Read Online Doctor Who: Combat Rock by Mick Lewis - Free Book Online

jungle and primitive collection of mushroom-shaped grass huts. Sleek and streamlined, it floated like a mutated metal insect above the compound, its blunted nose spitting forth another gob of energy.
    And another hut bloomed fiery petals.
    Villagers were already beginning to emerge from their homes and scatter like ants. Twist was guffawing as he fondled the control stick, strafing them as they ran, watching bodies glow white and crumble into the grass.
    Pan watched the gunner at work and would have smiled.
    But he realized death didn’t really amuse him that much anymore. Maybe he was too old.
    This one or that one, the skull, or the woman with horns?
    He could always be perverse and have ‘mother’ tattooed on his arm. Then when anyone ever asked him about her be could just laugh. But no, that would get tiresome.
    Then inspiration came, and it came from the oddest of sources. There was a tattoo picture of Winnie the Pooh eating from a honeypot displayed next to a half-naked woman with tarantula legs.
    ‘Wind in the Willows,’ he told the bearded biker who emerged from the parlour looking at him expectantly without greeting or smile.
     
    ‘Ya what?’
    ‘Piper at the gates of Dawn. Access it on your web. I want the original illustration of Pan.’
    ‘Don’t follow ya, mate.’
    ‘Pan,’ he repeated patiently. ‘God of nature.’
    Peace. No torment. Pan meant leaves chuckling in an autumn breeze. It meant a rustling of small animals in a dark copse, the only one for miles around not polluted by humans and their stinking debris. It meant trees creaking in the purple night and the singing of the celestial mushrooms in his soul.
    It meant one time in his life he actually believed in something instead of death. It made him think of her too, because she was wild and natural and gave him...
    The touch of Pan.
    It had almost saved him that night on Earth, as the psychoactive fungus whispered to his brain and told him of a quieter way.
    Another hut wisped and then erupted. Several semi-naked Papul villagers managed to make it into the protective fringe of the jungle.
    Pan continued to watch Twist playing the Exterminating Angel and then allowed himself that smile. You Mafiaaa, baby... and nothing could ever save you.
    While Wemus, with Jamie’s assistance, pulled the motor canoe firmly up onto the beach, the others peered expectantly into the dense wall of jungle that waited for them, perhaps daring them to enter.
    ‘How on earth does he expect us to make our way through there, Doctor?’ Victoria asked. The jungle seemed completely impenetrable. Birds called to them, as if mocking their impotence.
    Wemus joined them with an ever-present grin, having overheard Victoria’s comment. He gestured at a section of the jungle where a dead palm lay in the sand, poking out across the beach like a finger. He didn’t say anything, merely began walking towards the tree. The others followed.
    As they got nearer, it became obvious the fallen tree marked an entrance of sorts into the green inferno. A hollow space amongst the trees, like a cave entrance, and Wemus was stooping beneath dangling blossoms, teased by huge, pastel-coloured butterflies, and Ussman was directly behind him.
    Budi followed.
    Victoria glanced nervously at the Doctor. This was her first experience of a jungle and she didn’t look too elated at the prospect of venturing inside the moist, dark wilderness, bursting as it was with unusual sounds and smells.
    The Doctor put an arm around her shoulder and squeezed her encouragingly ‘Don’t worry I’m sure Wemus knows where’s he’s going.’
    Jamie peered into the depths of the jungle. ‘Aye, well, let’s hope so.’
    ‘Jamie scared?’ Wina put her hands on her hips and pursed her sensuous lips in a half-smile. Behind her, Santi said nothing, merely glaring at her fellow Javeenesian as was her habit whenever Wina spoke.
    Jamie bristled. ‘Och, I’m no scared of a few midges and snakes. Come on!’ He