Doctor Who - The 8th Doctor - 14 - Vanderdeken

by Christopher Bulis (pdf)

  Heusheredherinwithoutaword.InsideGilliam.alsopale-faced,said,'It'son

  the bed; she said simply. 'It's a body... or at least I think it is. Be ready for a shock.'

  Lanchardtookadeepbreathandsteppedintothebedroom.

  Lying full length on the bed, hands folded peacefully across its chest, was indeedabody.Anetherealbody,astranslucentasanyofthecreaturesthathad

  attacked the ship. But this was no monster. It was unmistakably human and female in form. She could see the translucent veils of clothing over a haze of musculature enveloping the skeleton within. It was like some trick of medical imagery,exceptthatitwasnoillusion.

  Nervingherselfshebentovertheface,tryingtoignoretheangularlinesof

  the perpetually grinning skull beneath the skin, concentrating only on the externalcontours.Thenshecaughtherbreathandstartedbackwards.

  'Yes,'saidGilliam.'Irecognisedheraswell.'

  ItwasLysetWynter.

  Chapter30

  TearsofaGhost

  Lysetwaitedtodie.Showasswinginghisgunroundinwilderandwilderarcs,

  as though he couldn't decide which target to fire at, futile though the action would undoubtedly be. Any second she expected him to roll up in a ball.Any secondsheexpectedthewraithstoswarmoverthem.Butforsomereasonthey

  hesitated.

  Thevoicescameagainovertheradio,andnowtheywerejuststrongenough

  tobeintelligible.

  'Nimosian...HighCommand...installation...location...'

  They were toying with the words Sho had been speaking just before they appeared,asthoughthey'dbeenlisteningtohim.Buthowcouldtheyhearradio

  frequencies?

  'Missionorders...'thereedyvoicecontinued.'SecureobjectiveforNimos...'

  Showasstandingstockstill.'Nimos?'hesaid.'WhofightsforNimos?'

  Therewasapause,then,'We...fightforNimos.'

  ShesawSho'seyeswidenandchinliftdefiantly.'IamSquadleaderShoof

  theNimosianMarineCorps.Identifyyourselves!Name,rank,number!'

  The wraiths moved forward and Lyset shrank against the tunnel wall. But theypaidhernoattention.Shesawlegscrystalliseoutoftheflickerofhalf-seen forms, then bodies and heads. They had become humanoid shapes dressed in combat suits. Nimosian combat suits, she realised. And then shades of five soldiers stood before them, wavering and flickering slightly, but bearing no relationtothenightmarecreationstheyhadbeenmomentsearlier.Andthefirst

  of them saluted Sho. She saw a pale face, blank and expressionless, in which glassylipsmoved,andheardoverherradioafaint,'Robb,G.Private-738594.'

  Andthenextone.

  'Sorven,L.B.Corporal-960251.'

  Andthenext...

  Lyset felt dizzy, her mind trying to cope with the incredible concept. The ghostswere,oratleasthadbeen,people.Nimosians!How?

  ButShoappearedtoharbournodoubtsorreservations.Hewasbehavingas

  thoughhewasinspectingtheguard.Hadhisownmadnesssomehowinteracted

  withtheirs?Thegroupfinishedgivingtheirdetails,andShosaid,

  'Reportonyourmission.'

  Thisseemedtopuzzlethem.Theyshiftedtheirfeetandtheirformsbeganto

  flickermorestrongly,becomingblurredanddefocused.

  'Have you located the enemy headquarters?' Sho asked quickly.The simple questionsteadiedthem.

  'Yes...yes.'

  'Aretheyholdinganyofourmenprisonerthere?'

  'Yes.'

  'Arethereotherslikeyoustillfree?'

  'Some...'

  "Thenweshallfindthem,formulateaplanofattackandfreetheprisoners.

  Leadon.'

  ForthefirsttimetheghostslookedatLyset.Onepointedaspectralhand.'Is

  shefriend...orenemy?'

  'She'smyprisoner.Partoftheconspiracy.Shewillbeproperlyinterrogated

  induecourse.'

  'Totouchasolidlivingthing...makesusstronger.'

  "Thenuseher,'Shosaidlightly.'She'sjustanEmindian.'

  Lyset tried to run, but many cold immaterial hands clutched at her, sinking throughthefabricofhersuitandintoherflesh.Thewarmthandlifeflowedout

  of her. The tunnel turned dim and grey. Even the slight weight of her body seemedtoslipaway.

