Doctor Who: The Space Museum Read Free Page A

it gets colder when it’s dark,’ she added hurriedly.
    ‘And there’s another thing,’ Ian persisted, turning back to the Doctor, ‘if the entire planet...’ He stressed the word with such vehemence it sounded like the release of a slingshot... ‘is dead, then where is the oxygen coming from? The atmosphere is not only pleasant, we happen to be breathing it.’ Game, set and match, Ian thought.
    ‘It could be artificially manufactured,’ the Doctor replied and, before Ian could argue further, went on: ‘But it’s no good standing here speculating. Let’s go and search for some answers, hmm?’ He smiled placatingly. ‘But keep together, is that clear?’ They all nodded and, led by the Doctor, started to move in the direction of the building they had seen on the scanner. They had gone only a few steps when Ian stopped and called: ‘Doctor!’
    ‘Oh, what is it now, Chesterton?’ The Doctor was growing more than a little impatient. He stopped, turned, and glared at Ian. But Ian was not going to be put off. He glanced around to make sure they were all looking at him and, having their attention, he said, ‘You’d agree that we’re walking on some sort of dust, I’d say at least an inch deep, wouldn’t you?’
    ‘Yes, yes, of course. What of it?’ The Doctor’s manner was even more testy. If someone had something to say why not.. just say it instead of beating about the bush?
    Ian dropped his bombshell: ‘Then why aren’t we leaving footprints?’ His voice was very quiet and it was seconds before the others could take their eyes off his face and look down at their feet.
    There were no footprints.
    They stood for a moment, not knowing what to do or what to say. Then Ian took a few steps. His feet made prints in the dust which they all saw but then, as they watched, the prints disappeared and it was as if no-one had walked there. They all turned to look at the Doctor who merely shook his head, as bewildered as they were. ‘Strange,’ he said, ‘Most strange.’
    ‘Any theories?’ Ian asked blithely.
    The Doctor shook his head again. ‘No, my boy, none whatsoever. But I’m sure an explanation will present itself sooner or later. Let’s continue our journey shall we?’
    They set off once more, none of them being able to resist looking around every now and again to watch their footsteps disappear behind them. But, after a while, the game lost its novelty and they turned their attention to the exhibits lining either side of their route. For, by now, they had come to accept that this was what they were.
    ‘I’m tired,’ Vicki complained after a while. ‘It isn’t easy walking in this stuff.’ She stamped her foot a couple of times, sending up little showers of white dust, and puffed out her cheeks to emphasise her point.
    ‘Actually.’ the Doctor said, ‘the air is a bit rarified. It’s that, rather than the sand, that makes walking such an exertion. I wonder how far it is now.’
    Ian looked up at the colossal hull of the spaceship by which they had stopped. ‘We must be nearly there,’ he said. ‘I remember seeing this on the scanner, with the buildings...’ He looked around and then pointed: ‘That way.’
    ‘I wonder where this came from,’ Vicki whispered, gazing at the awesome giant that towered above them.
    ‘Who knows, Vicki?’ Ian said. ‘But I doubt it would ever get back there. Look at that rust. It must have been standing there for years.’
    ‘Rust means moisture,’ the Doctor chipped in. ‘You were right, my boy, the planet may not be as dead as I thought. Unless, of course, the ship rusted on its journey here.’
    Vicki gazed up at the gigantic wreck. It seemed too bulky to have been a fighting ship. A freighter maybe. She wondered what vast distances it had travelled and what its cargo could have been. On what far away planet had it been constructed? And what kind of creatures constituted its crew? What adventures did they have, and where were they now? She