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the firewood.
Romana looked on disapprovingly.
'Doctor, you can't just - '
'Oh, can't I? Just watch me! A match, a match, my kingdom for a match...'The
Doctor fished in all his pockets and finally produced a huge wooden sulphur-match. 'Nothing like a Lucifer!'
He struck the match on his thumbnail, watched it splutter into life, and tossed it onto the oil-soaked
firewood.
Then he stood back and watched as
the firewood started to burn.
'Are you sure that's the best way to rescue a prisoner -burning down the prison?' asked Romana acidly.
'Burn down the outhouse adjoining the prison,' corrected the Doctor. 'When the fire starts to spread the
people in the house will have to come to deal with it to stop it spreading. They rush out, we rush in. Simple!'
The flames rose higher. The Doctor grabbed Romana's hand and pulled her through the door.
'Come on. We'll go and lurk in the bushes until they realise what's happening.'
They heard a sudden hiss of rage.
Turning round, they saw a black-cloaked white-faced figure bearing down on them, claw-like hands
outstretched.
The Doctor snatched the woodsman's axe from its block, and swept the blade round in a shining arc...
Romana closed her eyes and shuddered.
She heard a sinister thunk, a thud and the sound of something heavy rolling across the grass.
She opened her eyes in time to see the Doctor throwing the vampire's headless body into the burning shed.
He went and picked up the head and tossed it in after.
'Just like golf really, it's all in the swing!' said the Doctor, grimly. He hefted the axe, and thudded it back into
the block.
Romana knew the show of levity was for her benefit; she could see the regret in his eyes, even at having to
kill an ancient undead enemy. 'It must have been returning to the house and spotted what we were up to,' she
said.
'You'd better keep that axe handy.'
'Certainly not, you know I don't approve of violence -except when absolutely necessary of course. Come on,
let's hide in those bushes over there.' . The flames roared higher, consuming the long shed and illuminating
the house with a lurid glow. One of the oil-barrels exploded with a satisfying whoomph!.
Cries of alarm came from the house and people started rushing out. Some were homespun-clad house
servants -
she saw Hurda, carrying her child - and others were Zarn's black-cloaked vampire guests.
Romana saw Zarn himself, organising the fireflghting. 'Get buckets and form a chain from the pond,' he
bellowed. 'Hurry before it gets a hold on the house. Everyone help!'
The Doctor's simple plan seemed to be working. He tugged her hand. 'Come on!'
Keeping to the shadows just beyond the fire-lit area, they worked their way round to the front door, which
stood half open. Unseen, they slipped inside.
The hall was lit by a single oil lamp, standing on a side-table. They looked about them.
'Which way?' whispered Romana.
'Oh, downwards, I think, don't you?
Something tells me vampires prefer cellars to attics. Let's try that door there.'
The heavy door swung open to reveal stone steps leading downwards. The Doctor picked up the lamp and led
the
way.
They found the Fourth Doctor on a filthy mattress in the dank cellar. He was neither bound nor guarded, and it
was easy to see why. His body was limp and motionless, his face a ghastly white. For one terrible moment
Romana thought he was actually dead.
The air shimmered and Romana froze...
The Doctor knelt by his other self and took his hand. He saw the bloody wounds in the wrists and at the
neck. After a moment the Fourth Doctor's eyes fluttered open and he managed a feeble grin.
'You again!'
'Yes, me again.'
'You almost left it too late this time.
'As it is, you're just in time to say
goodbye.'
'Nonsense.'
'I'm afraid not. Our vampire friends got a little carried away. I've lost a tremendous amount of blood. I can't last
much longer... Don't know if I've even got the strength to give you your memories back.'
'Don't worry about that now, we can reminisce later. And forget all this nonsense about dying.'
'It's too late, I tell you...'
'Rubbish!'
The air shimmered and time resumed its normal flow.
Romana frowned, aware that something had happened.
'What was that about?'
'Temporary temporal stasis. Seems to happen whenever I meet myself. Don't worry about it.'
Romana knelt to examine the Fourth Doctor, who had lapsed into unconsciousness. After a moment she
straightened up and said bleakly,
'We're too late. He's dying. They've drained almost all the blood from his body.'
'Rubbish,' said the Doctor. 'If he dies, I'll never live, and I'm not having that!' [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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