Doctor Who: The Zarbi by Bill Strutton Read Free Book Online

raised a hand for silence. He turned to Barbara.
    His straight mouth opened and his stilted voice addressed her.
    ‘You say you are lost. That there are three others.’
    Barbara nodded. ‘Yes, we...’
    ‘... yet we found you - wandering alone. How?’
    Barbara tried to think. She said, hesitating, ‘I only know that... after we landed, two of our party went to explore, and...’
    ‘Explore...!’ A Menoptera repeated, hostile, scornful.
    ‘.. the last thing I remember was being in the ship, and the doors opening...’
    Vrestin stared closely at her. ‘Ship?’
    ‘Yes. I... stayed aboard. But... something... made the doors open. All I can recall since then... is...’ she gestured helplessly, ‘... is... well, I was here...’
    The most hostile of the four Menoptera thrust forward and gripped the shoulder of the tall one they called Vrestin. ‘We waste time and risk much! Kill her! Now!’
     
    Vrestin hesitated. Another Menoptera came close. Its eyes studied her. Its voice was reedy, hoarse.
    ‘You chose ill, when you chose to land on Vortis.’
    ‘Hrostar is right!’
    ‘We didn’t choose !’ Barbara cried. ‘Our ship was pulled towards... this planet. We are helpless here!’
    The Menoptera looked at each other.
    The one called Hrostar spoke.
    ‘If we let you go back to your ship...’
    ‘No!’ The other interrupted. ‘A stranger must not be trusted!’
    Their leader Vrestin shook his head too. ‘The Zarbi will treat them as enemies. If we refuse our help they will not survive.’
    ‘Their welfare is not our concern!’ The most hostile of these creatures pointed the spar he held at Barbara. ‘She was under the force of the Zarbi!’ He rounded accusingly on Vrestin. ‘What made you snatch her from them?’
    Vrestin glared back at his glowering companion.
    ‘Challis — should we all shrink back into the dark while such vile things as the Zarbi practise their power on...
    civilized creatures?’
    ‘The... Zarbi?’ Barbara asked. ‘W-who... are they, please?
    Hrostar stared suspiciously. ‘You do not know them?
    You did not see them?’
    Barbara shook her head timidly.
    ‘The Zarbi have brought the Dark Age to Vortis,’
    Vrestin said simply. ‘They have overrun it like a plague.
    And like a plague, they destroy every living thing in their path.’
    The hostile Challis grew impatient. ‘Vrestin, she is a danger to us!’
    Vrestin nodded regretfully. ‘I know.’
    The finality with which he said that scared Barbara. His was the only kindly face which looked down upon her, and now it hardened. Vrestin turned, beckoning to the others.
    ‘Please!’ Barbara pleaded. ‘We... we only want to get away from here! These... Zarbi you’re afraid of — perhaps we can, well, — help you...!
    Challis sneered in amazement.
    ‘You?’
    ‘Our men have great gifts... wisdom... experience..
    knowledge.’
    Hrostar drew himself up haughtily. ‘You dare to believe you can withstand the Zarbi? That your wisdom is greater than ours? The Menoptera are the greatest civilization this galaxy has known, yet the Zarbi swept it from this planet!
    Their power was invincible...!’
    ‘... they laid our greatness in... ashes,’ Vrestin added in a murmur.
    Challis interrupted them, his high-pitched voice rising to a frenzied shriek. ‘If we are to restore it, we cannot risk betrayal! Let her go and she will tell the Zarbi where they can find us!’
    Vrestin and Hrostar considered that doubtfully.
    ‘Please, I... promise I will not!’ Barbara urged them.
    ‘What are promises? They will extort it from her! And what proof have we of what she says? Killing her is the only answer!’
    The fourth Menoptera, lingering in the background and keeping a watchful eye on the cave entrance, murmured his agreement.
    Vrestin hesitated, inclined his head.
    He said curtly, ‘We shall decide the matter. Come.
    Challis, you will guard.’
    The idea pleased the hostile Challis. He moved quickly and took up a grim stance with a