"How did I... Ian?... Where's Ian?'
"Your friend is here.' The huge stranger gestured to where Ian lay curled asleep in a bundle of skins.
Barbara sank back onto the wooden bunk, relieved. "Your hands are slightly frost-bitten,' boomed the giant trapper. "Put them in mine.'
Barbara did as she was bid and he massaged them slowly between his ham-sized fists. "You must help your friend like this too.'
Barbara nodded nervously.
The stranger gave a toothy grin. "You are afraid of me?' He thrust his bristly face close to Barbara's.
"No.'
"Last year I broke the back of a wolf with my bare hands.' He stood up and patted his barrel-shaped chest. "I am Vasor - most men fear me.' He pointed to her hands. "There, see, the blood is beginning to return.'
"Thank you.'
"I'll get a warm drink for you both.' He stepped through a small door leading to a kitchen at the back.
Barbara slipped down from her bunk and quickly crossed to Ian. She shook him vigorously. "Ian, wake up.'
Ian opened his eyes and looked around drowsily. "Where are we?'
"I don't know. I don't even know how we got here.'
Vasor entered with two bowls of broth. "Ah, you're awake. Good. Here, drink this.'
Ian took the bowl and eyed the huge stranger with surprise.
The hot liquid warmed his stomach. He turned to the big man. "Do we have to thank you for saving us on the mountain?'
Vasor shrugged his massive shoulders. "I found you when I was re-setting my traps.' Then he added, "It was a difficult journey getting you back here to the hut.'
"We would have frozen to death,' said Barbara.
"The wolves would have eaten you first.'
"Wolves?'
"Yes. There are more than ever this winter. I've counted a dozen packs, a score in each. They're hungry. They're even raiding the villages at night.'
"Are we in a village?' ventured Barbara.
"No. The nearest is three miles away. I stay out here to look after my traps.'
"We're grateful to you for finding us before the wolves,' said Ian.
Vasor nodded. "One of you would have died anyway if it hadn't been for the stranger. I couldn't have carried you both.'
Barbara and Ian exchanged glances.
"A stranger? What stranger?' asked Barbara.
"Oh, a madman,' growled Vasor. "He came here early last night raving and ranting. I couldn't talk to him.' He stood up and kicked the fire with his boot. "I gave him some furs and went with him up the mountain.' He paused and gave a sly look. "He was searching for a couple of girls.'
"That must have been Altos!' exclaimed Ian.
"Where is he now?' asked Barbara.
The big man's eyes shifted uncomfortably. "In the village, I think. After we'd got you back here, he went out.'
Barbara looked puzzled. "Did he say he was coming back?'
"Yes, but it's getting dark again. He won't be able to get over the ridge at night.'
"We must go and help him,' urged Ian.
Vasor shook his head. "There's a storm coming up.'
Ian realised the big trapper would not be swayed. "I won't ask you to come with me, but will you lend me warm clothing?' he said.
The trapper eyed him shrewdly. "My furs are my living. I'm a poor man. I wouldn't stand much chance of getting them back if you fell down a crevasse.'
"I can't pay you for them,' explained Ian, "I haven't any money.'
The big man's glance strayed to the travel dial on Ian's wrist. "That thing looks valuable.'
Ian unstrapped the dial and handed it over. "Now please, hurry.'
"Alright,' said Vasor and a queer grin played at the corners of his mouth. He disappeared into the back room. Barbara helped Ian into some furs.
"What about Susan and Sabetha? How will you find them?'
Ian shrugged. "I'll know more when and if I find Altos.'
Vasor reappeared with an old oil-lamp and a leather bag containing food. He unbolted the door and a flurry of snow blew into the room.
"The village lies that way,' he pointed. "When you get through the fir forest, you'll see the lights.'
Ian nodded. "Thank you. I'll be back as soon as I can.' Giving Barbara a quick embrace he set off in the darkness.
Vasor quickly locked the door behind him and turned to Barbara. "There. We're alone.' He gave a funny chuckle.
Barbara shuddered and crossed to the fire. Vasor followed and put his large hands around her shoulders. She broke away, trying to conceal her alarm. "He'll be back,' she said, "I know he will.'
