Doctor Who and the Planet of the Spiders

8
The Doctor Hits Back
Dawn was approaching on Metebelis Three. The planet’s huge,
bright sun, far closer to Metebelis than our sun is to Earth, was
rising rapidly. The gem-stones of the desert reflected its rays in a
hundred different colours. In the village, the humans stirred
uneasily, knowing that it would soon be time to go and toil in the
fields for their Spider rulers.
In Arak’s hut threee men still slept: the Doctor on the bunk,
Arak and Tuar sprawled on the floor. The Doctor woke first. A
ray of sunshine came through the window and touched his face.
He snapped instantly awake, like a human alarm clock. He felt
rested, and fighting fit. He looked at his two sleeping
companions and his eyes began to twinkle mischievously. He
flung back the rough curtains, and sunlight flooded into the
little hut. The two brothers stirred and muttered. The Doctor
said loudly, ‘Wakey, wakey, rise and shine, show a leg the
morning’s fine!’ Arak and Tuar blinked, and muttered. They
turned their heads towards the Doctor in astonishment,
wondering how a man who had been good as dead the night
before could wake up so appallingly cheerful! The Doctor
looked at them hopefully. ‘How about a spot of breakfast?’
Soon the Doctor was tucking into a plate of thick broth,
brought to him by Rega. Cold water and hard bread made up
the rest of the meal, but the Doctor ate with the greatest
enjoyment. ‘Excellent broth, this,’ he said. ‘What is it?’
Tuar grunted, ‘Mutton...’ He went on eating.
‘You have sheep on Metebelis?’ said the Doctor chattily. He
held out his bowl for more broth. Rega poured it from a stone
jug.