Doctor Who And The Dalek Invasion of Earth

by Terrance Dicks

  Suddenly they heard footsteps. A shadow moved down the tunnel towards them. David raised his rifle. "All right, who are you?"

  The shadow stopped. "David? Is that you? It's me, Tyler."

  David jumped up and ran forward, overjoyed to see his old friend again. Tyler explained that he'd abandoned his search for other guerrilla bands, and decided to go North on his own. "Did they manage to find that Doctor chap?" he asked.

  David nodded. "He's back there. We left him to rest while we made sure it was all clear ahead!"

  "You'd better get back to him. There are renegades about down here, I scared a couple off with this." Tyler brandished his rifle.

  Susan held up the cartridge. "Did you shoot at one?"

  Tyler looked. "That's mine all right. I wasn't shooting at renegades though."

  "What then?"

  "Alligators." He saw Susan's look of horror and smiled grimly. "Quite a lot of animals escaped from zoos after the invasion. Most of them died off. But the big reptiles flourished - down here."

  Susan jumped to her feet. "Come on, David. Let's get back to the Doctor!" She had immediate visions of alligators creeping up to the Doctor's dozing form.

  Tyler said, "Better let me scout ahead, just in case. You two follow."

  David nodded, and Tyler moved away.

  Susan called, "Mr Tyler, you haven't any news of our other friends?"

  Tyler said curtly, "Barbara got back to H.Q. with Dortmun. I left her there - that's all I can tell you." He disappeared into the darkness. David and Susan waited a few minutes then followed him down the tunnel.

  Somehow during their journey he drew further ahead of them, gradually disappearing from sight. They came to a main junction in the tunnels and David stopped. "This is where we left the Doctor." He called out, "Doctor? Tyler?" There was no reply.

  "There are these ladders to upper and lower tunnels. Susan pointed. "Maybe they took one of those." She moved across to a ladder and began to climb down. "Mr Tyler? Grandfather, are you down there?"

  There was a rusty creaking sound from Susan's ladder. David yelled, "Be careful," but he was too late. The top end of the ladder pulled away from the wall and pivoted round on its lower fastening. Susan clung on desperately, and found she was suspended just a few inches over the water. She heard David's voice. "Hang on! I'll come and get you." He leaned over, trying to pull her back.

  Susan's eyes were fixed on the rushing flood beneath her. Surely there was something moving? To her horror she saw a squat shape gliding nearer. A long jaw lined with savage teeth appeared from the murky water. Susan screamed as the alligator's teeth clashed within inches of her dangling foot.

  The alligator dropped back into the water and turned for a second try. Its jaws opened...

  A bulky shape appeared above her, there was the crack of a rifle. Tyler fired straight into the open mouth of the alligator and it dropped back into the water with a coughing roar. Seconds later Tyler and David had grabbed the ladder and dragged it and Susan back to safety. She collapsed into David's arms. "Where's Grandfather?"

  Tyler pointed upwards. "Don't worry. I got him to one of the upper levels. It's not really safe down here."

  Susan looked at the murky water and shuddered. "I believe you."

  David put an arm round her shoulders. "Don't worry, you'd probably have given the poor old chap indigestion!"

  They started to climb the ladder after Tyler.

  It lay curled and asleep on one of the throbbing machines. The machine was warm, and it didn't care for the cold on this planet. Suddenly it quivered and woke. Its keen hearing had picked up voices... human voices. And humans meant food. It slithered from the machine and began sliding quietly through the darkness.

  Ian stopped moving and listened intently. "I tell you I heard something. A sort of slithering noise."

  Larry peered into the darkness. "Which direction?"

  "I'm not sure. It seemed to come from all round..."

  They stood waiting tensely. Their exploration of the mine had not proved a great success. Security was tighter than Ian had imagined, and all the deeper" levels were closely guarded. He'd been unable to pick up any real clue as to what was going on here. Nor had they found any trace of the Doctor, or of Larry's brother. Most of their time had been taken up with dodging the constantly patrolling Robotnen and their Dalek masters. Now they were back where they'd started, close to the hut where they'd parted from Wells. But this time it was dark - and something very nasty was hunting them through that darkness.

