Doctor Who: Sontaran Experiment Read Online Free PDF Page A

the air.
    Krans paced restlessly in the entrance to the cave, gripping the ion gun in his big hands and muttering threats under his breath. Vural had recovered his composure and was closely questioning the Doctor in an attempt to trap him.
    ‘All right,’ he snapped, ‘how long have the Terra Novans been in deep-freeze?’
    ‘Perhaps fifteen thousand years...’ The Doctor shrugged, as far as his bonds would allow.
    ‘And you woke up before the others,’ scoffed Erak, taking a swig from the water-flask.
    ‘No, no, no,’ said the Doctor patiently. ‘I just happened to find them in the nick of time. Earth has been habitable for a few centuries, but their clock stopped and they overslept.’
    ‘Clock?’ echoed Vural, his clenched fists like marble.
    ‘Yes,’ the Doctor went on, ‘and since I am something of an expert where time is concerned, I just made a few...’
    With a lightening movement, like a jack-knife opening, the Doctor sprang to his feet, taking the three Galsec crewman completely by surprise. ‘I say,’ he cried, jumping precariously onto a boulder, ‘It’s just occurred to me, I might well be able to help you —after all, you don’t want to be marooned here for ever...’ Vural and Erak slowly advanced towards the Doctor, while Krans covered him with the ion gun. ‘But first,’ the Doctor chattered on, tensing like a panther about to spring, ‘I’d like a couple of eggs lightly boiled and a slice or two of toast and honey...’
    At that moment, wild cries were heard in the distance.
    Erak whirled round. ‘Look... it’s Rothy,’ he cried, pointing into the valley. Vural and Krans turned and stared. Then all three began to run towards the weirdly capering figure of their lost crewmate. When Roth saw them approaching he streaked away, zig-zagging out of sight with the Doctor’s three captors in hot pursuit.
    No sooner had their cries died away, than Sarah slipped along the foot of the cliff and started feverishly tugging at the knotted scarf.
    ‘Hallo, Sarah.’ The Doctor grinned delightedly, ‘Who’s your speedy friend?’
    ‘Explain later,’ Sarah panted, freeing the Doctor’s arms.
    ‘Come on,’ she cried, dragging him away along the cliff.
    ‘Where are we going?’ the Doctor shouted, clinging on to his hat.
    ‘To the pit, of course,’ Sarah cried impatiently.
    ‘Wait!’ the Doctor called anxiously. ‘The sonic screwdriver... I seem to have mislaid it... I feel quite lost without it...’
    Sarah instantly produced the vital instrument from her pocket, and the Doctor seized it with a brilliant smile of relief. ‘Now I’m ready for anything,’ he beamed ‘Lead on MacSmith...’
     
    3

Capture
    Sweat poured into Harry’s eyes as he forced his way along the twisting, narrow tunnel, the roar of the avalanche still sounding in his ears. The shaft had soon turned upward at a steep angle, and now it was almost vertical. His thick duffle-coat afforded some protection against the treacherously sharp edges and nodules covering the inside of the shaft, but at the same time it seriously hampered Harry’s progress, and once or twice he feared he would be completely jammed. Occasionally, he reached a slightly wider section where the rock surface seemed smoother—as if it had been polished—and he found himself suddenly beginning to slide down again. His elbows and knees were soon raw with the effort of working his way back upwards.
    Here and there he encountered other, similar shafts branching off at all angles. Harry ignored these and struggled on towards what he hoped would prove to be the surface. The same warm, sulphurous breeze issued from all the tunnels making the air thick and suffocating, so that Harry’s throat burned and his head throbbed. Whenever he paused for breath, curious distant sounds—like the pounding of machinery—reached his ears.
    Eventually, something glinted far above him. Harry felt like cheering: it was daylight; it had to be daylight. He