THE INVISIBLE HAND
CHAPTER FOUR It felt to Donna as if she’d been walking forever. Her wet trainers made squelching noises with every footfall. The narrow track she was following seemed to be going nowhere. Donna stopped, and gave a great sigh of frustration. “I don’t know who’s responsible for me being here,” Donna said aloud, “but when I find out, you’re gonna’ get your back wheels deflated, mate….and a kick up the backsides for good measure, for ruining my best pair of walking shoes!” she added, looking down at her muddy trainers. Perhaps she was going about this the wrong way, maybe she’d get a better idea of what she was up against, by heading for higher ground for a look around. Donna turned about, and carefully scrambled her way up a pile of scree. In little cascades, stones and rocks tumbled down the slope, as she determinedly made her way to the top of a high mound. “I should have asked to go to Westfield to shop. But no, I had to tell the Doctor to take me someplace all outer-spacey and alien.” Donna complained, as she panted her way upwards. Standing precariously on top of the shifting pile of rubble, Donna gazed all about her. Off in the far distance, some miles away, she could make out what seemed to be a large, futuristic looking city. But in-between her and the city, there seemed to be nothing but barren wastelands, identical to those she was wandering in. She noted that the track she’d been following seemed to head towards civilization. The city seemed so far away, and she was already feeling a little knackered. She’d been walking for two hours with nothing to show for it, but wet feet and a rising blister on the back of her left heel. “Blimey! Looks like I’ve got a long walk ahead of me.” Donna moaned as she turned to make her way back down to the path. “Note to self,” she muttered sarcastically, “pack along an extra pair shoes and socks when going shopping with the Doctor.” Suddenly, she heard some slight movement behind her. Turning around, she glanced up, and gasped. There in front of her, was a creature Donna had never seen before. Its head and neck were like that of a normal-looking human. It had black, curly hair, and the face looked like a young man in his twenties. But, its body….its body seemed to be a conglomeration of various bits of other types of creatures. The torso and arms were covered with fur, like an ape, but the legs were green and elongated, and more like that of a reptile’s. The hands were also hairy, and had bird-like talons protruding from them. It also had a short, reptile-like tail and webbed, clawed feet. The creature glared at Donna through vicious-looking yellow eyes. Then it reared up its head, opened it’s mouth, and gave a great, angry scream. Though the head was human, the teeth in its mouth were more like that of an animal’s, with two great protruding fangs. “Oh, and add an extra pair of pants to that list, as well.” Donna said, terrified. Lunging at Donna with its hands, she screamed, involuntarily stepping back to escape the sharp, razor-like talons of the creature. She fell backwards, rolling down the slope, to land dazed, at the bottom. Donna had had the breath knocked out of her. She lay there helpless, trying to breathe, unable to move. The creature bounded down the scree with amazing speed and agility, sending tiny cascades of stone showering down upon Donna. As it towered over her, giving a cry of triumph, Donna could only watch. She was scared and angry. Scared, because Donna thought she was about to die, and angry, because she was powerless to protect herself. Just then, a shadow loomed over her. Another creature? Oh flippin’ fantastic, Donna thought. She was about to become an all you can eat buffet for two alien monsters. “Get out of here, you poor benighted devil!” A man’s voice called out. Getting her breath back, Donna turned on her side and looked behind her. A middle aged man in a grey, stained sweatshirt, worn jeans and a watch cap, was waving an old tan utility coat in the air, trying to shoo away the creature. It worked. With a final scream of fear, the creature shied away from the flapping cloth like a spooked horse, and bolted from sight. A short while later, Donna found herself crouched inside a makeshift shelter, in a shallow cave under a cliff. There was a small, nearly smokeless fire. She’d been led there by her rescuer, who’d said very little, so far. Studying the man as he rummaged through his pockets, she saw a weathered, stubble-bearded man, maybe five or ten years older than herself. It was hard to tell. The man’s face seemed tired and worn, old beyond his years. Yet, there was wisdom and patience in his eyes. “So,” she said, “this is where you live, yeah?” She looked around the small space. “Not much room, but maybe Ikea does flat packs for caves, ya’ never know.” She smiled. “Thanks for helping me out back there, by the way. I’m Donna, Donna Noble.” The man only nodded. He pulled what looked like some kind of long green plant shoots from his pockets, and taking out a small pen-knife, began to peel them. Donna frowned. Did he save her, just so he could be rude to her? “Not much of a conversationalist, are you?” she asked. “I’m guessing no one’s ever booked you for Paul O’Grady, yeah?” The man handed her the peeled green. Donna merely held it in her hand, then gave the gentleman a blank look. “What’s this then?” Donna sniffed it. It smelled sort of like a cucumber. “It’s dinner, Ms. Noble. Young cattail shoots. They’re actually quite tasty. Thought you might be hungry.” he explained. “Why do you say ‘Ms.,’ do I look like a divorcee to you?” Donna asked, annoyed. The man turned his eyes away, and spoke in a quiet voice, almost shyly. “Sorry. My name’s Nab. I didn’t mean to seem churlish with you. I guess I’m not much of a dab hand at talking. Don’t have any mates to chat with, you see.” Donna’s expression softened. She suddenly felt guilty about how she spoke to the man who saved her life. “No, I’m the one who’s sorry. Call me Donna.” She smiled and held out her hand. Nab hesitated, than grasped her hand. He smiled back. “So, did you get here the same way as I did?” Donna asked, “Big flash and then you’re in the middle of flippin’ nowhere?” Nab nodded. “Yeah, me and who knows how many others.” “There’s others?” Donna asked, her face registering surprise. “How many others?” “Dunno’ for sure. At least five before me, as far as I know, but it could be dozens, even hundreds, for all I know.” “But…what for?” Donna stammered. Suddenly this whole situation was getting more sinister by the minute. Nab’s face grew dark and angry. He hesitated, as if not sure if he should reveal what he knew, but somehow, this woman seemed have some sort of inner-strength, and he reckoned she could take his bad news. “Experiments. That creature? The one that attacked you? That used to be a man. An ordinary bloke, just like me. Whoever brought us here, changes humans, makes them into all sorts of creatures—some completely animal, some part animal, part human.” Donna shook her head, trying to wrap her mind around what Nab was telling her. “But…why? Why would anyone want to do that? I mean, I’m guessing wherever we are, earth is light years away. Why go all that way just to get humans for experimentation?” “Games” Nab said, pursing his lips, his face clouded with anger. “Games, that’s what it is. Most of us are captured and transformed. But the rest of us…they send the creatures out to hunt us down, for sport. We’re meat, that’s all we are. Butchering humans means no more to them, than squashing a bug means to us, I reckon.” After a long pause, Nab spoke, his face suddenly full of despair. “Don’t reckon I’ll ever see the streets of London again.” “Nah—don’t you worry about that,” Donna reassured him, taking his hand in hers, “I’ve a mate who can get this all sorted. He’s dead brilliant, he is, and I’ve a feeling he’s on the case, right now. His name’s the Doctor, and if I know anything, it’s that he is going to save us.”
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