  A huge shapeless bulk slithered towards them, making a kind of screaming roar. They jumped back. A Dalek searchlight cut through the darkness, and Ian and Larry flung themselves down. Ian caught a glimpse of a hideous bloated shape. slithering off into the darkness. The searchlight passed by and they picked themselves up. Larry was trembling violently. "Ian, did you see ? What was that thing?"

  "Search me. Luckily for us it doesn't seem to like the light. Come on, let's get under cover."

  They ran to the little hut and threw themselves inside. Ian closed the door and turned round. Larry was standing absolutely still. From the shadows a man was covering them with a rifle.

  "Now you can turn round and go out again," said a cold sneering voice. The man stepped forwards into the moonlight which shone through the window. He wore a soft hat and heavy raincoat, not old and ragged but new and of good quality. His face was round, even a little plump, not gaunt and thin like the slave workers. Suddenly Ian realised who the man was. "I take it you're Ashton?"

  "How do you know that?"

  "Wells told us. We came to meet you."

  "You're lying. You came to steal my food. Now get out." He jerked the rifle barrel towards the door.

  Ian didn't move. "With that thing out there?"

  "It didn't see you come in - it needn't see you go out."

  From outside came the roar of the creature that was roaming the darkness. Ian decided he wasn't going outside again whatever happened. The thing was to keep talking. If he could get close enough to jump the man... Edging a few inches nearer Ashton, Ian said, "Maybe we can do business together. I want to get back to London."

  "Indeed?" Ashton seemed intrigued. "And why can't you just die here?"

  "I'm not planning to die anywhere yet. I've got friends in London and I want to find them. Can you get me there?"

  "Of course I can. For the right price."

  "And what's the right price?"

  "As much as you can afford. I'll take anything. Stones, precious metal, jewellery, rings... I'm not particular..."

  "I'm afraid I don't have very much in that line."

  Ashton smiled coldly. "Then goodbye. I do hope you avoid the Slyther on the way back."

  "We're not leaving."

  "No?" Ashton raised the rifle and worked the bolt. Ian tensed himself to spring...

  Suddenly the door opened. "Ashton? It's all right, these two are friends of mine." Wells slipped into the hut, closing the door behind him.

  Ashton lowered his gun. "You came up with the character references just in time. You've got the goods?"

  Wells produced a bundle of objects tied in a handkerchief. He opened it and Ian saw a pathetic collection of wedding rings, cuff-links, ear-rings, bracelets... whatever valuables the inmates of the mines had managed to hide. Ashton examined it. "Not much - but it'll have to do."

  From a corner Ashton produced a small sack, and tossed it across to Wells. "There you are, then. Now why don't we all have something to eat, boys?"

  Wells hefted the sack. "This has to go round a lot of people. I'll share with my friends here - but you're not included, Ashton."

  For a moment Ashton flushed, but he forced a sneering smile back on his face. "Don't worry. I've brought my own." He produced a silver hip flask, pushed the top off with his finger and thumb and took a swig. The whole operation was performed one-handed. The other hand still held the rifle, and it was still pointed in their direction.

  Ian looked ac
ross at Wells. "Know all the best people, don't you?"

  Wells was checking the contents of the sack. "I told you - he's our only source of real food. You can hardly survive on the slop the Daleks dish out."

  The weird howl echoed through the hut. Ian looked up. "What is that thing out there?"

  "We call it the Slyther. The Black Devil keeps it as a sort of pet."

  "The Black Devil?"

  Impatiently Ashton joined in. "Where've you been - Fairyland? The Black Dalek. Otherwise known as the Dalek Supreme. He's the big boss Dalek."

  "And what's this Slyther thing doing roaming about loose? Is it on guard?"

  Wells nodded. "In a way. There's a curfew, see? The Black Dalek turns the thing loose to deter people from wandering about at night. It wanders round in search of food."

  The howl rang out again. "What kind of food?" asked Larry nervously.

  It was Ashton who answered the question. "People," he said simply. "The Daleks can always spare it a slave or two. They've got plenty more."