"We'll see. Meanwhile I'll get us some food. We must fatten you up, eh?' He gave another little chuckle and disappeared.
Barbara stared at the fire. She felt very vulnerable. The trapper's morbid sense of humour had unnerved her.
Outside, a lone timber wolf emitted a long, trailing howl. She shuddered and said a prayer for Ian's safe return.
Ian lowered his head against the wind. The icy blast pummelled his cheeks and tore at his clothing, making progress slow and arduous. Every now and then, tossed towards him on the storm, came the distant howls of marauding wolves.
He trudged on for a good half-hour until suddenly he came across faint footprints in the snow.
He pressed on. In the darkness ahead he soon caught sight of a pitiful bundle half-buried beneath an over-hanging rock. It was Altos. But whether dead or alive, he could not tell. Ian hurriedly brushed away the snow. To his astonishment he saw the young man had been bound tightly hand and foot with a stout rope.
Barbara had finished her meal and pushed her empty bowl aside. There was an embarrassed pause. In the silence she could clearly hear the noise of baying wolves on the mountainside.
"They sound so close,' she said at last.
"You're safe here,' grunted the big man. "That door will keep anything out... or in.' He gave a cunning glance at Barbara from beneath his bushy eyebrows. She turned away.
Vasor rose from the table brusquely. "You clear those,' he pointed to the bread and salt. He swept up the dirty bowls and took them into the kitchen.
Barbara placed the bread and salt in a cupboard then innocently opened a drawer to put away the spoons. The contents made her start. Lying inside were three travel dials, the Doctor's ring, and Sabetha's chain with the keys.
"What are you doing in that drawer?'
Barbara span round. Vasor was advancing on her, a vicious look in his eyes.
"Where did you get these?' Barbara stammered bravely. "One of the girls was wearing this.' She held up Sabetha's chain. "
"You give me those,' snarled Vasor. "They're worth money.' He snatched the valuables from her.
Shaking, Barbara retreated. "Where did you get them?'
"There's a cave on the mountain where I store my traps. I found two girls hiding there.'
"Then they're alive?'
"They may be.' The big man scowled. "That was yesterday. I gave them food and flint in return for these. I left them there.'
Barbara studied his ugly features, uncertain if he was telling the truth. "Why didn't you bring them back?'
"I can't afford to look after every fool that gets lost on the mountains.'
"What about Altos? The young man?'
"He forced me to go up the mountain to look for these girls. Instead we found you. When we brought you back here he wanted to go out again.'
Barbara coolly faced him. "I don't believe you. You stole those things.'
"Oh? Did I?' The trapper took a threatening pace forward.
"They might have given you the wrist bracelet, but Sabetha would never have parted with the keys and chain.' An awful thought struck her. "You didn't kill them?'
Vasor chuckled. "You don't kill anybody in this country. The cold and the wolves do that.'
Altos rose unsteadily to his feet.
"How are your legs?' asked Ian.
"I should be able to walk in a minute or two.'
&n
bsp; "Who tied you up?'
"The trapper.'
"But he rescued us.'
"Only because I forced him to. He's ruthless.'
Ian grew pale. "Barbara's back there with him. Alone!'
"Then we must return as quickly as we can. Help me.' He leaned on Ian's shoulder and took a few, faltering steps.
"Just a minute.' Ian bent down to collect the bag of food given him by Vasor. In the cold his fingers fumbled and the contents spilled out onto the snow. His eyes widened with astonishment.
"Raw meat! What on earth would Vasor want to give me that for?'
In the silence a wolf howled very close at hand.
"There's your answer,' said Altos grimly. "Those beasts could scent meat a couple of miles away. Vasor was making certain you wouldn't get back.'
Ian kicked the meat beneath the snow in disgust. "Well, he's got a surprise coming to him, hasn't he?'
The trapper sat at the wooden table, peering suspiciously at Barbara. She was seated by the fire.
Suddenly he rose without a word and halted a yard from her, a foolish grin on his ugly face. "There's nowhere you can run.'
"Keep away!' Barbara snatched a hot poker from the smoking logs and held it before her. "Don't you dare come near me.'
