Free Doctor Who: The Ark by Paul Erickson Page A

brow.
    ‘Phew! It’s hot here,’ the Doctor observed.
    ‘We keep it at the temperature that would have been normal in such a place on Earth,’ Rhos replied. ‘There isn’t much of a population in this area, but there is an important element of animal life.’
    In the distance a rising cloud of sand was seen. ‘Ah!’
    said the Doctor. ‘Some sign of life over there. A caravan of nomads, by the look of it.’
    The Monoid who was driving the conveyor needed no special bidding. He directed the machine so that it veered off in the direction of the desert caravan. The Doctor was intrigued by the fact that their journey to intercept it took longer than he had first estimated, such was the illusion of distance in the desert. But eventually they caught up with it, to find that it was composed of several camels, mounted by Guardians and Monoids.
    Greetings were exchanged, then Rhos asked one of the Guardians: Are there any sick among you, suffering from the virus disease?’
    The Guardian replied: ‘Two Guardians there... and a Monoid at the rear.’
    The sick were lying back on improvised stretchers which were pulled by the camels.
    The Doctor and Rhos wasted no time. With the aid of the Monoid they set about introducing the vaccine into their systems.
    ‘You had better make camp here,’ the Doctor suggested to the Guardian who had spoken with Rhos. ‘Rest, and give them a chance for the vaccine to work.’
    ‘A good idea,’ the Guardian said. ‘Our journey was beginning to tell on us. I’ve never felt so tired.’
    ‘Perhaps the fever is starting to attack them all!’ Rhos suggested.
    ‘Probably! In which case we treat everyone in this caravan, just to make sure.’
    The work took some time but eventually all the travellers had been treated. It was only then that the Doctor paused to look around at the desert.
    ‘Ah, beautiful!’ he offered his opinion to Rhos. ‘Deserts have always been bewitching places, and I must congratulate you and the rest of the Guardians and the Monoids on the way in which you have faithfully recreated the Earth in all its beauty.’ Then he glanced off into the distance. ‘Even down to the recreation of pyramids!’
    In front of the pyramids, a party of Guardians and Monoids were observing the distant caravan and the presence there of the Doctor and Rhos. A Guardian was directing remarks into his wrist communicator.
    ‘The Doctor has administered his treatment to a travelling party in the desert,’ he reported.
    In the Control Room Zentos listened to this report. ‘Thank you,’ he replied. ‘We have them under scanner surveillance as well.’
    Manyak was intrigued by this exchange and its implication. ‘Do you mean to say that you have spies following the Doctor and Rhos?’ he asked.
    ‘Just part of my security precautions,’ Zentos replied. ‘In case anything suspicious happens.’
    Manyak shook his head in bewilderment.
    In the desert the Doctor addressed Rhos. ‘But, come!’ he said. ‘There is still work to be done elsewhere.’
    Rhos nodded and moved back to the conveyor. Then the Doctor glanced at the Monoid, who had not stirred.
    Instead, he was studying a lizard as it basked on a rock in the light, its tongue flicking in and out. The Monoid stared at it with rapt attention; then the Doctor tapped him on the shoulder.
    ‘Time to go,’ the Doctor said gently.
    The Monoid looked up at him with his swivelling eye, then bowed and moved back to the conveyor. The Doctor stared thoughtfully after him, then looked back at the lizard, marvelling at the way it remained so still while its eyes swivelled, like the Monoid’s, darting back and forth to take in the scene around it. Then he shrugged and turned away to join the others in the conveyor.
    They set out once more across the desert.
    The Commander stirred in his sleep and opened his eyes.
    Immediately Mellium spoke to him.
    ‘How do you fed now, Father?’
    ‘A little better, I think,’ he replied. ‘But