Part 22 (1/2)

praying.

Robin spotted the stairway to the tower and pointed.

Medway wondered whether he had a lunatic in the car.

'There!'

He'd listened with patience to Trevithick's story and They ducked and weaved through the columns of light.

accepted the reality of the missing persons and the Like running through a forest fire, thought Ace, grabbing landlady's death. Now the old man had insisted they drive Robin's hand as he stumbled.

to the radio telescope to find someone called 'the Doctor'.

She pushed him into the well of the staircase and his 'It's not that I don't believe you, sir,' he said, turning the knees connected with the steps. He howled in pain but car on to the moor road once again. 'It's just a little hard to didn't stop, dragging himself upwards. Ace cast an anxious take in.'

look behind. The room was humming with light, spindly 'I know, I know,' said Trevithick, biting his finger nails.

fronds crackling their way towards them.

'But there's more.'

Ace pushed at Robin's backside and he clambered up the 'More?' Medway raised his eyebrows. The old man steps, using his hands for purchase on the cold stone. They looked out of the car window into the night. The headlights seemed to go around and around endlessly.

lit up dark bushes and indiscernible structures. 'I told you I After several exhausting minutes, they emerged on to a was attacked and that the... thing which attacked me was narrow landing which led to a long, long corridor. From frightened off by Mr Yeadon's car.'

behind one of the doors came the sound of prayer.

He nodded slowly. Trevithick took a deep breath. 'Mr 'Shh!' hissed Ace. They listened intently. The voice was Medway. It was a monster. Seven feet tall. Like a great cracked, defeated, mumbling the prayers in a hopeless dirge.

insect.'

'It's the Abbot,' said Ace. Robin looked back the way they Medway opened his mouth but Trevithick pressed on.

had come. The dark walls were already brightening.

'You came here to see me about Nightshade. Well, I can tell 'It's coming after us!' he cried. Ace grabbed his collar and you for certain that the creature, that real creature, was the they clattered up the next flight of steps.

same thing which I used to fight on television!'

'I know we shouldn't keep going up,' she gasped, her Medway didn't say anything. Trevithick rubbed his eyes.

lungs bursting. 'In movies, if people go up buildings you 'Not a man in a rubber suit. Not this time. A real thing.

know they're going to fall off sooner or later!'

Trying to kill me. That's what I saw under the lamp last 'No choice,' called Robin over his shoulder, feeling dizzy night and that's what smashed my window. They've come as he ran round and round the never-ending spiral.

back to get me!'

Behind them, the tide of light reached the landing, 'Right,' said Medway.

throbbing with power. It paused as though listening, fronds 'Oh, I know you don't believe me. But it's true! I swear it!

Look!'

190.

191.

He showed Medway the tear in his jacket and waistcoat where the creature's mandible had struck him. Medway Medway and Trevithick opened the control room doors was grateful for the distraction of arrival. The security gate on to a scene of pandemonium. Cooper, Vijay and Holly was wide open, just as the Doctor had left it, and the were running about the place, trying desperately to fathom telescope dish plunged into darkness.

the explosion of data. The Doctor stood alone in the centre 'We're here,' said Medway quietly.

of everything, his eyes dark and fathomless.

'It's so strong!' cried Cooper.

Hawthorne sat on his bed, hugging his knees to his chin.

'Doctor!' Trevithick called above the din.

b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.

'We've got to use the safety cutouts!' Vijay shouted. 'It's Who did they think they were?

too big this time!'

Well, he'd soon sort them out. One phone call to Cooper nodded. 'See what you can do.'

Cambridge and he'd have the pair of them off the project.

Holly threw herself into a chair and began to hammer He sighed. That was if the b.l.o.o.d.y phones ever started figures into a console. She frowned. 'It's no good. I can't working again.

stop it!'

Anyway, his superiors were bound to recognise the truth 'Doctor!' Trevithick advanced across the room and shook of his statements. It was all well and good paying lip service the Doctor's arm. 'I have things to tell you.' Medway to these fas.h.i.+onable ideas on racial harmony but it jumped as a hideous wail began to a.s.sail his ears.

obviously didn't work in practice. He could show them that.

'Klaxon?' said Cooper.

Vijay Degun had admitted to taking illegal substances, had 'Fence breached again.' Holly looked up from her work.

risked the entire project!

The Doctor glanced at Trevithick. 'Not now, not now.' He Hawthorne was disappointed in Cooper. He'd expected ran to the window and peered out into the darkness. Light more. Didn't she realise where it would all lead? Powell was was pouring from the silhouetted monastery.

right. 'Rivers of blood,' he'd promised. Rivers of blood.

Cooper pulled on a parka. 'I'm going to check the fence.