Read Online Doctor Who: Planet of Fire by Peter Grimwade, British Broadcasting Corporation - Free Book Online

from the other citizens–machines were sacred to Logar and it was a burning offence to tamper with them. Not that any of the Elders were aware of the complex mass of apparatus with its dials, levers and flashing lights that some earlier inhabitants had installed in the cavern.
    As the earth storm rumbled, the great machine appeared to have a life of its own. Roskal stood fascinated by the lights and sounds issuing from the weird contraption. He was sure this thing had been made by men like them. If only they could regain the lost knowledge–forbidden knowledge as it was now–they might yet learn to control the power of the mountain, as it was rumoured men had controlled it before.
    After a while the trembling and rumbling began to die away. ‘The storm is subsiding,’ said Sorasta.
    ‘Let’s have a look outside,’ said Amyand, joining Roskal by the machine.
    There was one magical function of the mechanism that, by pure trial and error, Roskal had learned to control. He turned a switch and a view of the valley beyond the city miraculously appeared on a screen in front of him.
    ‘Show us the Fire Mountain.’
    Roskal obliged by moving another lever. The scanner began to pan across the dark surface of the land.
    ‘Stop!’ shouted Sorasta suddenly, pointing to the centre of the screen. The other Unbelievers crowded forward.
    Two men could be seen walking across the lava slope.
    ‘Strangers.’ exclaimed Sorasta.
    ‘Impossible,’ protested Amyand. ‘They must be Sarns.’
    There was agreement from the others, for it was known that all the other cities had been destroyed by the earth storms and the fires. It was the one area of history where they agreed with the Elders. There was Sarn and only Sarn in the whole wide world. There were no strangers, for all men alive were fellow citizens. Malkon peered closer at the screen. ‘Look at their clothes!’ Both men were dressed as no Sarn had ever dressed.’
    ‘Could they really be Outsiders?’ suggested one of the younger Unbelievers nervously, to be answered by a noisy protest from his fellows at the hated word.
    ‘No,’ said Amyand. ‘No one just appears by courtesy of Logar. They must be survivors from one of the dead cities.’
    ‘We must talk to them!’ cried Sorasta.
    ‘You’ll never get out of the city.’
    But Amyand already had a plan. ‘They’re about to pass through the western col. We’ll use the tunnel and cut them off.’
    The Doctor did not like being so far from the TARDIS on such a treacherous and unstable planet. Urged on by Turlough, they had wandered further and further across the infernal landscape: white figures under a dark sky, trudging through black pumice drifts, like a negative snow scene.
    The Doctor glanced anxiously at the volcano. ‘ "What if the breath that kindled those grim fires/Awakened should blow them into seven-fold rage/And plunge us in the flames?"’ he quoted.
    ‘What did you say, Doctor?’ asked Turlough, expecting at any moment, to be ordered back to the TARDIS.
    ‘Milton,’ said the Doctor. ‘Didn’t they teach you anything at that school?’
    Turlough made a face.
    ‘ Paradise Lost ,’ continued the Doctor. ‘I was thinking of our holiday island,’ he added ruefully, gazing across a terrain that made the centre of Birmingham look habitable.
    Turlough grinned. The Doctor didn’t seem too worried after all. Yet the boy felt guilty at encouraging his friend to explore so far. And he felt ashamed, now, of his cruelty to Kamelion. The robot was not involved in any plot, but had been instinctively following a distress call. And Turlough was grateful, because somewhere here...
    ‘We ought to go back to Peri and the professor,’
    announced the Doctor.
    ‘Please, Doctor, just a little further,’ begged Turlough.
    But there’s no one alive on this planet!’
    Turlough pretended not to hear the Doctor and started to walk faster.
    ‘You’re in some kind of trouble aren’t you, Turlough?’
    said the Doctor