Doctor Who_ Underworld Part 8

The Doctor smiled wryly, remembering his people's intervention on Minyos. 'No, Idas,' he said gently. 'I'm not a G.o.d. But I'd still like to help you if I can. Could you take me to your father?'

Sadly, Idas shook his head. 'It is not possible.'

'Why not?'

'When the Skyfall happened, all my family were buried.

My father became crazed and spoke against the Guards, so they took him away.'

'What will happen to him?'

'They will sacrifice him to the Oracle. There is nothing anyone can do.' There was the resignation of generations of slavery in Idas's voice.

'Oh, isn't there?' said the Doctor indignantly. 'We'll see about that! Try to stand up.'

Idas got to his feet, and found to his astonishment that his leg would bear his weight without hurting.

Leela came hurrying along the corridor. 'I have unplugged K9, Doctor. He says his recharging is almost complete.'

'Splendid! This is Idas, Leela.'

'Hullo, Idas,' said Leela. Idas shrank away, still not convinced she wasn't dangerous.

'They're going to sacrifice his father,' explained the Doctor.

'Look, Doctor!' shouted Leela.

The Doctor and Idas turned. A cloud of white vapour was drifting down the corridor towards them.

'It is the Smoke,' screamed Idas. 'You have brought me into a trap to kill me.' He lunged at the Doctor's throat and they fell together into the cloud.

Leela jumped into the gas after them, trying to pull the Doctor free. There was a brief flurry of arms and legs, and after a moment the Doctor surfaced, dragging an unconscious Idas after him. Leela followed. Coughing and choking they retreated down the corridor.

The Doctor shoved Idas towards Leela. 'Get him to the command deck, you'll be all right there for a while.' He began wrapping the folds of his scarf over his mouth and nose.

Leela stared at him. 'Where are you going, Doctor?'

'Outside to try to do something about this gas.'

'You'll suffocate out there! Can't you just keep it out of the s.h.i.+p? If we close the airlock door...'

'I could try-but what about all the others? They're out in those tunnels somewhere, you know. Just get Idas to the command deck.'

Pulling his scarf up below his eyes, the Doctor dashed through the wall of smoke towards the airlock.

Jackson and the others were plodding doggedly along a smoke-filled tunnel, blasting the steel doors as they came to them. They had their helmet-visors down and there was an air supply in their back-packs. But the supply was limited and already it was dangerously low.

If they didn't find a way out of the smoke soon, they would have to open their helmets-and the smoke would choke them.

Protected only by his scarf, the Doctor felt his way along the walls of the tunnel. His eyes were streaming, and he was beginning to cough.

The Doctor's respiratory system was far more efficient than that of any human being, but he needed oxygen to survive as much as anyone else.

The gas wasn't poisonous as such; it was some kind of fumigant smoke. But if it built up sufficiently, it would asphyxiate him all the same.

At last he found what he was looking for-an inspection hatch beside a smoke-pouring grille. Smoke doesn't just move of its own accord. It has to be pumped-which meant that somewhere there had to be a pumping station.

The Doctor produced his sonic screwdriver, undid the hatch fastening and lifted it off. He surveyed the tangle of circuitry with satisfaction. 'Whatever blows can be made to suck,' he thought grimly. 'If I disconnect this here, reverse the polarity, and re-connect here...'

Fanning the smoke away with his hat, the Doctor set to work. It was an intricate job, and it wasn't made any easier by the fact that his head was beginning to swim. The circuit panels started blurring before his eyes.

Doggedly the Doctor worked on, while the smoke in the tunnel built up into a dense, impenetrable wall.

He was making the final cross-connection when the sonic screwdriver slipped from his fingers and he collapsed unconscious.

Smoke from the vent swirled round his head, in a thick grey cloud.

Chapter Nine.

The Mouth of the Dragon As the Doctor lay unconscious, something strange happened.

Smoke stopped coming out of the vent, and began rus.h.i.+ng into into it, faster and faster like water draining from a tank. All over the Tunnel Nine area the same thing was happening. The smoke began to clear with astonis.h.i.+ng speed... it, faster and faster like water draining from a tank. All over the Tunnel Nine area the same thing was happening. The smoke began to clear with astonis.h.i.+ng speed...

In the Security section, Tarn was bowing deferentially before his communicator console, acknowledging the instructions of the brown-hooded figure on the screen. 'I obey immediately, Master.' There was both fear and reverence in his voice. He turned to Rask. 'We are ordered to round up the slaves to attend the coming sacrifice.' He broke off in horror. White smoke was pouring from all the ventilators, filling the room...

Tarn gave a yell of fear. 'The gas-it's getting in! Shut down the fumigation system.'

Coughing and choking, Rask staggered to the console.

The Doctor opened his eyes and saw a wisp of gas drifting past his eyes and into the vent. He smiled. Evidently he had had finished the job before pa.s.sing out. He got to his feet, and watched as the last few wisps of gas were whisked away. 'I wonder where it all went?' said the Doctor thoughtfully, and went back to the s.h.i.+p. finished the job before pa.s.sing out. He got to his feet, and watched as the last few wisps of gas were whisked away. 'I wonder where it all went?' said the Doctor thoughtfully, and went back to the s.h.i.+p.

