Doctor Who: The Three Doctors

by Dicks, Terrance

  The Doctor snorted. ‘Doubled? Halved, more like it, with you to look after!’

  Doctor Two said, ‘Now don’t be ungracious, old chap. I think the first thing to do is for me to put you in the picture.’

  The Doctor opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say anything, Doctor Two reached out and put a hand to his temple with a curiously formal gesture. It was obviously familiar to the Doctor, for he grunted a rather surly, ‘Oh all right,’ and put his hand to the newcomer’s temple in the same way.

  ‘Contact!’ said Doctor Two firmly, and the two Time Lords became instantly motionless.

  Jo and Benton looked on in astonishment. The two very different figures were standing absolutely still, but you could almost feel the power of the mental energy flowing between them. Suddenly Jo realised what was going on. ‘Look,’ she whispered to Benton, ‘they’re having some kind of telepathic conference.’

  And that, indeed, was exactly what was happening. In the newcomer’s mind was flooding everything that had happened since the arrival of the cosmic-ray research balloon at the bird sanctuary; the vanishing of Hollis, and of Tyler; the sudden, attack of the jelly and the creatures it had formed. In return, the Doctor received a full history of the sudden appearance of the black hole in space and of the way it was gradually draining the cosmic energy of the Time Lords, and threatening to disintegrate the fabric of the entire Universe. In a matter of seconds the process was complete and the two Doctors stepped apart, their faces equally grave.

  The first, Jo’s Doctor, gazed thoughtfully at the scanner screen where the scene in the lab was unchanged. The second Doctor began to tootle on his flute. Jo found the sound rather soothing, but it was soon apparent that the Doctor didn’t share her view. He turned angrily to his other self and snapped, ‘Must you?’

  Doctor Two looked hurt. ‘It helps me to think!’

  ‘Well it stops me from thinking at all!’

  ‘Are we going to take this attitude to my music the whole time?’

  ‘Quite frankly, yes we are. In a serious situation like this, I’ve no time to listen to paradiddles on your piccolo!’

  In a matter of minutes the two Doctors were arguing furiously. The air of the TARDIS rang with cries of ‘Philistine!’ and ‘Cacophony!’ ‘Balderdash!’ and ‘Tripe!’

  Jo glanced up at Benton doubtfully. It didn’t look as if this strange collaboration was going to work at all.

  The same thought was occurring to the Junior Time Lord, who was watching the scene on his monitor. He looked up, as the imposing figure of the President came up to him.

  ‘We’ve achieved the transference you asked for, my lord President, but I’m afraid it isn’t working out too well.’

  ‘And why not?’

  The young Time Lord pointed to the gesticulating figures on the screen. ‘All they do is quarrel, sir.’

  The President thought for a moment. Then he smiled. ‘I suppose it’s natural enough. Two opposing parts of the same personality. They’re too much alike to agree. They need someone to keep them in order. Show me the Doctor’s first incarnation.’

  The Junior Time Lord swallowed hard. ‘Him too, sir? But in view of the attitude of the Chancellor—’

  ‘We’ve already shattered the First Time Law, my boy. A third Doctor won’t make matters very much worse.’

  The Time Lord obeyed, making new adjustments to his controls. The scene in the TARDIS faded, and slowly a face appeared on the screen in its place, a lined, white-haired old man with a face full of dignity, power, and a touch of cranky bad temper.

  The President smiled. ‘Excellent. He’ll keep them in order.’

  The Junior Time Lord began to check the readings on his console. ‘I don’t think I can achieve a full physical manifestation for you, my lord. The energy levels are getting too low now.’

  ‘That isn’t needed, my boy. All we need is a presence, something to remind those impetuous youngsters down there of their duty. Do the best you can…’

  Obediently, the Junior Time Lord bent over his controls.

  In the TARDIS, the two Doctors were distracted from their argument when they noticed that the screen of the TARDIS had suddenly gone blank. The new Doctor rushed to the controls, and tried to get the picture back, but with no success. He peered up accusingly at his other self.

  ‘You’ve been fiddling with it, haven’t you?’

  ‘It was perfectly all right until you touched it,’ said the Doctor rather unfairly. He bustled the newcomer away from the console. ‘Now if you’d only leave things to me…’

  The second Doctor ducked indignantly round him in an attempt to get at the controls. ‘Leave things to you? A fine pickle we’d all be in!’

