Read Online Doctor Who: The Edge of Destruction by Nigel Robinson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Nigel Robinson
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greater than everyone else, but when are you ever going to realise that other people are worth just as much as you? We might not be as intelligent as you, we might not have experienced as much but we have feelings. Do you know what they are? It’s a concern for your fellow creatures, a belief that no matter what our differences may be we’re all in this mess together and we’d better help each other out. We’re not just some laboratory animals for you to study, or inferior creatures for you to make use of... But oh no, humility is the last thing you’ll ever have—or any sort of common sense!’
The Doctor seemed visibly shaken by Barbara’s fierce tirade and for once seemed at a loss for words. Barbara stormed off for the living quarters and Ian followed her. As she passed the Doctor’s ormolu clock she stopped. A terrified scream burst from her lips and she turned her face away.
The framework of the Doctor’s ormolu clock had remained unchanged and as beautifully ornate as over. But the face itself on which the hours and minutes were displayed was now distorted, almost unreadable, a mass of molten metal, which strangely radiated no heat. Even the Doctor caught his breath in shock as he wondered at the enormity of whatever power could have caused this.
Fearing what they might find, Ian, Barbara and Susan looked down at their wristwatches in grim expectation.
The faces of these too had melted away; it was as though time had stopped for them.
Susan gave an involuntary shudder. ‘We’re somewhere where time doesn’t exist,’ she said, ‘where nothing exists except us..
‘Oh, don’t be stupid, Susan!’
Hysterically Barbara tore the watch off her own wrist and flung it across the control room, where the glass shattered into a hundred tiny pieces. Sobbing, she threw herself down into a chair. Susan went instantly to her side to comfort her.
‘You can’t blame us for this, Doctor,’ said Ian evenly and then turned around. The Doctor had disappeared. ‘Where is he now for heaven’s sake?’ he asked irritably.
As if on cue the Doctor entered the room from the passageway which led to the living quarters. He had a beaming smile on his face and in his hands he carried a tray upon which were four plastic cups.
‘I’ve decided we’re all somewhat overwrought,’ he said genially as he handed out the cups. ‘We all need more time to think instead of throwing insults at each other.’
Ian looked at the old man, amazed at his sudden apparent volte-face . ‘I wish I could understand you, Doctor,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘One minute you’re abusing us and the next you’re acting like the perfect butler.’
‘We must all calm down and look at the situation logically, my dear boy,’ the Doctor said pleasantly. He shot Ian a crafty look which the schoolteacher did not seem to notice.
Ian eyed the liquid in his cup uncertainly and sniffed it: its smell reminded him of apricots and honey. ‘What is this?’ he asked warily.
‘Merely a little nightcap,’ answered the Doctor cheerily. ‘Something to help us relax and sleep. In the morning things may look a lot clearer.’
‘That is, if it is night now,’ pointed out Ian and gestured over to the melted clockface. ‘We’ve no longer any way of telling.’
Over in the corner Barbara had calmed down a little, encouraged by Susan. She stood up determinedly and drained her cup. ‘Well, whatever time it is, I’m going to bed,’ she said, secretly hoping that in sleep she might find some release from the nightmare into which they had all been thrown.
She walked over to the door. Before she left Ian drew her aside. ‘Keep your door locked - just in case,’ he whispered.
Barbara was about to ask him what he was talking about when he nodded over to the Doctor. On their way from Susan’s room back to the control chamber Ian had told her what had happened in the power rooms. He had no way of telling whether the Doctor had indeed tried to kill
The Doctor seemed visibly shaken by Barbara’s fierce tirade and for once seemed at a loss for words. Barbara stormed off for the living quarters and Ian followed her. As she passed the Doctor’s ormolu clock she stopped. A terrified scream burst from her lips and she turned her face away.
The framework of the Doctor’s ormolu clock had remained unchanged and as beautifully ornate as over. But the face itself on which the hours and minutes were displayed was now distorted, almost unreadable, a mass of molten metal, which strangely radiated no heat. Even the Doctor caught his breath in shock as he wondered at the enormity of whatever power could have caused this.
Fearing what they might find, Ian, Barbara and Susan looked down at their wristwatches in grim expectation.
The faces of these too had melted away; it was as though time had stopped for them.
Susan gave an involuntary shudder. ‘We’re somewhere where time doesn’t exist,’ she said, ‘where nothing exists except us..
‘Oh, don’t be stupid, Susan!’
Hysterically Barbara tore the watch off her own wrist and flung it across the control room, where the glass shattered into a hundred tiny pieces. Sobbing, she threw herself down into a chair. Susan went instantly to her side to comfort her.
‘You can’t blame us for this, Doctor,’ said Ian evenly and then turned around. The Doctor had disappeared. ‘Where is he now for heaven’s sake?’ he asked irritably.
As if on cue the Doctor entered the room from the passageway which led to the living quarters. He had a beaming smile on his face and in his hands he carried a tray upon which were four plastic cups.
‘I’ve decided we’re all somewhat overwrought,’ he said genially as he handed out the cups. ‘We all need more time to think instead of throwing insults at each other.’
Ian looked at the old man, amazed at his sudden apparent volte-face . ‘I wish I could understand you, Doctor,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘One minute you’re abusing us and the next you’re acting like the perfect butler.’
‘We must all calm down and look at the situation logically, my dear boy,’ the Doctor said pleasantly. He shot Ian a crafty look which the schoolteacher did not seem to notice.
Ian eyed the liquid in his cup uncertainly and sniffed it: its smell reminded him of apricots and honey. ‘What is this?’ he asked warily.
‘Merely a little nightcap,’ answered the Doctor cheerily. ‘Something to help us relax and sleep. In the morning things may look a lot clearer.’
‘That is, if it is night now,’ pointed out Ian and gestured over to the melted clockface. ‘We’ve no longer any way of telling.’
Over in the corner Barbara had calmed down a little, encouraged by Susan. She stood up determinedly and drained her cup. ‘Well, whatever time it is, I’m going to bed,’ she said, secretly hoping that in sleep she might find some release from the nightmare into which they had all been thrown.
She walked over to the door. Before she left Ian drew her aside. ‘Keep your door locked - just in case,’ he whispered.
Barbara was about to ask him what he was talking about when he nodded over to the Doctor. On their way from Susan’s room back to the control chamber Ian had told her what had happened in the power rooms. He had no way of telling whether the Doctor had indeed tried to kill
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