When he came on to the command deck, Idas, now recovered, was sitting bolt upright on an acceleration couch, obviously not daring to move. He was staring all round him with wide, astonished eyes.

Leela appeared from the corridor to the armoury, proudly holding another s.h.i.+eld gun. 'I have found a weapon, Doctor!'

The Doctor stood staring into nothingness, lost in thought. 'Have you?' he said vaguely.

'Well, we've got to protect ourselves somehow, haven't we?'

Idas looked up as Leela came towards him. 'Are you really from the stars?'

'Yes,' said Leela matter-of-factly.

'The stars,' breathed Idas in wonder. 'They really exist then?'

'Of course they do!'

Idas pointed to the metal ceiling above them. 'And that is not the sky?'

'That is the roof,' said Leela pityingly.

'Roof,' said Idas thoughtfully. 'Will you take me with you when you return to the stars?'

'No,' said Leela.

'Yes,' said the Doctor. 'Or rather the owners of this s.h.i.+p will-I hope! Unfortunately they've got problems.' He looked down at K9 who was peacefully recharging himself. 'Can't lend them you for ever, old chap, can I?'

'Negative, Master.'

'Why do you call this your s.h.i.+p?' asked Idas.

'That's what it is,' said Leela.

Idas shook his head. 'No, no, it is a Citadel. We have a Citadel, too.'

'You do?' said the Doctor with sudden interest. 'Where is it?'

'In the heart of our world. It is where the Guards and the Seers live, in metal rooms like these.' Fear filled Idas's voice. 'We are taken there when they hold the sacrifices.

My father will be there now, waiting...'

The Doctor stared at the guidance-system console, thinking of the shattered crystal. The P7E and this one were sister s.h.i.+ps. Besides, he didn't approve of human sacrifice. 'Can you take us to this Citadel of yours?'

'I could... but there is no time now,' said Idas mournfully.

'No time! Don't ever say that to me, I'm a Time Lord!'

Leela pulled Idas to his feet. 'Do not worry,' she said consolingly. 'The Doctor has saved many fathers. Come.'

Deep within the heart of the planet was another control room, very similar to the one the Doctor had just left. Once it had been the command deck of the P7E, though it was many thousands of years since it had fulfilled that function. Now it was a kind of temple, the computer consoles and control panels draped with rich hangings, smoky temple lamps creating an atmosphere of sinister gloom.

In a sub-control room adjoining the main command deck, Idmon, the father of Idas, lay strapped to a metal trolley, a gag in his mouth. A hooded figure stood watching him from the doorway. It was dressed not in the universal black of the guards but in a garment of sombre brown, ornamented with golden studs. This was Ankh, a Seer, one of the two supreme rulers under the Oracle. Fiery red eyes glinted behind the slits of his hood.

Flanking him stood Tarn and Rask. Ankh spoke in his metallic, inhuman voice. 'a.s.semble the slaves to witness the sacrifice. They must be reminded who rules here. See that they learn the lesson, Tarn, or you will be next!'

Tarn bowed low. 'Yes, Master. All shall be as you command.'

Ankh turned away. Rask crossed to the trolley and glared down at Idmon. 'Make the most of these few moments, slave. They will be your last!'

Idmon could not move because he was fastened to the trolley, and he could not speak because he was gagged. But as he looked up at Rask, his eyes blazed with defiance.

The Doctor, Leela and Idas moved along the tunnels, K9 trundling along behind them.

The Doctor was questioning Idas about the social organisation of the planet. 'So the Oracle lives in the Citadel, and tells the two Seers what to do. The Seers tell the Guards, and the Guards tell you?'

Idas nodded.

Leela had been listening to the conversation. 'And you do all the work?'

Idas said sadly, 'Yes. That is how it has always been.'

'Has no one ever thought of revolution?'

'My father did-and now he waits for sacrifice.'

They came to a central junction point, with tunnels branching off on all sides. Idas hesitated, confused. 'There are so many tunnels. It is hard to be sure.'

The Doctor had a thought. 'K9, could you make us a map of this tunnel system?'

'Affirmative, Master.' K9's antennae extended and his eyes lit up. He spun round in a complete circle, as if he were chasing his own tail. Then he stayed, remained completely still for a moment, whirring and clicking busily.

'What's happening?' asked Leela.

'Sss.h.!.+' said the Doctor reprovingly. 'He's concentrating!'

'Ready, Master.'

The Doctor stooped and drew a roll of paper from K9's mouth. He held it up. 'Very good, K9. Thank you. Now, I think you'd better go and find Jackson and the others.

Bring them back here and then follow on after us, clear?'

'Find, retrieve and follow. Affirmative, Master!' K9 spun round and glided away.

The Doctor held up the map. 'Now then, Idas, K9 has kindly made this for us. Do you recognise it?'

Idas bowed his head in reverence. 'It is the Tree. The Tree of Life.' The complex map with all its main and subsidiary tunnels did look rather like a kind of tree.