THE INVISIBLE HAND
CHAPTER NINE When Donna finally climbed back down off the cliff, it was starting to turn dark. Nab saw Donna shiver, and he took off his jacket and handed it to her. “What’s that for?” she asked. “It gets cold out here at night, you’ll need that.” he told her. “I’m used to being outside in all sorts of weather, won’t bother me, being without me jacket.” “Thanks.” Donna said, slipping on the utility coat. She looked around them, at the seemingly lifeless landscape. “Nab, I don’t like to give you bad news, but, in the last two hours, we’ve gotten no closer to the city than we were when we started. This path only looks like it leads out of here. We’ve just been wandering in circles.” “You look tired, Donna. And, I’ll bet you’re thirsty as well, with that climb up there.” Nab said, gesturing to the cliff top Donna had just descended from. “Thanks for mentioning my being thirsty, I was trying to ignore it.” Donna said sarcastically. “Now that’s all I’m going to think about.” “You’re gonna’ make someone a wonderful wife someday Donna, I can tell.” Nab replied tartly. “In the meantime, let’s try to find some sort of shelter for the night. I’ve still some’a them cattail shoots, so at least we won’t starve. We can rest tonight, and figure out what’s what in the morning. What d’ya say?” Donna shrugged. It was going to be too dark to see the path, soon. There didn’t seem to be much choice. A short while later, Nab found a small cave. Donna sat with her back against the wall, wrapped in Nab’s coat, eating one of the man’s peeled cattail stalks. She looked up as Nab came into the cave. He’d been out searching for fuel or food while there was still light enough to see by. “Find anything?” Donna asked, because Nab had come in empty-handed. “Nothing that would make a proper fire, I’m afraid. Though I did find a dead branch, and something that looks like tar deposits. I dipped the branch in the stuff.” he said, brandishing a stubby, dry branch. “At least we’ll have some light if we need it, tonight.” “Oh that’s lovely. I was wondering how I was going to apply my makeup in the dark.” Donna quipped dryly. “And, I found something else,” he added, smiling at her, “a small spring bubbling out of some rocks just up the way. I tried it, it’s actually quite nice. Bit fizzy, like that French stuff they bottle and sell to the aristos.” “Too bad we’re not on earth,” Donna grinned, “we could make millions.” Some time later, Nab took the torch and showed Donna the spring. After they each had a long drink, Donna placed the torch on the ground, and ordered Nab to stand behind some rocks, out of sight, as she had herself a bit of a wash. Donna had borrowed Nab’s knife and cut off a strip from the bottom her her trousers, to use as a makeshift flannel. She was sponging herself under her top, when she heard some gravel shift behind her. “Oi! Do you mind?” Donna scolded, without turning around. “Get your eyes and the rest of you, back behind that rock, mister, or me and my foot will make your…your…manly desires, disappear in a hurry!” “What’re you on about, Donna?” Came Nab’s voice from some distance away. “I can’t hear a thing behind these rocks.” As the realization of that struck her, Donna heard heavy breathing very close behind her. She gasped and turned around. But, instead of a monster, an old black man stood before her. He was dressed in filthy jeans, a worn jumper and had a very long scarf wrapped around him. “Oh, you gave me quite a start, mate. Are you alright?” Donna asked sympathetically. In answer, the old man raised his arms, and let out a loud shout, like the roar of a lion. Nab came running from the rocks. “It’s one’a them creatures again, Donna! Run!” he shouted, as he scooped up the torch and brandished at the stranger. Donna merely turned and stared at Nab, open-mouthed. “What are you on about? It’s just some poor old man.” She said to him, “Leave im’ alone! Meanwhile the old man backed away from the flaring torch being waved at him. He began to growl like a frightened animal. Donna ran over and grabbed the torch away from Nab. “Stop it, I said! You’re scaring him!” She scolded. Nab looked at Donna as if she’d suddenly become one of the creatures. “Have you gone off to la-la land, Donna? How’re we going to protect ourselves, now?” he cried, trying