Doctor Who BBCN10 - The Nightmare of Black Island Read Free Page B

followed the gruesome trail across the rocks, pool after pool filled with diluted blood.
    Their route led back from the rocks to a patch of flattened grass.
    The Doctor knelt down once more and pressed his palm to the ground.
    It came away stained a deep red. Rose stared in horror at the large dark patch that discoloured the grass.
    There’s so much of it.’
    The Doctor’s face was grim. ‘So where’s the body?’
    ‘Perhaps the thing took it back into the sea. You know. Food?’
    ‘Possibly.’
    Rose looked around. ‘No, hang about. He was a fisherman. He had bags, rods and stuff. They’ve gone too.’
    ‘Well, I can’t see our mysterious creature being an avid fishing fan somehow.’ The Doctor shook his head and wiped his hands on a patch of clean grass. ‘No. Someone has been here, cleaning up after their pet.’
    Rose looked at him in horror. ‘You don’t think –’
    14

    ‘I’m not sure what to think yet.’ He gave her a reassuring smile. ‘But we’re not going to find out anything more down here, not tonight at any rate. We should try the village. Ask around. Someone must know something.’
    ‘We’re gonna have to try and find his friends. His family. Let them know that he’s. . . ’
    That could raise some awkward questions. But yes, you’re right.
    We’ll have to do it.’ The Doctor caught her by the hand. ‘C’mon. Let’s get away from here.’
    And with that the two of them started to pick their way back up the slippery path to the cliff top, Rose leading the way, pushing determinedly through the gorse, trying to avoid the signs of violence that were now so obvious all around them.
    Something made the Doctor glance back at the dark shape of the lighthouse in the bay. A glint of light caught his eye. He stopped, fumbling for the opera glasses in his pocket again, but whatever the light was it vanished just as suddenly as it had appeared.
    He frowned, unsure of what he had seen.
    ‘What is it?’
    Rose had stopped on the path ahead of him, looking back in concern.
    ‘Nothing. C’mon. We’re nearly at the top.’
    Rose shrugged and started upwards again, and after a few seconds the Doctor followed. There was something dangerous here, of that he was certain, and in retrospect wandering around wet cliff tops in the dark in pursuit of a vicious monster wasn’t the most sensible decision he had ever made. The village was the obvious place to go. Lights and people, and perhaps some answers.
    He clambered the last few steps to the top of the cliff. Rose was waiting for him, the hood of her parka pulled tight against the wind. Fat drops of rain were starting to whip in from the sea again and a clap of thunder sounded, closer now as the storm circled around for a second time.
    ‘Now where?’ Rose shouted above the wind.
    15

    The Doctor spun on his heel. A clear track led away from the cliffs towards a patch of woodland that arced down towards the village in the bay. A coastal path. Probably heaving with walkers and families when the weather was good.
    ‘This way!’
    They raced for the cover of the wood as the storm finally broke again and the wind swirled icy rain around them. They reached the tree line breathless, the Doctor’s hair plastered to his forehead.
    Rose giggled at him. ‘Why can’t you ever take us somewhere nice and warm?’
    ‘Hey!’ The Doctor looked indignant. ‘I took you to New Earth!
    Apple grass, remember?’
    ‘Yeah! Not exactly a relaxing break, though, being taken over. . . ’
    ‘The sign of a good holiday!’ He flicked the water from his fringe.
    ‘Anyway, now I’ve brought you to a nice wood. A nice wet wood.’
    ‘A nice wet, dark wood.’
    ‘Yes.’ The Doctor peered into the gloom. ‘Actually it’s more tulgy than wet. Yes. Definitely a tulgy wood.’ He set off down the leaf-strewn path. ‘Lovely word “tulgy”. Doesn’t get enough use. Very good for describing woods. . . And puddings. I’ve had some wonderfully tulgy puddings in my