DOCTOR WHO - FURY FROM THE DEEP

by Victor Pemberton

  Harris was puzzled. 'What does that do?' he asked sceptically.

  'It's an adaptable little toy of my own,' said the Doctor, leading Harris and the Chairperson back to the Cone. 'Together with the amplifiers, it should produce a sonic layer sound wave.'

  'You mean, like a laser light beam?' suggested the Chairperson.

  'More or less.' The Doctor inserted his gadget into the makeshift complex of wires behind the Cone. 'This sound should then travel through your speakers attached to the pipeline, and so through to the nerve centre of the weed colony.'

  Harris still looked doubtful. 'Will that destroy the Weed here in the Refinery?'

  The Doctor's head popped up from behind the Cone. 'Well - no. I'm afraid we shall have to do battle with that ourselves.'

  'How?'

  The Doctor moved to a line of speakers already wired up. 'We use these!'

  Everyone, including Jamie and Victoria, hadn't the faintest idea what the Doctor was talking about. Their fears and doubts were further intensified when the pipeline tube above once again echoed to the deafening sound of the thumping heartbeat.

  The Doctor now had to shout to be heard. 'Mr Price! If the foam and weed attack us, we merely aim these loud-speakers directly at them. Whatever you do, don't get in the way of any one of the speakers. The sonic sound waves would cut you to pieces!'

  'Doctor!' Jamie was pointing in horror towards the huge central video monitor. The screen was showing a surge of bubbling white foam, gushing its way down one of the long corridors leading to the Control Hall. And in that foam the heinous figure of a gigantic Weed Creature, its menacing tentacles flapping about in uncontrollable fury.

  'It's making for the Hall!' yelled Harris. 'Chief! Follow me!'

  Harris and the Chief Engineer rushed into the corridor to be met by the deafening squeals of not only the giant Weed Creature, but also its minions, the wriggling small clumps of weed, popping, and hissing gas in the surging foam. Harris shouted frantically, 'Back!' He and the Chief retreated back into the Control Hall.

  'Full alert!' yelled Harris. 'Lock all doors!' As he spoke, Price flicked a switch and the emergency alarm klaxon horns echoed through the Refinery. The whole place was now thrown into a panic.

  'The doors won't last much longer!' called Jamie. His eyes were firmly fixed towards the perspex doors of the impeller area, which were buckling under the weight of the foam and a second Weed Creature.

  The Doctor grabbed hold of two passing engineers, and practically threw two loudspeakers at each of them. 'Take these and use them as weapons. Remember - don't point them at any human person!' The bewildered engineers took the speakers, and rushed off in different directions.

  Harris's sudden shout was chilling and hysterical: 'Look Out!'

  There was a loud cracking sound as the door leading to the Compound Corridor burst open, and a great surge of foam gushed into the hall.

  'Oh my God!' yelled the Chairperson. It was probably the only time she had ever shown emotion.

  'Everybody back to the platform!' yelled Harris over the deafening sound of the shrieks and screams and thumping alien heartbeat. The Chairperson, Victoria, and some of the engineers made their way to the temporary safety of the raised control platform.

  The Hall was now in total pandemonium as the aggressive foam surged ahead, swamping all and everyone in its path.

  The Doctor went quickly to Price at the Cone. 'The tape recording, Price!' he yelled frantically. 'Turn it on, man!' But Price was paralysed with fear, staring in open-mouthed horror at the advancing wall of foam and the gradual approach of the hissing Weed Creature. The Doctor took hold of Price's shoulders and shook them firmly, shouting, 'Which switch is it, Price? Tell me!' Price suddenly snapped out of his state of shock. He looked at his feet. The foam was already swirling around his ankles. 'Turn on the recorder, Price. Do you hear me?' Without a word, Price slammed the switch down.

  The Hall immediately echoed to the deafening sound of Victoria's screams, repeated over and over again with an electronic echo overlaid. Everyone clutched their ears in agony, for the screams were of such a high pitch that they were unbearable to listen to.

  The wall of foam was now surging about the hall nearly waist-high. The Doctor, Janie and Price struggled their way towards the raised control platform where the others were waiting with a line of loudspeakers. They were all virtually trapped into one small area of the Hall.

  'Your speakers!' yelled the Doctor. 'Switch them on and aim them directly at the Weed!'

