Doctor Who: The Wounded Earth - The History of the Doctor

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Chris McKeon DOCTOR WHO: THE WOUNDED EARTH We’ve been underwater for twelve hours now. When it exploded the seeker pushed us far off course. Ichtar and Decrix, who were the only other survivors, managed to steer the pod back towards Antarctica. Benton has been on the ship’s radio trying to raise UNIT HQ, but no one’s answering, not Geneva nor the UK. And that’s not the only thing worrying us: this is the South Pole and the water is hot, boiling even. The pod’s external sensors tell us there’s a lot a smoke and ash in the air, too, and the ash is volcanic. Something’s gone wrong. Wrong When does it ever go right anymore Finally, a little freedom to walk around! We came aground about two minutes ago. By Mike’s calculations by rights we’re near enough to South Bend, give or take a few days’ hike across the ice, which none of us fancies. The pod had a lot of trouble finding solid ice to anchor itself; it’s as if the surface has changed somehow, turned to slush. I hope it’s not all that way; I feel imprisoned in here. 30TH MAY 1976 It’s been six hours since icefall. I’m not sure where we are but it doesn’t look like Antarctica, it’s more like the surface of the moon, if the moon were made of green cheese, with little craters and holes all over the place filled with warm steam. Imagine, water on the moon. We’ve set up a temporary camp on a solid enough patch of ice from the few supplies rationed in the pod, which wasn’t much. We’ve only got our environmental suits to keep us warm, one tent for seven people – two of them not even human! -, not enough food for a party that size, and water we daren’t drink. It’s just another vacation that’s not a vacation, and it might be our last day alive. Typical. 31ST MAY 1976 Late last night I awoke to soft sounds in the darkness. I got up and edged near the tent flap, making sure not to wake the others. My ear was close to the tent to listen. I heard voices, inhuman and bubbling. And there was someone else speaking. It was so familiar. I opened the tent a little and saw through the crack Ichtar and PAGE 50
Chris McKeon DOCTOR WHO: THE WOUNDED EARTH Decrix standing with a third figure bathed in a bright green light, then the glowing person touched the two reptiles and they all…just winked out. There had been a small electric spark and a whoosh of air. I could smell a sharp tang of ozone. Now I’ve travelled within the TARDIS long enough to know matter transmission when I smell it. So the question now becomes just who exactly came to take Ichtar and Decrix, and where did they go And why I told the Brigadier all about it early in the morning. He suspected an ambush and ordered us to break camp immediately. We’ve been moving towards South Bend, but it’s slow going. The Brig knows how to get to the base, but a storm’s come up all around us and our compasses have stopped working – the needles just spin. Wherever we are, we’ve been hiking all day and we’re all exhausted. Looks like we’re making camp again, but this time the Brig’s ordered an all-night watch. Mike’s volunteered to take the first shift, but I hope he’ll be careful; there’s only one gun. 1ST JUNE 1976 I’d only just dozed when I heard the gunshot. There were sounds of a struggle and Mike was yelling. The Brig and Benton were already bolting out of the tent while Harry was trying to keep me from going outside. I must have given a fierce look because he let me go and then I was out. It was so dark but I could see…things, dark hairy creatures dragging Mike away from the camp. He was kicking and struggling but they wouldn’t let go. I couldn’t think; I don’t know what possessed me, but I just lost my head. I saw Mike’s gun lying in the show. I reached down to the ground, grabbed the gun, pointed in the air, and fired. Whatever they were, they all growled and scattered, dropping Mike right there in the snow. We all ran over to where he was. He was barely conscious and his environmental suit was ripped to shreds but somehow there wasn’t a mark on him; it was if whatever attacked him had only wanted to get to him but not hurt him. Harry and Benton helped Mike to his feet, but they were lucky not to drop themselves; we were all so cold and tired we hadn’t once taken off our suits. Without them our hands and feet would be frostbitten by now for sure. The Brig then PAGE 51
Page 1 and 2: THE WOUNDED EARTH Chris McKeon
Page 3 and 4: Chris McKeon DOCTOR WHO: THE WOUNDE
Page 49: Chris McKeon DOCTOR WHO: THE WOUNDE
Page 101 and 102:
Chris McKeon DOCTOR WHO: THE WOUNDE
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122:
Page 123 and 124:
Page 125 and 126:
Page 127 and 128:
Page 129 and 130:
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136:
Page 137 and 138:
Page 139 and 140:
Page 141 and 142:
Page 143 and 144:
Page 145 and 146:
Page 147 and 148:
Page 149 and 150:
Page 151 and 152:
Page 153 and 154:
Page 155 and 156:
Page 157 and 158:
Page 159 and 160:
Page 161 and 162:
Page 163 and 164:
Page 165 and 166:
Page 167:
show all

Doctor Who: The Wounded Earth - The History of the Doctor

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?