  'Enough,'sheheardShosayfaintly.'Youmustrationyourselves.Formup!'

  All but two of the soldiers released their hold.They assembled with Sho in theleadandmarchedoff.Lysetwasdraggedafterthem,hertrailingfeetsinking

  alittleintothehardrockfloorwithonlytheslightestresistance.

  ***

  ThetwoghostsinthesmallcavewithDanEngersJuniorhadbecomeamanand

  womandressedincasualclothes.

  AndsheheardDanjuniorsay,'Mummy...Dad?'

  What? Sam thought, straining her eyes. The figures were misty and

  translucent,theirfeaturesalmostimpossibletomakeoutfromanydistance.The

  femalewasholdingoutherarmsinagestureofdesperatelongingtothechild,

  whowasbackingawayfearfully.Samtookadeepbreathandsteppedintoview,

  holdingthenormaliserready.

  DanJuniorturnedtoherandcriedoutinsurpriseandrelief,'MsJones!'

  Thefemaleghostsawherandherhumanformbegantodissolveawayasshe

  stretched towards Sam, talons growing on her arms, her jaw distending, eyes blazing.Themaletriedtoholdherback.Thetwofiguresrippledandwaveredas

  thoughtheywouldbothbreakdown.Shecouldseethatthemanwasshouting,

  buthiswordssoundedasthoughtheyweredistantechoes:

  'Jeni-holdon!Holdon!'

  Sam hit them both with a blast from the normaliser.They writhed and

  momentarilyseemedtoharden.Thentheyweretwoghostlypeopleoncemore,

  clingingtoeachotherinpainandgrief.Thewomanwascryingwhiletheman

  wascallingouttoSam,hiswordsarrivingaswhispers:'It'sallright.

  Shewon'thurtyou.Shecan'thelpit."

  SamheldoutherhandtoDanJuniorandhecaughtholdofitgratefully.His

  eyes were red-rimmed and still wide with fear, but otherwise he seemed

  unharmed.Thenshesteeledherselftosteprightuptotheghostsandstareinto

  theirfaces.

  TheyweretheimagesofDanEngers'sparents.

  Staycalm,shetoldherself,wishingtheDoctorwerethere.Hewouldreelout

  somewonderfulexplanationoffthetopofhisheadwhich,evenifnobodycould

  understandit,wouldmakethemallfeelalothappier.Buttherewasonlyherself

  andafrightenedchildandtwo...ghosts.Shehadtosaysomethingconstructive.

  'DoyouknowwhoIam?'sheaskedloudly.

  TheghostlyversionofDanEngersSeniorpeeredather,asthoughshewas

  asindistincttohimasshewastoher.

  'Ithink..Irememberyou.Backontheship...beforeithappened.Sohardto

  thinkstraight...nothingchanges.Nobeforeorafter,justnow.'

  Theabsurdbutinevitablequestiongotpastherlipsbeforeshecouldstopit.

  'Areyoudead?'

  'We...don'tknow.Perhaps.Ifnot...Iwishwewere.'

  The despair in the feeble words cut her like a knife. The being that looked likeJeniEngersliftedherhead.'IhadtoseeDannyoncemore,'shesaid.

  'Justforawhile

  'OurDanis...gone,'herhusbandexplained,hiswordscomi
ngwithaneffort

  asthoughhewasforcingthemintoacoherentform.'He'sbackthereinthecave

  withtheotherswhoretreatedtothewomb.Jeniwentalittlecrazyafterthatand joinedthemadonesforawhile,butsherememberedenoughwhenthechance

  came.SheknewwhereDanwouldbeontheothership.Icouldn'tstopher,butI

  knew she'd bring him back here. She just wanted to hold him again. Just once more.'

  The woman gently slid out of his arms and crouched down before Dan

  Junior,reachingoutaninsubstantialhandtohischeek.Butheflinchedback.

  Samsaid,'Dan,lether.Shedoesn'twanttohurtyou.'

  'Butshe'ssocold.'

  'Youcanbearitforafewseconds,can'tyou?Bebrave.Ithinkitwouldbea

  kindthingtodo.'

  'But...shecan'tbemymum.Mymumanddadarebackontheship.

  They'resafe,aren'tthey?'