  Wells fished out two tins of spam and two tins of peaches, tossing one of each to Ian and Larry. "Here, we can spare you these. No, don't argue. Take it, you'll need it." He fished out two tins for himself, and produced a can-opener.

  They made a strange, uneasy, meal in the darkened hut, digging the food from the cans with their fingers. Ashton watched them sardonically, taking the occasional swig from his flask. He passed the time checking through the little hoard of jewellery. "You're a fool, Wells," he said conversationally. "There's enough here to buy you a passage out of this place. I could take you to nice empty countryside, plenty of food... Why don't you forget your ridiculous resistance movement, look after yourself?"

  Wells swallowed his last half peach and drained the juice from the can. "I'll get out... when everyone gets out."

  "Suit yourself. Some people never learn."

  Larry slipped a signet ring from his finger and tossed it to Wells. "Here, this is for our supper."

  Wells stowed the ring away. "I'll take it too, if you don't mind. It'll help to buy the next lot from our greedy friend here."

  Whether it was the sound of their voices or the scent of the food they were eating, they never knew, but something led the Slyther to their hut. Suddenly there was a shattering roar and the door burst open. It was there filling the doorway. They cowered back as the terrible bulging shape slithered towards them...

  10: Trapped in the Depths

  Ian saw a vast lumpy blob of a body, powerful flailing tentacles, two tiny deep-set eyes shining with malice... Moving incredibly fast, the creature lurched towards them.

  It was Ashton who saved their lives, though he was only trying to preserve his own. It was his last good deed, perhaps the only one in his mis-spent life. The rifle was still in his hand, and instinctively he raised it to his shoulder and began blazing away at the Slyther. He succeeded only in attracting its attention. The horrible creature paused for a moment then began rolling swiftly towards him. He fired again and again with no result. Ashton was still screaming when the creature flowed over him and engulfed him entirely.

  Ian didn't like to leave even Ashton to the mercy of the Slyther, but it was dreadfully clear that there was nothing they could do for him. "Quick," he yelled. "Now"s our chance." Leaving the Slyther to its feast, Ian, Larry and Wells ran from the hut into the darkness outside. Immediately they were caught in the beam of a Dalek searchlight. "Scatter!" yelled Wells, and they all split up, Wells running one way, Larry and Ian the other. From behind them came the screaming roar of the Slyther as it abandoned Ashton to pursue the rest of its prey.

  Ian and Larry struggled to the surface of a low mound of earth. In its centre was a crude mine shaft, a deep round hole. A wooden derrick straddled the hole, and from the derrick hung an enormous iron bucket, obviously designed for carrying earth.

  They paused, wondering whether to run round the excavation or go back - when the Slyther appeared over the top of the mound, rushing towards them at amazing speed.

  Ian acted without thinking. He took a flying leap through the air, clutched the side of the earth-bucket and scrambled inside. Larry hesitated, took a look at the approaching Slyther, and followed his example. Ian grabbed him and hauled him inside the bucket.

  Howling with rage the Slyther ranged to and fro on top of the mound, its prey just out of reach. "It's still after us," shouted Ian. "I hope it can't jump!"

  Larry grabbed Ian's arm. "It's going to try!"

  Larry was right. The Slyther somehow gathered itself, then flew through the air in a tremendous leap. It landed on the edge of the bucket and began scrambling over the side.

  Terrified by the thought of being trapped inside the bucket with the voracious monster, Ian and Larry fought like demons. They heaved and kicked and punched at the Slyther's flabby bulk, shoving it out of the bucket with maniacal fury, dodging the flailing blows from its enormous tentacles. A last desperate heave sent it over the edge. With a long final scream, the monster disappeared. There was a squelching thud as it struck the edge of the crater, then screaming in rage and pain it slithered off into the darkness...

  For a moment Ian and Larry crouched in the bucket, panting for breath. Then Larry gasped, "Come on, let's get out of here." He started to climb the side of the bucket, but Ian held him back. "No - someone's bound to have heard all that racket. Let's just stay here till things quieten down."