  As he was speaking, the tentacles of the giant Weed Creature suddenly leapt out of' the foam and snaked towards the group now sheltering on the raised platform. One of the tentacles reached out and curled itself around the Doctor's ankle. But Harris moved quickly, grabbed hold of the Doctor around his waist, and held on to him firmly.

  'Do as I say!' yelled the Doctor again, struggling to free his ankle from the tentacles. 'Turn on the speakers - now!'

  Every man on the platform who was holding a loud-speaker, turned it on, directing it straight at the Weed Creature. The sound that reverberated around the Hall was shattering. Victoria's recorded screams, overlaid on top of the existing ones, were deafening, terrifying. The helpless group looked on in fear and horror, waiting, hoping. But the weed and foam showed no sign of being affected by the Doctor's burst of electronic sound.

  'It's not working!' shrieked the Chairperson. 'We can't hold it any longer!'

  'Wait!' yelled the Doctor.

  The sound of Victoria's recorded screams was growing in intensity. But the foam surged up the steps relentlessly, and the weed clumps wriggled and squealed and popped. Gradually, the Weed Creature itself moved closer and closer towards the raised platform, hissing gas fumes as it approached.

  The Chairperson was coughing and spluttering. 'I tell you, it's not working!' she insisted, struggling to breathe. 'We're finished!'

  'No!' Harris's voice boomed out above the recorded screams. 'Something's happening! Look at the Weed! Look at the foam!'

  The Doctor suddenly felt a release of tension as the tentacle of the giant Weed Creature uncurled from around his ankle. Then he turned with the others to look at the amazing sight before them.

  The bubbling white foam was retreating, not slowly, but rapidly. And as it did so, the noise it made was extraordinary, like the sound of wind rushing through a tunnel. But the most terrifying sight of all was the giant Weed Creature itself. Victoria's screams had clearly penetrated into its very soul, if the poor wretched fugitive from the deep possessed such a thing. Its squeals of agony were enough to chill the blood, and its tentacles flapped about helplessly in the air. Gradually, the huge shapeless mass withdrew towards the Compound door, taking with it the weed clumps that had nestled around it. After they had gone, all that was left were a few tiny blobs of bubbling white foam.

  It took several moments for everyone in the Hall to realise that the battle against the Weed was over - and won. Finally, it was Price who led the engineers in a rousing cheer for the Doctor.

  'Incredible!' proclaimed the Chairperson, clasping her hands together in ecstatic: relief. 'Absolutely incredible!' She even found it possible to laugh at Perkins, her secretary. During the entire operation he had been crouched in a corner of the platform, shielded by Victoria. Soon, out of sheer relief, everyone was rocking with laughter.

  'It worked!' said Harris incredulously. 'It actually worked!' And indeed there was no doubt about it. Not only was the Hall clear of weed and foam, but so too was the impeller area.

  The Doctor picked himself up from the floor and called out, 'Everyone - turn off your speakers!' Victoria did so, and Price hurried back to the Cone to stop Victoria's screams on the recording machine.

  The Hall was at last plunged into a peaceful silence.

  'But what about the nerve centre of the weed out at the Control Rig?' asked Harris. 'D'you think we've destroyed it?'

  The Doctor smiled. 'I think you should find out, Mr Harris.'

&nb
sp; Harris nodded, and went to the Cone. 'Price. Send out one of the Company helicopters. I want a report from the Control Rig right away.' Price turned back to the control panel, and set about re-establishing contact with the outside world.

  Within a few moments the Hall was bustling with activity again, as engineers quickly returned to their posts.

  The Chairperson looked absolutely exhausted. But as she ran her fingers through her hair in an attempt to tidy it, one could sense that she was a far more vulnerable and attractive woman than she had ever revealed before. Nonetheless she was the first person to appreciate who was responsible for winning the seemingly hopeless battle against the Weed. 'I don't quite know what to say, Doctor,' she smiled, 'except - thank you.'

  The Doctor smiled back. 'That is more than sufficient,' he replied. 'But I can assure you, the person we owe it all to is - Victoria.' He turned to look at Victoria, who had her back towards them nearby. She was in tears, sobbing deeply. 'Victoria!' The Doctor went to her quickly, and put a comforting arm around her shoulders. 'Victoria, my dear. What's the matter?'

