Doctor Who: The Rescue (17 page)

Next moment there was a sickening lurch and they almost lost their balance as the TARDIS gyrated wildly while emitting a harsh warbling shriek.

‘There we are at last!’ exclaimed the Doctor suddenly wide awake. He sprang out of his chair, bright-eyed and smiling as if he had just enjoyed a good night’s sleep. He hurried over to the console and watched the central column slowly sink to rest. He gave a contented yawn.

‘And all in one piece!’

‘But Doctor, what’s that swaying movement?’ Ian demanded anxiously. ‘Surely you can feel it?’

All at once the whole floor tilted up at an alarming angle. The Doctor’s chair slid across against the wall and the hat-stand fell over with a crash.

The Doctor held on to the edge of the console and frowned at his instruments. ‘Oh, a little terrestrial instability, Chesterton,’ he muttered.

Barbara and Vicki clung to each other with one hand while their other hand grasped the edge of the console.

‘Doctor, what’s happening?’ Barbara screamed.

As the TARDIS tilted abruptly back the other way, Ian grabbed the edge of the console to save himself from sliding down the slope. ‘Doctor, do something... Take off again!’ he yelled.

The Doctor frowned tetchily. ‘I think you mean
dematerialise
again,’ he snapped, prodding a couple of buttons tentatively, as though he was unsure what the result would be.

Suddenly the TARDIS keeled right over. The helpless occupants were hurled head over heels so that they found themselves hanging upside down from the edge of the console unit with their feet pointing towards the ceiling.

‘I don’t understand it at all,’ the Doctor cried. ‘We appear to be in free angular motion under the influence of a strong gravitational field...’

‘We’re falling!’ Vicki screamed. ‘We’re
falling!
’

‘Yes indeed, that’s what I said,’ the Doctor cried, his reddening face buried between his upstretched arms. ‘So hold on tight... Anything could happen now... And I’m afraid it probably will!’

DIDO RENDEZVOUS

Established Dido orbit Terrestrial Year 01/12/20/23.25

following delay and misrouting after two encounters with
unidentified continuum turbulence at 01/12/17/22.10 and at
01/12/19/01.40.

No beacon transmission received from
Astra Nine
. Wreckage
eventually located in Polar 3 Quadrant at Equatorial 91.

Landed two medix, two tex, two surveyors and six support
group personnel.

Faint residual power traces found in wreck energy cells.

Radiation breach in propulsion priming reactor. Severe damage
to tachyon polarisers. Electrophase condensers missing:
apparently removed by crew, reason unknown.

Evidence of gross interference with navigation program.

Possibly a result of
Astra Nine
encounter with continuum
turbulence. More likely due to crew intervention, reason
unknown.

No trace whatsoever of
Astra Nine
personnel or survivors.

Corpse of large saurian creature found in vicinity of wreck.

Global infrared survey revealed scattered subterranean-dwelling fauna over Upper Hemisphere.

Several highly developed settlements located in vicinity of
wreck and elsewhere. All abandoned and in advanced stages of
decay.

Two sentient anthropoid beings located in vicinity of wreck.

Believed to be male and female. Both killed during encounter
with support group personnel before any contact established. No
evidence of any other intelligent life.

Return visit believed unproductive.

Quit Dido orbit Terrestrial Year 01/12/25/00.55.

Happy Christmas.

Peace on Earth.

Goodwill to all persons.

• Front cover
  
• Rear cover
  
• Editor's Note
  
• Title page
  
• Copyright
  
• Contents
  
• Prologue
  
• Chapter One
  
• Chapter Two
  
• Chapter Three
  
• Chapter Four
  
• Chapter Five
  
• Chapter Six
  
• Chapter Seven
  
• Chapter Eight
  
• Chapter Nine
  
• Chapter Ten
  
• Chapter Eleven
  
• Chapter Twelve
  
• Chapter Thirteen
  
• Chapter Fourteen
  
• Chapter Fifteen
  
• Epilogue