  "TheywerewhenIlastsawthem,'Samsaidcarefully,realisingshehadno

  ideaeveniftheshipwasstillinonepiece.'Nowcomeon.Lethertouchyou.'

  Theboytrembledbutheldstill.Thephantomfingersbrushedhischeek.

  Samsawtinystarsoflightformbelowhereyes.Itseemedthatghostscould

  cry.

  No, forget the supernatural, she told herself. There were no such things as actual ghosts. An image of the things in the outer cave returned and her resolution wavered for a moment. How could dimensional phase shifts explain them, or the doubles of the Engerses standing before her? Later, later, she told herself.Shehadmoreimmediateconcerns.

  'You know Dan can't stay here,' she said.'I've got to take him back to the ship. His parents... his other parents will be worried about him. I'll tell the Doctoraboutyou.He'lldoallhecantohelp.Somehow.Ipromise.'

  TheghostlyversionofJeniEngershaddroppedherhandfromDan'scheek

  andbowedherhead.Hercompanionputhishandonhershoulder.

  DanJuniorlookedatherwithcuriouseyes,thenkneltbeforehersothathe

  couldlookupintoherface.

  'Theremaybenothinganyonecando,'themansaid.'Itmayneverend...orit

  mightstartalloveragain.Yousee,wecan'trememberhowitbegan!'

  Samdidn'tunderstandhalfofwhathewassayingandnowwasnotthetime

  towastetalking.

  'I'm sorry, but we must get back to the alien ship. I know the Doctor will comelookingformeandthat'swherehe'llstart.Ifhe'sthereyoucantellhimall thisyourself.'

  The man nodded slowly.'I'll go ahead first to see if it's safe.The mad ones weretherethelasttime.'Helookedsorrowfullydownathiswife.'Letherstay

  withhimalittlelonger.Shewon'tbeanytrouble.'

  He left the cave, moving one leg stiffly. Sam remembered the real Daniel Engers being hit by the ghost - his own wife it now seemed! - when Dan was taken.Hadn'thefallenclutchingathisleg?'Nothingchanges,'hehadsaid.How

  longhadtheybeenhere?'

  Samsuddenlyfeltverytiredandsatdownonapackingcase.Howwouldshe

  explainthistohisrealparents?Orwerethesehisrealparents?

  ForawhileneithertheghostnorDanJuniormovedorspoke.ThenSamsaw

  Dantentativelyreachoutandtouchherhair,whichformedamistyhaloround

  herhead.Heshiveredslightlybutdidnotpullback.Hisfingersbrushedacross

  it, momentarily adding substance until it caught and reflected the light like dewdropsinthesun.'Isitreallyyou,Mum?'hesaid.

  ***

  Sammusthavedozed,forsuddenlyEngerswasstandingbeforeher.DanJunior

  andtheetherealimageofhismotherweresittingclosetogetheramidtheloose

  packing cases on the other side of the cave. There was no fear between them now,onlysadness.

  Samblinked.'Whatisit?'

  'Shuttlescamethroughthecentralcoreofthealienship.OnewasEmindian,

  theotherNimosian,Ithink.Theyareheadedfortheport.'

  'Theport?'Samrealisedtherewassomuchshedidn'tknow.'Nevermind.

  Canyoutakeusthere?'

  ***

  Thetwoshuttlesrestedsidebysideonatwilitterraceofthedeadstarport.

  Vega had ordered his marines into a defensive circle about the craft.They wereallarmedwithcopiesoftheDoctor'snormaliser.Hewonderedhowsoon

  theywouldhavetousethem.

  Alargebluebox,apparentlybelongingtotheDoctor,hadbeenloweredfrom

  theEmindianshuttle'sbellyhatchandeasilysetrightsideupinthelowgravity.

  The Doctor had then disappeared inside it, promising answers to impossible questions. Curiously, Vega realised the box resembled the probe he'd ordered destroyed during the initial confrontation with Lanchard over the alien ship.

  (Had that been only two days ago?) They never had discovered where it had come from - too much else had been happening to allow time for such

  speculation.Anyway,itmustjustbeachanceresemblancesincetheprobehad

  been destroyed and could hardly now be a piece of the Doctor's luggage. Yet, therehadbeensomethingoddaboutthelightthathadpouredoutofitsdoorway,

  andforamomentVegahadthoughthehadseen...

  No,hemusthavebeenmistaken.

