Doctor Who and the Planet of the Spiders

longer. ‘My father and your friend are in peril and you play
these childish games... ‘
The Doctor held up a hand to silence him. ‘Sssh! I think I’ve
got it!’ The last stone he had tested had produced an altogether
different reaction from the machine – a high, clearer buzz. He
tested the stone again. ‘Excellent!’ said the Doctor. ‘Now we can
get a move on.’ He put the machine on the bed and said, ‘Both
of you, help me sort through these stones. All we’re interested in
are stones exactly like this.’ The Doctor held out his hand. On
his palm lay an undistinguished-looking piece of brown quartz,
flecked with green. Tuar looked as if he would explode again,
but Arak forestalled him.
‘It would help if you told us why, Doctor,’ he said.
The Doctor looked at him in mild astonishment. ‘Oh, didn’t
I explain?’ Even as he spoke, the Doctor was sifting though the
pile of coloured gem-stones for more pieces of quartz. ‘The blue
crystals magnify the power of the mind. Now, since most things
have their opposites, I was looking for a stone which deadened
it. Something to soak up the energy of the Spiders’ mental
attacks. Luckily for all of us, I think I’ve found one. So if you’d
kindly give me some help...’
Hurriedly, Arak and Tuar joined in the hunt. As usual, the
Doctor had taken charge.
By the time the morning was well advanced, an amazing
amount had been done. The quartz was extremely common, and
hundreds of the little brown stones had been found.
Runners from Arak’s resistance organisation were carrying
specimen stones, and the Doctor’s instructions, to all the other
villages. Meanwhile, Rega and the other village women,
following more instructions from the Doctor, were making
simple rag headbands, each with one of the little brown stones
sewn into the front. Rega brought the first batch to the Doctor
for his approval. ‘Is this what you wanted?’