Doctor Who and the Planet of the Spiders

ack before him that he was some kind of leader. ‘Don’t harm
her, Tuar,’ he ordered. ‘I think she’s telling the truth. Look at
her clothes – she’s a stranger. A spy would try to pass for one of
us, or someone from the next village. She doesn’t even look as if
she came from this planet.’
‘I don’t!’ said Sarah eagerly. ‘I come here from Earth.’
The man looked at her keenly. ‘How? In a starship like our
ancestors?’ A sudden hope showed in his face. ‘Do you bring
help from Earth against our oppressors?’
‘I wish I did,’ said Sarah. ‘I came here alone – and I’m not
even sure how I got here.’
Tuar, who seemed to be a young man of very fixed views,
said, ‘I tell you, brother, she’s a spy! She will betray us all.’
A long, high trumpet note rang through the square. The
effect on the little crowd was extraordinary. Everyone broke and
ran for the shelter of the huts. From having been the centre of
attention, Sarah suddenly found herself totally ignored. Only the
tall man had not run with the others. He looked at her
consideringly for a moment and said, ‘You’d better come with
me. We’ll talk later.’ He took Sarah by the wrist and pulled her
across the square and into one of the huts, shutting the door
behind them.
There were a number of people already crowded into the
little hut, including Tuar, and an older man and woman, both
with lined, toil-worn faces. Sarah’s rescuer waved his hand
around the hut. ‘Welcome,’ he said. ‘This is my brother, Tuar,
whom you have already met. These are my parents, Sabor and
Neska.’
It seemed odd to be exchanging introductions with people
who, seconds ago, had been planning to kill her, but Sarah did
her best. ‘How do you do,’ she said politely. ‘My name is Sarah.’
Tuar just glared at her. The old people looked at her with
frightened faces. The trumpet sounded again, very near this