Doctor Who
And The Keys Of Marinus
By Philip Hinchcliffe
Based on the BBC television serial Doctor Who and the Sea of Death by Terry Nation by arrangement with the British Broadcasting Corporation
Content
1: The Sea of Death
2: The Marble City
3: The Velvet Web
4: The Brains of Morphoton
5: The Screaming Jungle
6: The Whispering Darkness
7: The Snows of Terror
9: Sentenced!
10: The Mystery of The Locked Room
11: The Missing Key
12: Arbitan's Revenge
13: Final Goodbyes
1: The Sea of Death
The day - like every day on Marinus - started clear and bright. The walls of the Great City shimmered in the early morning heat and, a mile away, the dazzling green sea washed gently against the silver shore. Between the two lay a terrain of twisted, gleaming rock, as if molten glass had spilled from the ground and solidified before reaching the sea. This desolate, burnished landscape was devoid of life. Only the sun, throwing creeping shadows into the numerous rock pools, lent movement to the scene.
At 701 zeniths (Inter Galactic Time) precisely, three BXV sub-oceanic assault craft penetrated Marinian territorial waters at a depth of fifty sonars. Fitted with anti-metradar devices, they sped undetected to within one hundred yards of the shore before surfacing and slithering onto the wide beach. For several minutes the BXV's lay there, glistening in the sun like giant slugs. Then, one of the outer casings was pushed open and a shiny black hand emerged, its webbed fingers clawing the air for support.
The Voord invasion of Marinus had begun.
Barbara Wright, a pretty, dark-haired English teacher from Coal Hill School, North London, clenched her fists bravely and held her breath. A whining noise pierced her ears and her stomach floated to the ceiling. She reflected miserably on her inability to cope with Space-Time travel. Human bodies were not built for it, she told herself, at least not hers.
She glanced across the Control Room at Ian Chesterton, her fellow teacher from Coal Hill. He appeared to be enjoying himself, staring wide-eyed at the jumble of flashing lights which charted their spaceship's descent. They were inside a large hexagonal-shaped control room with white hexagonal-patterned walls. A hexagonal console in the middle of the room supported a transparent cylindrical column which moved slowly up and down when the ship was in flight.
Next to Ian, deep in concentration, was the owner of the spacecraft. He was an old man with an upright, alert stance, and a dignified expression. He had flowing white hair and mischievous blue eyes. He was dressed like an eccentric Victorian professor (dark frock-coat, winged collar and tie, checked waistcoat and trousers). He carried a wooden walking stick which he shook vigorously in the air when arguing, which was often. He was known as "the Doctor'.
There was one other person in the spaceship, a young girl of about fifteen. This was Susan, the Doctor's grand-daughter. She was a petite, chirpy girl with short, black hair (cut like a boy's), wide saucer eyes and an infectious grin. A pupil at Coal Hill School, she had always been extremely clever, and "different' from the other girls. Intrigued, Barbara and Ian had investigated her home life and discovered she was living with her grandfather in a London police box! The police box, however, was far from ordinary. For a start, it was larger inside than out, a phenomenon accounted for by the Laws of Time and Relative Dimensions in Space, as Barbara and Ian subsequently learned. The interior of the police box resembled a spaceship, capable of travelling through Spaceand Time. It could, moreover, change its appearance like a chameleon to suit any environment. This incredible craft was known as the TARDIS. The Doctor was perfectly at home in it and treated each nerve-wracking journey like a fivepenny bus ride. He rarely landed up where he intended but this only added to his enjoyment.
The Doctor did not suffer fools gladly and his insatiable appetite for solving scientific problems always took precedence over more mundane matters. In this respect Barbara felt he was "not quite human'. Moreover, Susan rarely spoke of the Doctor's origins, or of how he came to possess his extraordinary spacecraft. Thus, although the two teachers had grown to like him, an air of mystery always clung to the Doctor in their eyes.
Barbara's thoughts were interrupted by a violent juddering as the TARDIS jolted to a standstill.
"A perfect landing,' chortled the Doctor. Barbara looked anxiously at Ian. Where were they this time?