to grab the torch back from her. “Oh, leave off!” Donna said, as she stepped away from him. “He’s just a harmless old man, can’t you see that?” “I can see alright, Donna. I can see that your lights’re on, but no one seems to be home, is what I can see.” Nab retorted, backing away from her. Looking at him, Donna suddenly thought that maybe she was seeing one thing, and Nab another. She gave him a curious look. “Nab, tell me what you see.” she said. “A great big flippin’ man-cat, is what I see! Shaped like a man, but with fur like a lion, with huge claws and fangs. And, if you don’t get outta’ there Donna, I reckon I’ll be seein’ ‘im havin’ you for his dinner!” “That’s not what I see, Nab. I see a tall old man, in an filthy tan jumper and jeans, wearing a very long blue and grey stripped scarf.” Nab stopped dead, his face suddenly frozen in disbelief. “What? But that can’t be, no way!” he exclaimed. “What? What can’t be, Nab?” Donna asked. “Do you know this bloke?” “It’s impossible, but the description you gave, sounds like old Daniel, a mate of mine.” Donna turned to the man, who was now backed against the side of the cliff, starting fearfully at the flaming torch. He still made low, growling noises at the back of his throat. Donna handed the torch to Nab, and slowly approached the old man. “It’s alright,” she said gently, “I’m not going to hurt you, Daniel. That’s your name, isn’t it? Daniel?” The old man flinched and gave another low growl. Donna stopped a short way away from him. “It’s OK, Daniel, I won’t come any closer. I just want to talk to you, yeah? You’re not a monster, Daniel. You’re a man. No one changed you into a cat, it’s all in your head. You’re still you.” She gestured towards Nab. “That’s your mate over there, holding the torch. You remember one of your best mates, yeah? Nab? Remember Nab? You were both homeless, in London.” Suddenly, the old man’s face changed. He still seemed afraid, but now he also looked very confused. He kept looking from Nab to Donna, and back to Nab again. “Na—Nab?” he said faintly, then looked down at his arms and hands. With relief in his eyes, he stared at Donna, “I’m—I’m not a monster, am I? I’m still me?” he asked Donna. “Oh my God, it really is him!” Donna heard Nab exclaim from behind her. “It’s Daniel!” Suddenly, the old man clutched his chest, and gave a cry of pain. He collapsed at Donna’s feet. “It’s that old heart of his,” Nab exclaimed, “the hospital told him he had a bad pump. I guess all of this was just too much for Daniel. Can’t you help him, Donna?” “Just you watch me!” Donna shouted, as she knelt beside the old man. She felt for his pulse, and after a long minute, found a faint flutter. “Right,” Donna said determinedly, “here’s where that Red Cross CPR class mum made me sign up for, finally pays off.” Donna proceeded to try to get Daniel’s heart going again, while Nab hovered nearby, muttering anxiously to himself. Donna felt for a pulse again. There was none. Swearing under her breath, she redoubled her efforts, totally oblivious to all else. Suddenly, a hand fell on her shoulder. “Not now, Nab!” she spat out angrily, not taking her attention off what she was doing. “I can do this! I know I can. Come on Daniel, breathe!” “I”m sorry, I’m so, so sorry Donna, but he’s gone. There’s nothing you can do.” came a familiar voice from over her shoulder. Donna froze, staring at Daniel’s dead body. Then she launched herself up and into the arms of the Doctor. Grinning from ear to ear, he gave her a big hug. “Where the devil have you been?” She scolded him joyfully. “Oh never mind,” she rambled on, “I’m just really glad to see you!” “Awwww–Hullo, Donna! It’s good to see you, too.” He grinned, as he pried her out of his arms. “Who’s this then?” Nab asked, sorrowing over his friend, and also looking completely bewildered. “Is this that mate of yours, you were telling me about, Donna?” Suddenly, came a distant voice echoing from the rocks. It wasn’t a human voice. “Ex-termin-ate! Ex-termin-ate!” “What in the blazes is that?” Nab exclaimed. The Doctor looked at him soberly. “Believe me, you really don’t want to know. Because every scary experience you’ve had, right up to now, will be nothing compared to what happens next.” The Doctor said omniously.
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