  In the heat of their dispute they both ignored the scanner screen. Jo was the first to see a new picture forming, the face of a rather cross-looking white-haired old man. Faintly she said, ‘Doctors, look, both of you!’

  Both Doctors turned towards the screen. At the sight of the face they seemed literally dumbstruck, as if someone had turned off their voices. The fierce old man on the screen surveyed them for a moment. It was obvious that somehow he could see them – and he wasn’t very impressed. ‘So you’re what I have become, are you? A dandy and a clown!’

  The two Doctors stood before the screen like guilty schoolboys sent to the headmaster, not daring to reply. The old man sniffed disdainfully. ‘Well,’ he said sharply, ‘what have you done to deal with the problem? Anything? Anything at all?’

  It was Doctor Two who plucked up courage to reply. ‘We’ve er, assessed the situation,’ he said, a little lamely.

  The old man on the screen sniffed again. ‘As I thought – nothing. Other than squabble like a couple of spoiled brats, that is.’

  The Doctor joined in. ‘Well it isn’t all that easy, you know.’

  The old man cut across him. ‘As I said. Nothing.’

  ‘So far we don’t even know what that stuff is,’ pleaded Doctor Two.

  ‘Don’t you? Then I’ll tell you. It’s a bridge. And what’s a bridge for, eh?’

  Rather to her own surprise Jo suddenly piped up ‘Crossing?’

  The old man gave a shrill cackle. ‘Gel’s got more sense than the two of you put together! Exactly, crossing! So stop dilly-dallying, you two. One of you must stay to keep an eye on the situation here, and the other must cross it.’ With that his image faded from the screen. Immediately both Doctors started to fiddle with the scanner control, but succeeded only in getting in each other’s way.

  ‘There, you’ve lost him,’ said the Doctor accusingly.

  ‘I lost him?’ said Doctor Two indignantly. ‘If you would only leave the working of the TARDIS to someone who understands it…’

  All at once the two Doctors were squabbling again. There came a sudden parade-ground roar from Sergeant Benton. ‘Oy, you two! Pack that up!’

  Amazed, both Doctors fell silent. Taking advantage of the lull, Jo asked, ‘Who was that?’ She nodded towards the screen, now once more showing the blob of jelly waiting in the laboratory outside.

  Both Doctors answered her at once. ‘Us!’

  ‘Well,’ said Jo sternly, ‘I think you ought to listen to what he said, and stop being childish.’

  For a moment both Doctors glared at her. Then the mouth of the newer, smaller one twitched into a reluctant grin. He looked up at his other self. ‘She’s quite right, you know.’

  The taller Doctor cleared his throat. ‘Harrumph! Well, I hope that nothing I said about your music gave offence. Rather a catchy little tune, actually.’

  ‘My dear fellow, think nothing of it. My fault entirely.’

  Their mutual apologies completed, the two Doctors beamed affectionately at each other. Their faces became serious again as they looked at the scanner screen. Doctor Two fished in the pocket of his battered old coat and produced a large silver coin. ‘Will you call?’

  He spun the coin high in the air.

  ‘Heads!’ said the Doctor.


  Doctor Two caught the coin on the back of one hand, slapping the palm of the other down on top of it. He lifted his hand and looked at the coin. ‘Bad luck, old chap,’ he said hastily, and the coin disappeared into his pocket before the Doctor could look at it.

  The Doctor threw him a suspicious look. ‘Right! If you’ll be ready to disconnect the force-field?’

  Jo and Sergeant Benton had been standing ignored in the background.

  ‘Hey, just a minute,’ protested Benton. ‘What are you two up to?’

  The Doctors continued to ignore him. Doctor Two went to the controls and switched off the force-field. He touched another control, and the TARDIS door swung open. Calmly the Doctor stepped out into the laboratory. Doctor Two touched the control to close the door.

  With a shock of horror Jo suddenly realised what ‘crossing the bridge’ meant.

  The Doctor was going to deliver himself up to the jelly and see where it took him. Before anyone could stop her, she leaped through the already-closing TARDIS door and tried to pull the Doctor back.

  The TARDIS door swung to behind her.

  The Doctor called, ‘Jo, get back inside!’ But the door was already closed. Jo ran to the Doctor’s arms for shelter as, crackling greedily, the huge, shimmering mound of jelly rolled towards them.