Ian leaned over the console. He was dressed in a flowery, Chinese jacket (acquired at the court of Kublai Kahn) which rather undermined his air of schoolmasterly interest. "Any radiation?' he asked the Doctor casually.
"Nothing to speak of. The counter's hardly registering. Let's see what the place looks like.' The Doctor fiddled with the scanner switch.
A picture appeared on the screen.
"Oh look, that's the sea, isn't it?' said Barbara. "Where are we?'
They all stared for a moment at the strange-looking coastline.
"Can we go outside and look? Please, Grandfather... Can we?' Susan begged.
"Yes, yes, I don't see why not. There doesn't seem to be any danger.'
"No, I suppose not,' agreed Ian doubtfully. He was still staring at the screen. The others waited for an explanation. "Well, when the scanner started, I thought I saw something move... but it was probably just a shadow.'
"Then let's go out and look around,' said the Doctor. He pressed a button on the console and the doors slid open.
The TARDIS had landed on the edge of a beach and the four travellers emerged into brilliant sunshine. The ocean stretched before them like a piece of vivid green silk.
Susan looked longingly at the water. "Do you think it's safe to go for a swim?'
The Doctor shook his head.
"Not for the moment. We don't know what creatures may be lurking below the surface. Come on.' The Doctor set off down the beach and the others followed.
A few moments later a dark shape flitted silently across the rocks towards the empty TARDIS.
"It's very quiet, isn't it?' whispered Barbara uneasily.
"You're right. No birds or anything,' replied Ian.
A little way ahead the Doctor suddenly called out.
"What d'you make of these, Chesterton?' He held up a handful of small pebbles. "Fascinating, aren't they?'
Ian took one and examined it carefully. "It's glass, isn't it?'
"Yes, yes.' The Doctor nodded excitedly. "The odd thing is, it seems to run right under the sea, unless my eyes deceive me.'
"We'll have to be careful,' said Ian. "It looks sharp enough to cut through our shoes.'
"Glass instead of sand. Intriguing, Chesterton.' The Doctor tapped the young schoolteacher on the leg with his walking stick.
They were interrupted by a shout from Susan. Barbara and Ian went to her leaving the Doctor on the beach. Susan had discovered a shallow pool and was busy removing her shoes and socks.
"If I can't swim at least I can paddle,' she said. Barbara smiled and sat down at the edge of the pool to watch. As she did so she inadvertently knocked one of Susan's shoes into the water.
"I'll get it,' said Susan and swung her legs over the edge.
"No, Susan!'
Ian was staring down into the pool where Susan's shoe was dissolving in a steam of bubbles.
"What is it?' gasped Barbara.
"I don't know. Some sort of acid.'
"But it was so fast. It just seemed to disintegrate.' "And I was going to paddle in it...' Susan shivered at the thought.
"It's alright,' said Barbara comforting her. "You've go
t some other shoes in the ship, haven't you?' Susan nodded. "Go and put them on. We'll wait for you.'
"You'd better wear my shoes to get there,' suggested Ian.
"They'll be much too big for me.'
"Better than cutting your feet open on this glass.'
Susan slipped into Ian's heavy brogues and clumped off towards the TARDIS.
Barbara glanced down at the pool again. "Ian, this looks like a tidal pool.'
"I agree. It matches up with the glass beach.'
"Then all that out there,' Barbara gestured towards the sea, "is acid too. A sea of acid!'
Ian nodded. It was an alarming thought.
Susan's progress over the rocks was slow. Her approach to the TARDIS was heralded by slipping and sliding noises and squeals of pain. Alerted by this the creature which was about to force open the TARDIS door slunk back to the cover of the rocks.
"Acid, eh? Astonishing.' The Doctor shook his head and stared at the sea. "In all my travels I've never come across that before. Still, Susan wasn't harmed?'
"Losing her shoes was a bit frightening,' said Barbara. "She went back to the ship for another pair.'
The Doctor glanced down at Ian's stockinged feet.
