Free Dr. Who - BBC New Series 25 by Ghosts of India # Mark Morris Page A

back to the Doctor, was a boy holding a catapult. Closing in on the boy were at least thirty monkeys, all of which were hideously enlarged, their bodies made monstrous by zytron energy.
    Clearly whatever was responsible for the leakage was close by. The physical symptoms were more advanced in these creatures than in the patients the Doctor had seen at the hospital. The monkeys were smothered in black
    lumps, some to such an extent that they could move only with extreme difficulty. They snarled and bared their teeth as they advanced; some were salivating like rabid dogs.
    ‘Hello,’ the Doctor said quietly to the boy. ‘What’s your name then?’
    He had made plenty of noise crashing through the trees, but the boy’s attention must have been focused on the threat in front of him. He spun round now with a shocked cry, firing his catapult instinctively. The Doctor ducked and the rock flew past his head and took a chunk out of a nearby tree.
    ‘Whoa there, Dennis the Menace,’ the Doctor said mildly. ‘One thing I definitely don’t need is a side parting.’ He glanced at the monkeys, which were still edging forward. ‘So what do they call you then?’
    ‘Cameron Campbell,’ replied the boy.
    ‘Right then, Cameron Campbell, I want you to come over here and stand behind me. But do it slowly.
    Understand?’
    Cameron nodded and did as the Doctor asked. A couple of the bigger monkeys hissed and scuttled forward, their twisted, lopsided movement making them look like giant injured spiders rather than primates.
    The Doctor produced his sonic and clamped it between his teeth. Then he used both hands to delve into his jacket pockets. In a muffled voice he said, ‘Now where did I put… aha!’
    He produced a small, brightly coloured pyramid with a wick sticking out of the top. He spat his sonic back into his palm and used it to light the wick.
     
    The pyramid fizzed and crackled, shooting out multicoloured sparks. Almost casually the Doctor tossed it into the middle of the advancing monkeys.
    ‘I’d shut your eyes if I were you,’ he told Cameron.
    Suddenly there was a fla-thoomp! sound and ripples of multicoloured light radiated outwards from the fizzing pyramid. Screaming in alarm, the monkeys scattered in all directions, disappearing into the trees and bushes.
    ‘And don’t come back!’ the Doctor shouted. ‘There’s more where that came from.’ He looked down at Cameron. ‘You can open your eyes now.’
    Cameron did so, blinking up at him. Before he could speak there was a rustling noise behind them, and Donna, Gandhi, Gopal, Ranjit and one of Gandhi’s attendants emerged from the bushes.
    ‘We saw a light,’ said Donna.
    ‘Was it Shiva?’ asked Ranjit fearfully.
    ‘Nah, it was a Maluvian Rainbow Cascade. Fun for all the family,’ said the Doctor.
    Cameron saw Ranjit and his eyes widened. ‘I waited for you!’ he said. ‘Why didn’t you come?’
    Ranjit looked shamefaced. ‘I’m sorry. I met Bapu and told him what had happened. When he and Mr Doctor said they would come to the temple with me…’ He shook his head ‘I did not think you would come alone.’
    ‘Well, you thought wrong,’ said Cameron, scowling at his friend.
    ‘Ah well, never mind, no harm done,’ said the Doctor briskly. ‘Right, I’m off for a quick nosey in the temple.
    Who’s coming with me? Not you two.’
     
    This last remark was directed at the boys. Ranjit looked relieved, but Cameron pulled a face.
    ‘I haven’t come all this way for nothing,’ he protested.
    ‘Yeah, you have. Sorry,’ said the Doctor dismissively.
    ‘I will take the boys back,’ Gopal said. ‘We will wait for you by the elephants.’
    ‘Okey-dokey,’ said the Doctor. ‘See you in a bit.’ He strode towards the temple’s pillared entrance.
    Donna hurried to catch up with him. ‘You’ve got a way with kids,’ she said heavily. ‘You ought to be a teacher.’
    ‘Been there, done that.’ He took a reading of the building with his