  On the TARDIS screen, Benton and the second Doctor watched helplessly. The mound of jelly rolled over Jo and the Doctor. As it touched them there came a brilliant, soundless flash and Jo and the Doctor vanished.

  4

  Beyond the Unknown

  SERGEANT BENTON MADE an instinctive move to dash out of the TARDIS. But the new Doctor, or as far as Benton was concerned, the old Doctor, Jo’s Doctor Two, laid a restraining hand on his arm.

  ‘Steady on, Sergeant, they’re out of our reach now. He knew what he was doing – at least, I hope he did.’

  ‘Will they be all right, Doctor?’

  The little man reached up and patted Benton reassuringly on the shoulder. ‘As far as I can tell, that stuff out there has gone to a great deal of trouble to get me – or rather, him – and I doubt if whoever or whatever sent it simply wanted us dead. No, they’ve both been transported somewhere.’

  ‘I saw that – the question is, where?’

  Doctor Two shrugged. ‘Where indeed?’ Suddenly he darted over to the scanner and peered at it. ‘Do you know, I think our blobby friend out there has just gone off the boil.’

  Benton looked over his shoulder. The blob of jelly, now shrunken and still, lay quietly in one corner of the laboratory, showing no sign of its former ferocity. ‘Right, let’s get some explosives and blow it to smithereens,’ said Benton eagerly.

  ‘I think we can be a bit more subtle than that, Sergeant. We must study it. It may still have a great deal to tell us.’ He opened the door of the TARDIS, and they both came slowly out into the laboratory. Cautiously they approached the jelly-blob. It stirred and crackled, but only very faintly.

  The door opened and the Brigadier, revolver in hand, peered cautiously round it. At the sight of two figures bending over to look at the blob he snapped, ‘For heaven’s sake be careful of that stuff.’

  At the sound of his voice, Sergeant Benton straightened up and turned round. So did the second Doctor.

  When he saw him the Brigadier opened his mouth like a stranded fish, spluttering to get the words out. ‘Oh no!’ he gasped finally.

  Doctor Two beamed at him. ‘Oh yes, Brigadier. How are you, my dear fellow?’

  ‘Pretty well, thanks,’ said the Brigadier, returning the handshake automatically. Then realising that he was greeting a man who too all intents and purposes no longer existed, he spluttered, ‘What the blazes is going on here?’

  ‘It’s him, sir,’ explained Benton rather obviously. ‘The one we met first of all.’

  ‘I can see that. Why has he changed back again?’

  ‘He hasn’t, sir, not exactly. This one just sort of popped up. There are two of them now! There was even a third – but he was only on the scanner screen.’

  ‘Heaven preserve us!’ said the Brigadier faintly. He looked for a stool to sit on, but by now they had all disappeared. He leaned against the wall and spoke in a voice of unnatural calm, ‘Sergeant Benton! Will you please tell me exactly what’s been going on?’

  Benton did his best. When he’d stumbled to the end of his long, complicated and confused story, the second Doctor said cheerfully:

  ‘There you are, Brigadier. All perfectly simple really.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ said the Brigadier crisply, ‘but I don’t believe a word of it. It’s perfectly obvious what’s happened. You’ve been fiddling with that infernal machine of yours. Somehow or other you’ve changed your appearance back, and shot poor Miss Grant off heaven knows where.’

  Doctor Two sighed. ‘Believe what you like, Brigadier, as long as it makes you happy.’

  The Brigadier straightened up. Now he’d found an explanation that satisfied him, he was his old self again. ‘I want two things from you, Doctor. An effective way of controlling that jelly stuff, and the return of Miss Grant safe and sound.’

  Doctor Two sighed. ‘I’ll do my best for you. But I can’t promise anything. Wherever they are, Miss Grant and my other self, we can’t contact them. That’s the trouble with anti-matter. You can see the effect, but never the cause.’ He gave his sudden beaming smile. ‘Like a punch on the nose from the invisible man!’

  The Brigadier waved his revolver at the blob, which still lay inertly in its corner. ‘Then what is this stuff?’

  ‘That’s anti-matter. The invisible man!’

  The Brigadier felt his head begin to spin. ‘But I thought matter and anti-matter couldn’t meet – not without a colossal explosion.’

