallen, and Medok reckoned he knew the reason why.
Not that he wasn’t afraid himself. He went cold at the thought of what he had already seen. But there was nothing else for it. He must stay under cover, wait till dark, stay where he was until the Colony battened down for the night...
Suddenly he almost jumped out of his skin. There was a hand on his shoulder. He had the wit not to call out. He rolled over, ready to defend himself with an iron spike he had picked up on the building site.
He couldn’t believe it as he saw the incongruous figure of the stranger they called the Doctor.
‘Don’t make a sound,’ whispered the Doctor.
‘What the devil do you want?’ asked Medok nervously. This fool would attract attention.
‘That’s not very polite,’ said the Doctor blandly. ‘I saw you as we trotted past. I just wanted to continue our interesting chat.’
The stranger must really be crazy!
‘Who knows I’m hiding in here?’ asked Medok.
‘No one,’ the Doctor reassured him. ‘I didn’t think it advisable to tell anyone... Now, about those creatures. What were they like? Did you get a good look at them?’
Medok was in two minds whether to trust the man or not. ‘What’s it got to do with you?’ he asked.
‘I’m interested. So... what were they like?’
‘All right. If it’s important... But don’t forget I saw them in the dark. They move at night. So I didn’t get a proper view. Besides... I was very shaken... They were so horrible to look at... like insects... great insects.’
‘With large claws?’ suggested the Doctor.
Medok nodded. ‘Yes. Like huge crabs.’
‘In the Colony?’
‘Yes?’
‘Has anyone else seen them?’
‘A few.’
‘I’d like to have a word with them. Just to check. Get a general picture.’
‘You can’t,’ Medok told him. ‘They’re locked up in the Correction Hospital.’
‘Hmm. Any special reason for that?’
‘Strict instructions from Control. And they never get out. That’s where I’ll be going as soon as they catch me.’
‘Dear, dear,’ said the Doctor thoughtfully.
Medok looked at him sharply. ‘And that’s where they’ll put you if they find you here!’
‘I assure you...’ The Doctor broke off.
In the distance there carne the sound of voices. ‘Doctor! Doctor!’
‘What a nuisance,’ the Doctor said. ‘My young friends...’
‘Get out!’ pleaded Medok.
‘I promise nothing,’ said the Doctor, ‘but if I am able to help...’ He hurried away as both Jamie and Ben continued to shout his name.
Medok lay in the building rubble without moving. He had a feeling he might have a better chance without this extraordinary Doctor’s help.
They were beginning to get alarmed when the Doctor strolled up with Ben and Jamie.
‘Where have you been?’ Polly was inclined to scold.
‘A little air,’ said the Doctor casually. ‘A stroll.’
‘Everyone’s searching for you.’
‘I just had a look round.’
They passed the Refreshment Department and Ola called them in. ‘It’s dangerous to go off like that,’ he chided. ‘Especially at this time of day. Just as it’s getting dark.’
‘I’m used to the dark,’ said the Doctor. ‘I like it.’
‘We are confined to our Rest Cubicles,’ said Ola stiffly. ‘That’s an order from Control. If you go out in the Colony at night you may be killed.’
As if on cue the voice over the sound system boomed throughout the Department. ‘Curfew time. All personnel not on duty must retire to quarters.’
‘There you are,’ said Ola. ‘You heard that?’
The voice continued: ‘Emergency Patrols Two and Three are to remain on duty. Work shifts are to continue until dawn. Visitors will retire for the night to the Refreshing Department.’
‘Barney will see you to your cubicles,’ said Ola. The Doctor thought it wisest to make no objections.
If Ola and his colleagues had known the Doctor they would have posted a guard outside his room.
Barney wished him goodnight. ‘Your young friends are in rooms close at hand,’ said Barney. ‘I hope you sleep well.’
‘I’m sure I will,’ said the Doctor.
He gave Barney a couple of minutes to leave and then slipped from his bed and listened at the door.
He wondered if he’d triggered off some mechanism, for, as he silently opened the door, the voice boomed out: ‘It is now dark. No one will go outside. A dangerous man is in hiding. The patrols have orders to shoot on sight. So go to sleep everyone... Go to sleep... Go fast asleep... Happy, happy, Sleeptime.’
There was something hypnotic about the Voice. The Doctor gave his cheeks a little slap.