"All right,' Vasor said. He retreated to the table. "I'm in no hurry. There's no-one coming to help you.' He leered at her lasciviously.
Barbara gripped the poker tightly.
The wolves were closing in. Ian feared they had picked up their scent. Suddenly a pale, yellow dot appeared in the darkness ahead. It was the hut.
"Another quarter of a mile,' Ian yelled above the wind. "We'll have to run! Altos.'
"I'll try.'
The two men broke into a jog. Behind them they could hear the scuffling pack homing in for the kill.
Barbara thought she heard a sound. Her glance flicked hopefully to the door.
In that instant Vasor leaped. For one so large he moved with astonishing speed. He swept the wooden table aside and was almost on her before Barbara pulled a chair into his path and darted to the opposite corner of the room. Valor hurled the chair aside and advanced nearer. Barbara grabbed a plate and heaved it full into his face. It broke across his nose, shattering into small pieces. Vasor brushed it off like a fly. He lurched towards her again. Cornered, she aimed a blow with the poker but he caught her arm easily and twisted it from her grip. A hand like a ham-bone seized Barbara by the neck and slammed her against the wall, knocking the breath from her body. Then fingers like steel pincers bit into her throat, slowly throttling her.
8 The Demons
A thunderous hammering on the door of the hut momentarily distracted the trapper. In that instant Barbara jerked her neck free and squirmed away. She flew to the door and shot back one of the bolts. Vasor hurled himself on her again. Pressed between his enormous bulk and the door she thought she would suffocate. In a desperate effort she wriggled beneath him and aimed a hefty kick at his shins. He clutched his leg, and Barbara shoved him off balance. She quickly released the remaining bolt. As Vasor staggered to his feet Ian crashed into the big man, knocking his head against the wall. Dazed and out-numbered, the big man decided to offer no further resistance.
Ian turned to Barbara. "You alright?'
Barbara nodded. "The girls are safe too,' she gasped. "They're in a cave in the mountain.'
"I meant them no harm,' said Valor, "I swear it. I gave them food and flint to light a fire...'
Altos advanced on the trapper. "You treacherous...'
"No, Altos!' said Ian, stepping between them. "We want him unharmed. He's going to show us where the cave is.'
For the first time, a look of fear appeared in the big man's eyes.
Susan bent over a pile of ashes and blew hard several times. There was no response and she soon gave up.
"It doesn't matter,' said Sabetha. "There was hardly any wood left.' The two girls looked at one another despondently. They were huddled in a gloomy cavern deep in the mountainside.
At last Susan said, "There's no point in us waiting here. We must go out and take a chance.'
"In these clothes we wouldn't last an hour.'
"How long do you think we'll last here without any fire?' Susan walked towards one of several tunnels which led into the cavern.
"That wasn't the way we came in,' said Sabetha. "It was the opening on the right.'
Susan halted. "I could have sworn it was this one.' She studied the various entrances, trying to visualise how the trapper had brought them in.
"Well, if you're certain,' said Sabetha.
"I thought I was certain. You've made me doubtful now.'
"Come on, let's try it,' urged Sabetha finally. They set off down the tunnel.
Ian decided to wait for dawn before setting out for the mountain. Vasor provided hot food and drink and some extra furs for Altos and Barbara. Then, just before light, the four of them left the hut and struck out across the snow. The blizzard had died away and the morning air was crisp and clear.
They trudged in silence for an hour. Vasor seemed increasingly nervous as they neared the mountain. "How much further?' asked Ian.
"Just beyond the next ridge.' Vasor turned to Ian. "When I get there... can I go back?' A troubled look appeared on the trapper's face.
"You're getting no promises out of me,' replied Ian. "Come on.' He prodded Vasor in the back. Grudgingly, the big man set off again.
Susan and Sabetha felt their way gingerly along a narrow tunnel. The walls and roof were lined with patches of ice. Susan could not help feeling they were moving deeper into the mountain instead of towards the surface. Her suspicions were confirmed when they rounded the next bend and ran into a blank wall of rock.
"I'm sorry, Sabetha.'