  TheothermembersoftheEmindianpartystoodaboutlookingnumblyatthe

  desolation of their home port. Even Rexton seemed overawed and lost for words.Vegaalmostfelt sorryforhim.The imageofdead Emindarwouldhaunt

  hisowndreamslongenoughasitwas.

  The Doctor emerged from his box. Behind the faceplate of his helmet he lookedgraveasheturnedtotheEmindians.

  'I'msorry,butIhadtoconfirmcertainfacts.There'snodoubtaboutit.Weare a little over twenty years in the future, relative to the time you think of as the present. Emindar is dead and abandoned -destroyed by pollution from

  radioactive, chemical and biological weapons that were used in the war with Nimos. From the decay readings, this war ended a year after we crossed the hyperspatialbridgethatbroughtushere.'

  'But that's ridiculous, impossible!' Rexton exclaimed, coming out of his

  torpor.

  'It'strue,'saidDelrayinanearnestbutcuriouslyflatvoice.'Youknowwhere

  weareaswellastherestofus.Yousawwhat'sleftofEmindar.Doyouthinkall thiscouldhavehappenedsinceweleftandnobodybackhometoldus?Believe

  him.'

  Rextoncouldonlyshakehishead,asthoughdeterminedtodenythetruthto

  thebitterend.

  BendixaskedtheDoctor,'Buthowcanyouknowthesethings?'

  'I'll explain shortly,' the Doctor assured him. 'But I'm afraid there's more. I takeitthisbasehasahyperwavecommunicator.Whereisit?'

  "Thecommunicationcentre'soverthere.'Bendixpointedtoabuildingonthe

  nextterraceup.'Why?'

  'Becauseifit'sstillfunctioning,itwillbethequickestwaytoprovetherest

  ofwhatIhavetotellyou.'HelookedatVega.'Youmustcomeaswell.'

  Vegafeltasuddencoldnesstouchhisheart.

  Withasmallescortofguardstheytrampedacrosstheterraceandupabroad

  flight of steps. The nearest of the building's external airlocks was still intact, a long-life emergency bulb still burning forlornly above it.The marines entered first,thenwavedtheminside.Therewasminimalpressurewithinandtheykept

  theirsuitssealed.Theinteriorappearedundama
ged,butwhenBendixledthem

  through to the main operations room, they found a few desiccated corpses and some blackened scars on the walls. The equipment, however, seemed largely undamaged. Bendix examined the active displays. Solid-state switches still functionedandbroughtmorescreensintolife.

  'The reserve batteries have fifty-six per cent power. Enough to activate the relay. Backups are on line.The system checks functional.' He suddenly looked lost.'Butwhoarewecalling?'

  "That's up to Commander Vega,' the Doctor said, 'but I suggest he should attempttocontacthisHighCommandonNimos.Ifhecan."

  'Whatareyousaying,Doctor?'Vegademanded,knowingalready.

  "That Nimos is also dead, destroyed in the same war as Emindar. I'm not beingcruel,butyoumustconvinceyourselfthatIamspeakingthetruth.'

  Vega turned to the console, adjusted the settings and called the High Command.Itschannelwasneverleftunmanned.Buttherewasnoreply.

  He tried Government Central, Spatial Dispatch, the Commercial Shipping

  Coordinator'sOffice,theemergencychannel...

  Theywerealldead,filledonlybystatic.

  'Iftherewasawartheymayhavechangedfrequencies...'hesaiddesperately.

  Butheknewhewasclutchingatstraws.Therewasnobodytheretorespondto

  hissignals.Theyweregone.

  'Nimos suffered even more than Emindar,' the Doctor said sadly. 'It will never be habitable again. All that remains of your two peoples are handfuls of scattered survivors who will settle on far distant worlds and try to forget their past.Thissectorofspacehasbeensobadlytraumatisedbythewarthatitwill

  remainashunnedbackwaterformillennia-'

  'How do you know this!'Vega demanded, his composure strained almost to

  itslimits.'Youcan'tbeaModerator.Whatareyou?'

  'I'matimetraveller,'theDoctorsaidwithsimpledignity.'ATimeLord.And

  IwouldliketohelpyouifIcan.'

  'Helpus!'Bendixalmostshouted,breakingintoasuddenoutburstofdespair.

  'We'velostourfamilies,ourhomes...Howcanyouhelpus?'

  TheDoctortookhimbytheshouldersandstaredstraightintohiseyes.