  In the mine control room deep below the surface, a Dalek engineer was studying his work-chart. He turned to his assistant, "There is no work party in shaft nine. Why?"

  The assistant consulted another chart. "The section is completed. A labour force is now being assembled for clearing operations."

  "Work must proceed to schedule. There must be no delay."

  "All will be ready. I shall now lower the waste bucket into shaft nine." The assistant touched a control.

  Ian listened cautiously. Everything seemed silent. "It's all clear now."

  "Might as well take a chance," agreed Larry. "Can't stay here all night."

  There was a shuddering, a clanking sound - and Ian and Larry felt the bucket jerk into sudden movement. "What's happening?" yelled Larry.

  "Hold tight," shouted Ian. "We're going down"" And so they were. Slowly the bucket clanked down into the darkness below.

  "I must say this is a nice state of affairs," announced the Doctor peevishly. "All this time and we're still hiding in sewers."

  David grinned, well used to the Doctor by now. "Better to hide down here, Doctor, than be caught by the Robomen. As soon as Tyler says the coast is clear we can travel on the surface again."

  They had climbed up from the deeper parts of the sewer system and were now in a stone walled ante-chamber directly below street level. A ladder led up through a manhole, and Tyler had just gone ahead to see if it was safe for the rest of them to emerge.

  There was a scrambling sound and Tyler shot down the ladder, rifle in hand. Susan looked up hopefully. "Is it clear?"

  "It is not ," announced Tyler grimly. "Ran straight into a patrol. I couldn't get under cover, they came after me."

  David grabbed his rifle. "How many?"

  "Just two of them."

  Tyler started back up the ladder. "David and I will deal with them, you stay under cover."

  "Just a moment," said the Doctor mildly. "Wouldn't it be better to - er, lure them down here? If they succeeded in communicating with their fellows and summoning reinforcements..."

  Tyler shook his head ruefully. "I suppose if we stick together long enough I'll learn to do what you say the first time. All right, David, you draw them in. Don't shoot unless you have to, ricochets might get one of us."

  David climbed up the ladder, emerged through the manhole, and ran a little way into the street. The Robomen saw him immediately and wheeled round in pursuit. They raised their guns, but David had already disappeared down the manhole.

  Crouched in the corner of the little chamber, the Doctor and Susan waited
. David and Tyler were also waiting, one each side of the ladder. The first Roboman came to the top of the ladder, paused, then slowly began to descend. As soon as he was down, Tyler grabbed him round the throat and pulled him to the floor.

  The second Roboman more cautious, paused half-way down the ladder. David grabbed his feet and pulled him down. The two men collapsed in a wildly struggling heap. The Roboman's gun went off, but luckily the shot went up through the open hatchway.

  Quickly David raised his rifle and used the butt to club the Roboman into unconsciousness.

  The Doctor went over to Tyler, who was methodically choking the life out of his victim. "That will do, Tyler," he said sharply. "I never countenance the taking of life unless my own is directly threatened." The astonished Tyler let go of the Roboman who slumped unconscious to the floor. The Doctor made his way to the ladder. "Now then, let's be on our way to this mine, and then we shall discover how to deal with the Daleks. We'll leave these poor creatures to their own devices. David, you lead the way, my boy. Come along, everybody." Very much in command, the Doctor bustled his party up the ladder.

  Barbara and Jenny were tired and footsore by the time they came to the little cottage in the forest. It was nearly dark now, and there was an ominous rumbling in the sky, with occasional lightning flashes. They'd cut across country, keeping off the roads for greater safety, but now night was coming and they were lost somewhere in thick woods.

  Jenny looked at the cottage. "It seems deserted. What do you think, shall we try it?"

  Barbara hesitated. There was something sinister about the tumbledown old cottage. It looked curiously like the witch's house in some fairy tale. She told herself she was being over-imaginative. "Well, there's a storm coming on. We'd be much better off under shelter."

  They moved cautiously up to the front door. Suddenly it swung open and a hag-like old woman dressed in rags stood glaring at them, a lantern held over her head. Jenny jumped back with a scream, and Barbara thought wildly that perhaps it was a witch's house after all

  The old woman snarled, "What do you want?"