Doctor Who_ Blue Box Part 18

FOR G.o.d'S SAKE TALK TO ME.'

'Get lost, Luis!'

The Doctor picks up the unlit torch, ducks back into the living room, and thrusts it into the fireplace. He hastens back to the cave, where this and Swan are arguing.

The door opens into a large cavern. A river runs through the east part of the cave. Fionnuala is here. Luis is here.

The Doctor types 'Look Luis'. The computer responds: Luis is just a grey figure, an outline

without any details.

'it's gone,' says Luis. 'did you take it?? tell me!'

'You should have been more careful,' says Swan. 'Anyone could have got into your apartment and discovered it.'

'u have to give it back!'

'Luis, get out of here.

'give it back!!!!!!'

'I'll talk to you later.'

'GVIE IT BAK OR I'LL KILL U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

Everything stops, for an interminable moment, on that agonised, muddled threat. The Doctor thumps the keys.

Nothing. It's as though the intensity of Luis's need and fury has brought the computer world to a halt.

Then Swan speaks again.

Sorry about that. I kicked him out.

The Doctor types furiously.

What's happened to your friend, Swan? Is he always like that?

A long pause. Then:

Maybe it gives you an idea how determined I am to hang onto what I've got.

Goodbye.

The Doctor grunts in anger, bangs the counter, and pounds out:

Wait!

But she doesn't.

The Doctor and Bob tried to squeeze information out of the computer. Swan was gone, and just as both sides had planned, there was no way to trace one another. Luis, on the other hand, didn't give a d.a.m.n about covering his tracks. The Doctor and Bob were tracking him through the network, using the genie to poke around in the guts of the mud's software. When suddenly:

You are standing in a large cavern. A river runs through the east part of the cave. Luis is here. Luis is just e grey figure, an outline without any details.

'Oh, good grief,' said the Doctor. A brief struggle ensued over who was going to use the keyboard, which the Doctor won.

Luis, we need to talk. I need your help.

The silhouette stood motionless on the other side of the cave. 'Where's Swan?'

'I don't know,' the Doctor said. 'I have to find her.'

'She needs help. That thing is affecting her mind. You're a Doctor. You have to get it away from her.'

'I intend to. But I need to know more.' There was a pause, as though Luis was trying to decide how much to tell us.

'Where did you get it?' prompted the Doctor.

Ritchie ... w MD ... National Pike

Bob scribbled it down on his arm. The Doctor asked, 'How did you find it?'

Swan and I @ collector s meeting.

'Can you put me in touch with whoever sold you the item?'

An address crept across the screen.

'Luis: try to stay away from Swan.'

I have to find her. She needs help.

The Doctor scratched at his forehead with his thumbnail. 'I wish I could tell him that the craving he's feeling will pa.s.s.

But it's possible his brain has already been permanently restructured.'

'You're not talking about brainwas.h.i.+ng, are you,' said Peri. 'You mean more like brain surgery.'

'I'm afraid I do.'

There was something so fundamentally vile and butcher's-shop about that. For a moment, I could actually believe that aliens were behind the whole thing, monsters who were happy to play with the most private of human offal.

'This guy should be in the hospital,' said Bob.

'I doubt very much that they would be able to help him.'

The Doctor typed, 'Stay put. I give you my word we will track down Swan and take the stolen goods away from her.'

You have to give it back to me.