  ‘That’s right. I’m afraid it means that whoever created this stuff, and sent it here, is a good deal cleverer than we are.’

  ‘Is there anything you can do, Doctor?’

  ‘I can study it. Try to learn some of its secrets. But first I must make sure it stays harmless.’

  ‘And how do you propose to do that?’

  Doctor Two rubbed his hands. ‘I shall confuse it,’ he announced happily. ‘Feed it useless and conflicting information.’

  He wandered round the laboratory, and suddenly flung open the door of the Doctor’s electronic spares cupboard. It had escaped being ‘vanished’, perhaps because it was ‘built-in’, flush to the wall. He examined the loaded shelves with evident delight. Pulling out piece after piece of electronic equipment, he gathered all he could carry and sat down cross-legged on the floor. Benton looked on admiringly as a complicated lash-up of equipment started taking shape beneath the second Doctor’s hands.

  ‘Pass me that induction coil, will you, Sergeant? Oh, and I’d better have one of those booster circuits.’

  Hurriedly Benton obeyed, adding to the pile of equipment on the floor.

  The Brigadier looked at the pair of them. They looked like a couple of kids playing with a train-set. Deciding that there was nothing useful he could say or do, he turned and marched out of the laboratory.

  Benton and Doctor Two didn’t even notice him go.

  Jo Grant could never really decide what had actually happened to her. The moment the rolling mass of the jelly-blob touched them, the silent flash blinded her eyes. She seemed to feel that the real world was dissolving around her. She had a sensation, surely an illusion, of leaving the Earth altogether, of rushing headlong through space towards a patch of deep impenetrable blackness, a kind of black hole… The hole came nearer and nearer, and as it swallowed her up, she lost consciousness.

  She came to, much, much later it seemed, at the sound of the Doctor’s voice. ‘Jo! Come on, wake up. Jo – can you hear me?’ Slowly she opened her eyes, and to her enormous relief saw the Doctor looking down at her. She managed a nod, and a weak smile. If the Doctor was with her, things couldn’t be so bad after all. He helped her to sit up, and she looked around. Stretching as far as sh
e could see was a sort of plain of dunes, dull grey in colour, bleak, desolate and lifeless. The sky was a threatening purple, and everything about the place seemed somehow horribly wrong. Jo realised that it was completely and utterly silent. No wind-noise, no bird-song – just a dead, sinister calm.

  She struggled to her feet, shivering. ‘Doctor, where are we? Why is everything so strange?’ A new terror struck her. Wasn’t there a place called Limbo, a featureless nowhere between Heaven and Hell? ‘Doctor, we’re not – dead, are we?’

  The Doctor’s familiar laugh broke the deadly silence like a breath of normality. ‘Not a bit of it! This is a place. A singularly unpleasant place, but a place all the same. And we’ve been brought here. Let’s take a look around, shall we?’

  The two lonely figures started trudging across the featureless grey landscape. They climbed a grey dune and looked around. Before them stretched an endless sea of more dunes, more hollows.

  Suddenly Jo pointed. ‘Doctor, look!’ Standing incongruously in the next hollow was a green painted filing cabinet. ‘That’s ours,’ said Jo almost indignantly. ‘It used to be in the laboratory.’

  The Doctor nodded. ‘So it did. But then, so did we! It was brought here, exactly as we were.’

  They trudged on. Soon they came across more odds and ends of UNIT furniture, a laboratory bench, stools, even a hat-stand, all dotted at random around the grey dunes. The Doctor climbed another dune and gave a yell of delight. ‘Jo, come and see!’ Jo ran up to join him. There in the hollow beneath them was Bessie, sedately parked as if ready for a day’s outing. They ran towards her. Somehow the sight of the little car was immensely cheering. The Doctor gave it a pat on the bonnet. ‘You see, Jo? We’ve been transported like Bessie and all that other stuff. Now all we have to do is find out where Here is, and Who brought us.’

  Jo climbed into the passenger seat. ‘Come along then, Doctor. No point in walking if we don’t have to.’

  The Doctor looked at her dubiously. ‘Use Bessie? Well, we can try. I’m not sure if mechanical laws apply in a place like this.’ He pressed the starter, and the engine turned over immediately. The Doctor grinned. ‘Bless my soul!’ He turned to Jo and said in a chauffeur’s voice, ‘Where to, miss?’