‘Wake up!’ he scolded himself, and tip-toed out of the building.
He had to duck back in sharply. Two patrolmen, carrying what looked like automatic rifles, were going slowly past, scanning the road on either side.
The Doctor waited until they had gone, noting how edgy they were, how quick they were to bring their guns up to readiness at the slightest sound. If they were
that
nervous, he wasn’t going to take any chances.
In a curious way, Medok half-expected the stranger to return. He lay in the shell of a house, hidden by the debris of the building site, listening to the sounds of the hunt that was going on for him.
Ola was in charge. His orders carne through a loudhailer. ‘Search Section West,’ he called, ‘and Patrol Three follow me. You are to use your weapons. Aim to kill!’
Medok closed his eyes; there was really no hope.
When he looked up again he was horrified to see Ola and the guards strung out in line, moving toward the building in which he lay.
He kept motionless as long as he dared. If he made a run for it now... It was just possible... He might get over the Colony wall... In his heart he knew he was trapped, but it was better than lying here until one of the guards trod on him.
He began to scramble up when one hand was clapped over his mouth, and another held him to the ground.
The Doctor’s voice was a whisper. ‘Don’t move...’ For a few minutes they were absolutely motionless: to Medok it felt like a lifetime. Then the Doctor lessened his grip.
Medok peered at him through the half-light. He was at a loss; he just couldn’t understand what made this strange fellow tick.
Ola’s voice sounded close at hand.
‘They’ll be here any second,’ whispered Medok. ‘We’ll have to get out.’ He was desperate, but for some reason he felt it best to follow the Doctor.
‘If they come,’ whispered the Doctor, ‘we’ll back off. If they move in from behind, we’ll go out through the front.’
It meant a few moments more of holding onto what was left of his sanity, thought Medok. But he would try.
‘Over there,’ called Ola. ‘Search the buildings under construction.’
‘That’s us,’ said Medok.
‘I have an idea,’ whispered the Doctor. ‘You go.’ ‘What about you?’
‘I’ll stay. I’ll find some way to distract them.’
‘You must be mad!’ said Medok. ‘They’ll kill you.’
‘Do as I say! I’ll be close behind.’
Medok wanted to thank this bizarre character, but couldn’t say anything. He crawled low over the ground. Outside, Ola and one of the guards were searching through a pile of timber. Medok looked back to see the Doctor waving him to move on. He went forward on his elbows, keeping in shadow, heading for cover.
He stopped: he could hardly breathe... There was something moving ahead, maybe forty, fifty yards away.
‘Doctor... Doctor!’
The Doctor crawled after him.
‘Look!’ said Medok. ‘Over there!’
The Doctor peered into the night.
‘In that patch of moonlight... I told you... I told you I’d seen them!’
It was not easy to pick out anything as they crouched in the mud and rubble. But the Doctor saw enough. Partly shrouded in shadow, partly obscured by unfinished buildings, something huge was making slow progress towards them.
Medok’s face puckered with disgust.
The Doctor was motionless. It was more horrible than he had visualised, more nauseating – giving off a suffocating odour – a very alien creature; moonlight glinting on its hard shell, a skin that glistened, prehistoric, giving the Doctor a feeling it was already dead... Yet moving slowly, with the speed of a gigantic slug, towards them.
Then he saw what he had already seen on the TARDIS scanner – the great claw of the creature, lurching forward.
Medok was transformed, throwing caution to the wind. He leapt to his feet.
‘What did I tell you!’ he said excitedly. ‘That proves it! I’m not insane. It’s there!’
‘Medok!’ The Doctor was shaken. ‘You’ll be heard.’
‘It doesn’t matter. They can’t lock me up now! It’s no illusion! These things are real!’
Medok was on his feet, making no effort to keep under cover, pointing into the darkness.
The Doctor caught his arm. ‘Listen to me! The problem is...’
Medok was in no mood to listen. He pulled free. ‘There’s proof,’ he called. ‘Proof for all the world to see.’
‘Medok,’ shouted Ola. ‘We know you’re in there.’
‘Don’t worry, Ola,’ Medok called back. ‘You can put the guns away, and put on your glasses! I’m coming out.’
‘Who’s with you?’ shouted Ola.
‘The Doctor,’ said Medok. ‘So I’ve got a witness.’