The blonde girl took her hand. "It's not your fault. We'll retrace our steps. Come on.' She led Susan gently back down the tunnel.
Ian and the others reached the lee of the mountain. The trapper led them through a narrow chine which snaked into the mountain itself. It brought them to a tunnel. Vasor guided them into it, his oil-lamp casting yellow shadows on the rough walls.
After about eventually twenty minutes the tunnel opened into a large empty cavern.
"They're not here,' said Ian grimly.
Vasor knelt beside a pile of grey cinders. "There's been a fire.' He glanced slyly at Ian. "I told you I helped them.'
Ian rubbed the ash between his fingers. "They can't have been gone long.'
"Is there another way out of these caves?' asked Barbara.
Vasor hesitated. "No. The way we came is the only exit from the mountain.'
Altos crossed to the far side of the cave and peered down the various openings.
"How far do these tunnels go?' he asked.
"Right through the mountain.'
"They must have gone in deeper,' said Ian. "Lead on, Vasor.'
The big man's face filled with alarm. "No, no, we mustn't. There are demons in there. I cannot go on.'
"I am not asking you, Vasor, I'm telling you. Now move!'
Vasor glanced wildly about him. Clearly some deep-rooted fear had taken hold of him. Finally, he muttered something under his breath and set off down one of the openings. The others followed warily.
Susan halted. "It's no use... we're going deeper into the mountain.' Her voice echoed plaintively along the rocky tunnel.
"If we keep going we must find a way out,' urged Sabetha.
They continued on. The path suddenly ran out onto a broad ledge. They had arrived at a deep crevasse - perhaps once an ancient subterranean river or glacier running under the mountain. The chasm was at least twenty feet wide. Someone had strung a flimsy rope bridge across the gap suitable for only one person at a time to use.
Susan tested the bridge warily.
"Is it safe?'
"I think so.' Holding firmly onto the supporting ropes Susan began to inch her way across.
"Don't look down,' warned Sabetha.
&
nbsp; An icy draught of air rose from the chasm below, causing the bridge to sway from side to side. Susan kept her eyes glued to the far wall and slowly completed the crossing. Sabetha followed carefully and the two girls set off down the tunnel on the far side.
Vasor tugged at Ian's sleeve. "Please, we mustn't go on. I told you the truth when I said there were demons here.' He glanced over his shoulder nervously. "There are men who have seen them.'
"Well, who knows?' replied Ian. "You might see them too.' He prodded Valor's broad back. "Keep moving!' The trapper gave him an evil look and moved off reluctantly.
As they rounded the next bend Altos gave a cry. Before them stretched the underground chasm, spanned by the rope bridge. Ian stepped forward and examined it. If they went carefully it would probably hold. He began organising the crossing.
Vasor stood apart, silently eyeing the bridge.
Susan and Sabetha had almost given up hope of finding their way out when suddenly they came upon a wide, vaulted chamber. At its centre stood a large rectangular block of ice about twelve feet square. The girls approached it with awe. Its surface was perfectly smooth and was transparent to a depth of several feet. Susan walked admiringly around it then peered inside. She let out a scream of horror. A human face, pale and contorted, was staring at her from within the ice.
A few moments later Susan and Sabetha hurtled out of the tunnel on the far side of the chasm and knocked into Altos and Barbara, who had crossed over. There was a moment's astonishment then the four greeted each other warmly.
"Hang on, I'm coming over!' yelled lan. In his delight at seeing the two girls he pushed past Vasor and ran across the bridge.
Susan pointed back down the tunnel. "There's some-one in there. In the ice!'
They were interrupted by a cry from Altos. Vasor was hacking through the ropes supporting the bridge on the far side.
Ian leaped onto the bridge. As he did so Vasor aimed a final blow and the remaining rope parted. The bridge plunged into the chasm with Ian still hanging on it. Miraculously he maintained his grip as the flimsy structure smashed against the side of the crevasse. Barbara and Altos looked on helplessly as he dangled over the yawning drop. Although dazed, he began to inch his way back up the ropework. As he neared the ledge Altos leaned over and hauled him to safety.
Doctor Who And The Keys of Marinus Page 6