"Pityyou weren't wearing shoes, young man. You could have lent her yours. You mustn't get sloppy in your habits, you know.'
Ian was about to argue but the Doctor marched off down the beach. A few moments later he gave a cry and pointed to something ahead. Beyond a narrow spit of rock lay two bullet-shaped objects about eight feet long, wide enough to carry a man, and with stabilising fins at the rear. They were made of a hard, translucent material, like glass torpedoes.
"Give me a hand to get this open.' The Doctor knelt down beside one of the tubes and searched for an opening.
"Can I help?' asked Barbara.
"See if there are any other signs of habitation. Be careful, Chesterton. I think it's dry but there may still be acid adhering to the outside.'
"There doesn't seem to be any hinge. Maybe the ends unscrew.'
"Quite likely,' replied the Doctor, "try it. Whichever way it works it would have to be absolutely water-tight, or, rather, acid-tight.'
Barbara wandered off towards the rocks. The Doctor's bossy tone meant he was getting excited. Barbara would have been happy to leave there and then but she knew the Doctor would have to solve the mystery of the torpedoes first.
She decided to explore a spine of rock which ran into the sea fifty yards away. Almost immediately she glimpsed another of the transparent tubes nestling beneath an overhanging lip. It was identical to the others although the top had been prised open. As Barbara drew level she noticed a black, rubbery object dangling from the opening. With a shock she realised it was an arm. Something was still inside!
Susan emerged from the TARDIS, clutching Ian's shoes. She had managed to dig out a spare pair of her own which would do, although they felt a bit tight. She had recovered from her fright and looked about expectantly for the others. Guessing they were further up the beach, she set off in that direction.
After a few yards her shoes began to pinch and she bent down to adjust them. As she did so she noticed some peculiar footprints in the sand. They were the size of a human foot, but webbed between the toes. They led up to the TARDIS then away again into the rocks. Intrigued, Susan decided to follow the footprints. They led into the rocky hinterland.
Behind her, keeping carefully to the cover of the larger rocks, a strange figure set off in pursuit. Despite its clumsy, webbed feet the creature slithered soundlessly over the polished stones. It was roughly the size and shape of a man, but more agile and strong in its movements. Its skin was dark and rubbery, its bullet-shaped head smooth and devoid of features except for two frog-like eyes and a snoutish protuberance like corrugated piping. The head was flanked by two flat, pointed lugs. The face as a whole faintly resembled that of Anubis, the jackal-headed god of Egyptian mythology. The creature, however, was far from being any sort of god. It was, in fact, a Class I Voord Assault Trooper, programmed to kill enemy life-forms on sight!
The Doctor stared down at the tube Barbara had found. Ian was unscrewing the nosecone. The hull of the craft had been damaged and through the translucent shell they could make out a lifeless body within.
"See the crack along the side,' indicated the Doctor excitedly. "The acid must have seeped through.'
Barbara grimaced at the thought. Ian finally wrenched the nose clear and gingerly hoisted out the body. It felt incredibly light.
"It's like some sort of protective suit,' he said, laying the outline carefully on the sand for inspection.
"Whatever wore it was something similar to a human,' observed the Doctor.
"But how did it get out of the suit,' pondered Ian. "It looks intact.'
Barbara knelt down and examined a leg. "I don't think it did get out.' She pointed to a tiny rip in the material. "The acid must have got inside.'
Ian shook his head. "Poor devil.'
"I think we should return to the ship,' declared the Doctor. "I'm concerned about Susan.'
The group rose and turned to leave. Ian, shielding his eyes from the sun, suddenly pointed inland. "Look, there's some sort of building.'
The Doctor and Barbara squinted towards the horizon and sure enough they could just discern a huge pyramid-shaped edifice hovering like a mirage above the rocks.
"Good!' exclaimed the Doctor. "Now we might learn who uses these strange boats. Come along,' he waved his stick cheerily, "back to the ship for Susan and then a little visiting, I think.' He set off across the sand at a smart gallop.
Barbara looked reproachfully at Ian. Now they would never get the Doctor away.