‘The Doctor?’ Ola peered towards them, gun still at the ready. ‘What is the stranger doing here?’
‘Don’t waste time,’ called Medok. ‘Come over here. Fast.’
‘You’re not giving orders,’ said Ola sharply. ‘Just stay where you are!’
‘I want to show you something,’ said Medok. ‘Something that will open your eyes.’
‘Stand still,’ ordered Ola.
‘For the sake of the Colony, Ola. Come and look. Before they’ve gone. Before it’s too late!’
‘Don’t move, Medok.’
‘Ask him! Ask the Doctor. He’ll tell you!’
‘Yes,’ called the Doctor. ‘I think I can confirm.’
‘You’re going to have some explaining to do yourself,’ said Ola sharply. ‘And where do you think you’re going?’
The Doctor had begun to move away.
‘I just thought I’d have another look. To be absolutely positive.’
‘Stay where you are.’ Ola turned to his guards. ‘Search him.’
The Doctor was surrounded.
‘Oh dear,’ said the Doctor.
‘Right, guards. Lead the way.’ Ola marched along by their side.
‘As a matter of interest, where are we going?’ asked the Doctor.
‘You will have to answer to the Pilot,’ said Ola. ‘You’ve been found in the company of a criminal. And you were out of your billet at night.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Medok as he marched beside the Doctor. ‘I thought Ola would listen to reason.’
‘Reason is the last thing you must expect,’ said the Doctor sadly, ‘in this or any other world.’
The Pilot’s office was dominated by a large wall screen, as elsewhere in the Colony. It also housed an impressive array of instruments through which he exercised control of the Colony.
He dictated as he strode up and down, while an attractive secretary operated a recording machine, picking up his voice and displaying the words.
‘All work shifts must undertake greater efforts. The increasing number of accidents must stop. The supply of gas is essential to all of us. The pressure and amounts must be constant and sustained. Life depends on this. Our life. All our activities...’
He broke off as a light flashed on the desk and a bell rang.
He spoke into the transmitter on his desk. ‘The Pilot is not to be disturbed.’
A voice replied. ‘This is an emergency. Ola requests an audience.’
‘I’m extremely busy...’
‘Medok has been taken,’ interrupted Ola, ‘and with him one of the strangers.’
The Pilot looked incredulous. ‘Bring in the stranger,’ he ordered.
A moment later a light switched on over the door and the door panei slid open. Ola pushed the Doctor in. He showed no signs of concern or alarm, but wandered in, gazing at the equipment with admiration.
‘Good evening, Mr Pilot. What a splendid office you have! Absolutely remarkable.’
‘He was with Medok on the building site,’ explained Ola.
‘Wasn’t there a guard on his quarters?’
‘All guards were involved in the search,’ protested Ola.
The Pilot dismissed him. ‘I will carry out this investigation myself,’ he said.
‘A telescopic viewing machine.’ The Doctor tapped the instrument beside him as Ola left. ‘With this one could keep track of all the Colony. You could direct inter-communications... co-ordinate activity... manage the running of...’
‘Do you realise the seriousness of the crime you’ve committed? asked the Pilot.
‘What crime?’
‘Why were you found with Medok? You know how dangerous he is.’
‘Ah... I’m not so sure about that.’
‘You’ve been told,’ said the Pilot sharply. ‘He has refused to cooperate. He disobeys orders. You know he has hallucinations.’
‘That’s just the point,’ said the Doctor. ‘Has he?’
The Pilot looked at the Doctor coldly. ‘What exactly do you mean by that?’
‘It’s like this –’ began the Doctor.
The lights flashed again and the bell rang stridently.
‘I don’t want any interruption,’ barked the Pilot. ‘Ola reporting,’ came the voice.
‘What now?’ asked the Pilot.
‘I’ve just had a statement from Medok. It changes everything.’ Ola sounded agitated.
‘Bring him in,’ said the Pilot.
Medok came in ahead of Ola. ‘Hello, Doctor,’ he said. ‘How have they been treating you?’
‘I’m perfectly all right.’
‘What is this statement?’ asked the Pilot.
‘Medok has just given us information,’ said Ola. ‘It’s about the Doctor.’
‘About me?’ The Doctor was intrigued.
‘That’s right,’ said Medok. ‘The Doctor wasn’t helping me to escape. He was trying to persuade me to give myself up.’