  Victoria looked up. Her face was pale and drawn. 'I... I was so frightened. I always am whenever...' She broke down again. 'Oh, Doctor, I can't go on like this... I just can't...' The Doctor held her in his arms, and exchanged a worried look over her shoulders with Jamie.

  'Doctor!' Harris was calling from the Cone. 'They're safe!'

  The Doctor left Jamie to look after Victoria, then hurried across to join Harris.

  'Look at them! They're safe! We've won!' Harris was excitedly watching the huge central video screen. A group of people were shown there, gathered together in the Log Room of the Control Rig. Amongst them were Robson, Maggie Harris, van Lutyens, and Chief Baxter. But they were no longer the demented, half-human Weed Creatures the Doctor had last seen on the platform of the rig. The frond-like weed formations had disappeared from their necks and arms, the colour had returned to their faces, and although they still looked a little dazed, their eyes were bright and alert. Harris could hardly contain himself as he called out eagerly to the video screen. 'Maggie! Mr Robson! Can you hear me?'

  Robson looked straight into the camera and replied. His voice was no longer a whisper. It came through loud and clear. 'Yes, Mr Harris, we can hear you.'

  'Maggie, are you all right? The Weed - has it gone?'

  The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria, the Chairperson, Harris, Perkins, Price, the Chief Engineer, everyone in the Control Hall was watching the video screen anxiously, waiting for Maggie's reply.

  'Yes, Frank - it's gone. We're all perfectly safe.'

  All around the Hall there were expressions of emotional relief.

  'Just one question though,' continued Maggie. 'Would someone please tell me how the hell I got here!'

  There was a momentary pause. Harris looked from the screen to the Doctor. He started to chuckle, then laugh. Price joined in, then the Chairperson, then Perkins. Soon, everyone in the Hall was rocking with uncontrollable laughter, a pure release of tension.

  The mood quickly changed to loud cheers all round as the sound of the giant impeller was suddenly heard, throbbing with life again, echoing throughout the Refinery and the shores beyond.

  The Doctor smiled gently, and looked up at the illuminated panel on top of the Cone. Every one of the rigs shown there was flashing with coloured lights.

  Euro-Gas was back in business.

  'I'd still like to know how I got out to that rig,' insisted Maggie, as she poured after-dinner coffee for her guests, who included Robson, the Doctor, Jamie, and Victoria. 'I mean, I can't even swim.'

  'You can't remember anything at all?' asked her husband. 'Nothing. It was as though I'd had a nightmare, and had woken up in the middle of the North Sea!'

  The Doctor smiled sympathetically. 'Nightmares can sometimes be a very strong emotional experience, Mrs Harris.'

  'But how did I get out to that Rig?' asked Maggie.

  'My guess is that you were cocooned by the foam, and quite literally, transported out there.'

  Maggie shivered. 'How horrible!'

  'Well, Harris, all I can say is, you were right,' said Robson, who had fully regained his robust appearance. 'I should've listened to you in the first place.'

  Harris shook his head. 'I doubt it would've helped. As it turned out, we were lucky we didn't tamper with that Weed.'

  Everyone laughed as Maggie turned to her husband and said, 'And the next time you ask me to get something out of your desk, you can come and do it yourself!'

  There was more laughter as Robson added, 'And to think I wanted to keep you locked up, Doctor. Just as well for us all that Harris here is inclined to disobey orders!' He dabbed his mouth with his napkin, then rose from the table. 'Well, that was a splendid dinner, Mrs Harris. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm rather tired.'

  'Of course,' said Maggie, rising from the table. Everyone but Victoria did likewise.

  'Shall we see you in the morning, Doctor?' asked Robson.

  The Doctor shook his head. 'I don't think so, Mr Robson. I'm afraid my friends and I must travel on.'

  'Oh, really? Where are you going?'

  The Doctor took a risky glance at Jamie. 'Er - well, we haven't quite made up our mind.'

  'Even if we had,' complained Jamie, 'it wouldn't make any difference. We still wouldn't get there!' He grinned cheekily at the Doctor.

  Robson smiled, a rare event for him. But he was clearly sorry to see the last of the Doctor and his companions. 'Well, if you're ever around these parts again, don't hesitate to drop in on us - only through the front gate next time, eh?'