Susan was regretting her foolhardiness. It was one thing to play guessing games near the TARDIS on the beach. It was another to trek solidly for half an hour across sweltering rocks and find you are lost. She had given up trying to follow the footprints and was now just eager to get back to the others. But further inland the rocky landscape grew tougher. Small gulleys became deep ravines. It was twenty minutes since Susan had caught sight of the sea. Suddenly she emerged onto a plateau. Ahead was a massive wall. Built of gigantic marble blocks, the wall extended for at least a mile and soared skywards for hundreds of feet. All fear left her as Susan gazed in awe at the magnificent piece of architecture. In size and splendour it recalled the Pyramids of Egypt or the ancient cities of Babylon. The walls reflected the light in a peculiar way so that it glowed. Susan rushed over to touch the smooth surface. It was cool despite the fierceness of the sun. She decided to walk as far as one corner.
"She's not inside anywhere,' Barbara announced.
"Wretched child.' The Doctor stomped angrily out of the TARDIS.
Then Barbara spotted Ian's shoes. "I can see her foot-prints in the sand.'
The Doctor peered at the ground.
"Sand here, but glass on the beach. I think the acid sea is a defence barrier.'
"You mean all visitors are unwelcome,' said Barbara.
"It would seem so.' The Doctor fingered his lapel thoughtfully.
Ian slipped into his shoes. "Come on. Let's find Susan. Maybe she went to have a look at that building?'
Susan stopped. Was that a slight movement ahead of her? She decided it was a trick of the sun.
In fact she was mistaken. The Voord had tracked her to the City and was poised, dagger raised, a few feet away behind a corner. But before Susan reached the Voord's hiding place, something very odd occurred. A section of the wall behind the Voord slid open, operated by an unseen mechanism, and the creature fell back-wards through the hole without a sound. As Susan rounded the corner the wall closed, and she passed by totally unsuspecting.
Panting from the steep climb, Ian, Barbara and the Doctor arrived at the plateau in front of the City. They gazed in amazement at the colossal structure.
"Look at the joins between the blocks,' said Barbara. "It must have been built with tremendous accuracy.'
"The
Egyptians did the same thing,' said Ian. "And some of the Indians of Central and South America. Absolute precision at certain weights is the key.'
"Before you two get carried away,' cut in the Doctor, "I think we should try and find Susan. We'll make a circuit around this building and meet at the furthermost corner. Come along. Off you go.' He shooed them away with his stick.
Barbara and Ian set out along the base of the building. The Doctor briefly examined the wall, then marched off in the opposite direction.
Susan had lost interest in this vast, but featureless edifice. She was now traversing the fourth side which exactly resembled the previous three. She guessed she must have covered a couple of miles and there was nothing to see but endless marble.
She stopped for a moment to ease her aching limbs. Although this side of the building was in the shade, the temperature remained unbearably high. She slipped off her right shoe and shook out a small glass chipping which had been digging into the sole of her foot. Struggling to put the shoe back on, she leaned heavily against the wall. There was a slight click and, before she knew it, Susan had lost her balance and was toppling backwards. Her terrified scream was just audible before the wall slid back into place.
2: The Marble City
Ian glanced at Barbara. There was no mistaking the voice.
"Come on!' Ian sprinted towards the corner some two hundred yards away.
On the far side of the City the Doctor meandered amiably along the wall. He was enjoying the morning sunshine and paused a moment to admire the view. The rocky plateau immediately surrounding the City merged into a mountainous region inland. He could see several large peaks soaring into the thin, blue haze. The sides were spotted here and there with vegetation. The Doctor concluded that life of some description must exist on the island. His conjecture was suddenly and unexpectedly confirmed. For, as he relaxed against the cool marble, a section of wall behind him swung open and he disappeared through the gap like a rabbit in a conjuring trick.
Barbara stared at the blank wall. "I could have sworn I heard her.'
"Where's the Doctor?' asked Ian. "Even if he was travelling at half our speed be should have reached that far corner by now.'
Doctor Who And The Keys of Marinus Page 1
