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‘Sorry, Mr. Barnes,’ said Tommy gently. ‘You can’t go in<br />
<strong>the</strong>re.’<br />
Barnes staggered to his feet. ‘Kill him,’ he ordered viciously.<br />
All four men pointed at Tommy <strong>and</strong> blasted him with <strong>the</strong> power<br />
imparted by <strong>the</strong> <strong>Spiders</strong>. Tommy reeled <strong>and</strong> staggered, gripping<br />
<strong>the</strong> door frame for support. But at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> attack he was<br />
still on his feet, <strong>and</strong> still blocking <strong>the</strong> doorway with his massive<br />
body.<br />
Barnes <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs fell back, gasping <strong>and</strong> drained. Inside<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir heads, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Spiders</strong>’ voices conferred. ‘We need more<br />
power.’<br />
‘I agree! We need more power.’<br />
‘Concentrate, Sisters.’<br />
‘Concentrate...’<br />
Barnes <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs ga<strong>the</strong>red in a circle, <strong>and</strong> closed <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
eyes. A low humming filled <strong>the</strong> hallway. Tommy looked on, <strong>and</strong><br />
braced himself for <strong>the</strong> next attack. He was determined that <strong>the</strong>y<br />
should never enter that room while he was alive to stop <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
Sarah sobbed. ‘I’m sorry, <strong>Doctor</strong>.’<br />
‘Don’t be. You did very well, Sarah. You freed yourself.’<br />
Sarah shuddered. ‘But I let that creature take me over.’<br />
K’anpo said gently, ‘We are all apt to surrender ourself to<br />
domination. Not all spiders are on <strong>the</strong> back.’<br />
Suddenly <strong>the</strong> <strong>Doctor</strong> swung round on K’anpo. ‘Of course. I<br />
know who you are now.’<br />
‘You were always a little slow on <strong>the</strong> uptake, my boy.’ The<br />
<strong>Doctor</strong> <strong>and</strong> K’anpo clasped h<strong>and</strong>s, like old friends meeting after<br />
long years <strong>of</strong> separation.<br />
‘It’s been a long time,’ said <strong>the</strong> <strong>Doctor</strong> affectionately, Sarah<br />
looked from one to <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m. ‘Then you two have met<br />
before?’
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