  Everyone laughed, then said their farewells to Controller Robson, who went off to resume the long career that meant so much to him.

  The Doctor yawned and rubbed his eyes. 'I suppose it's about time we went too, eh, Jamie?' He turned to Victoria, who was still sitting at the table, her face resting on her hands. 'Are you ready, Victoria?'

  Victoria slowly looked up at him. There were tears welling up in her eyes.

  'Hey Victoria!' Jamie went to her immediately. 'What is it? What's the matter?'

  Victoria looked away. She was too upset to answer.

  The Doctor went and sat beside her. Taking her hand and patting it he said, in that soft, inimitably kind and understanding way that was so characteristic of him, 'It's all right, my dear. I know. You don't want to come with us, do you?'

  Victoria found it impossible to look at the Doctor. 'I... I don't know. I don't want to leave you, but...' Finally, she plucked up courage to look at him. 'How did you know?'

  The Doctor smiled at her affectionately. 'I suspected it.'

  'Would you mind?' she asked.

  'Victoria!' protested Jamie. 'You can't!'

  'Be quite, Jamie!' the Doctor said firmly. Then he turned back to Victoria. 'You want to stay, settle down?'

  Victoria bit her lip nervously, nodded.

  'Then if you really want to - you must do it.'

  Victoria buried her head in his shoulder. 'Oh, Doctor,' she agonised, 'I'm so sorry...'

  'It's all right, my dear... all right...' He patted her gently on the back of the head, then turned to Maggie. 'Mrs Harris, would it be all right if Victoria stayed with you for a while. You see, she has no parents or family of her own, and...'

  'Of course she can!' Maggie interrupted immediately. 'We'd be delighted to look after Victoria for as long as she likes to stay. Isn't that so, Frank?'

  Harris nodded enthusiastically. 'With the greatest of pleasure!'

  For the first time, Victoria's eyes lit up 'Oh, Mrs Harris, Mr Harris - would you really mind?'

  Maggie responded by easing Victoria up from the table, and hugging her.

  The Doctor looked relieved. He was concealing the personal sadness he felt. 'Thank you both - very much.' Then, for Victoria's sake, he quickly became very business-like. 'We'll stay here tonight, Victoria - just in case you want to think again...'

  'Aye!' snapped Jamie resentfully. 'You're talking
nonsense, Victoria - you know you are!'

  'Jamie!' the Doctor reacted firmly. 'This is something Victoria must decide for herself. It's her life. We must not interfere.'

  Victoria was watching Jamie closely. She couldn't bear that crumpled, hurt look on his face.

  The windows of the Harrises' married quarters were thick with frost. But, thanks to an early morning shaft of sunlight which had not been forecast by the computers, the frost was now beginning to melt and trickle.

  Inside the kitchen, someone was rubbing a small clear patch on the window. Victoria's face peered out. It was clear she hadn't slept well that night, for her eyes were puffed up from crying. In the distance, she could just pick out the small, stocky figure of Jamie, winding his way in the cold through the grounds of the Refinery Compound. As soon as she caught sight of him, she felt a sinking, hollow feeling in her stomach. Jamie was the best friend she ever had, or was every likely to have. Even though at times he was pompous and opinionated, she knew only too well how difficult it was going to be to continue her life without him.

  'There he is,' she thought, as she went out to meet Jamie on the kitchen patio, 'that funny little figure in his kilt, pullover, and tam-o-shanter.' In a few hours time, she would never see him again.

  'You're up early,' he said awkwardly. 'Didn't you sleep?'

  'Oh - yes,' Victoria flustered. 'I'm feeling fine.'

  'Good.' There was an unnatural pause between them, until Jamie finally said, 'D' you know what the Doctor's done?'

  'No?'

  'He's only gone down to the beach! He gets worse every day!' He laughed falsely. But Victoria had difficulty in even raising a smile. There was another awkward pause, and then Jamie could contain himself no longer. 'You're still not sure, are you?'

  'Yes, I'm sure now,' replied Victoria decisively, 'but that doesn't make it any easier leaving you and the Doctor.'

  'Aye. We've been together a good time now. Has the Doctor said anything else to you?'

  'No. You know him - he wouldn't. He believes in people making up their own minds.'