Contents

Earthlight 7

Across the Abyss 21

The Secret of the Cavern 33

The Hand of Fear 43

Escape to Danger 55

Restart 67

The Way to Dusty Death 81

Crystal Clear 91

Dust to Dust 99

Sentence of Death 107

Earthlight

The dead dust stirred in the Earthlight. Despite

the fact there was no air, and there could be

no breeze, the fine particles were swept up

and spun round, floating lazily in front of Earth

hanging low in the dark sky.

The dust had been thrown up by a sudden weight

pressing into the ground. Anyone watching across

the cold, grey, dead lunar landscape would have

seen an upright blue box slowly materialise. It was

the only splash of bright colour, other than planet

Earth watching from above.

The TARDIS had arrived on the moon.

Deep below the grey dusty surface, Clinton

Seymour checked the readings on the controls he

was monitoring. He reached for a microphone.

'Professor Dollund? We have an arrival. Just

turned up in Sector 8.'

The professor's gruff voice echoed through a

speaker in the control panel. 'Why didn't you

warn me?'

'Sorry, sir. Didn't see him coming. It's like...'

Seymour gave a short laugh. 'It's like the ship just

faded into existence up there. Funny-looking

craft, actually.'

Professor Dollund was not amused. 'Well,

don't keep them hanging around. They could be

important. Especially if they've got shielding — that

suggests military. Give them a bubble.'

' D o i n g it now,' Seymour confirmed as he

adjusted a control. The main screen in front of

him showed a graphic of the lunar surface. An

empty rectangular box rested on the landscape. As

Seymour worked, a new line bulged up from the

landscape, arcing upwards in a semi circle as it

formed a large bubble over the box.

' O K , w h o e v e r y o u are,' S e y m o u r s a i d

quietly. 'You've got air.'

The Doctor stood outside the TARDIS and looked

up at Earth.

'Well, I was close,' he said. 'Wonder what

drew the TARDIS off course.' He took a deep

breath of impossible air and smacked his lips

together in appreciation. 'Loads of questions,' he

told himself. 'Absolutely loads.'

He turned in a full circle, his feet kicking up

dust and coating his sneakers grey. 'This way,' he

decided. He walked carefully, in a bouncing,

skimming motion. The Moon's low gravity meant

he only weighed a sixth of what he did on Earth.

The Doctor had gone about twenty paces when

he hit the wall. It was hard, and smooth, and

invisible. 'Or m a y b e not this way,' he said

indistinctly, rubbing his nose. He stepped back and

kicked a smattering of dust in the air, watching

a s t h e line o f t h e w a l l w a s p i c k e d o u t i n

grey particles.

'Force bubble,' the Doctor decided. 'Might be

for my benefit.' Just in case it was, he shouted,

Thank you — much appreciated!'

As if in reply, a square of black opened in the

ground a few metres away. He could just make out

metal steps leading down into the darkness.

Lights snapped on as the Doctor started down

the steps. His feet clanged on the metal, and he

could feel himself getting heavier. He must be

walking down into an artificial gravity field.

By the time he reached the bottom, the

Doctor was back to his normal Earth weight. He

was not surprised to find that there were people

waiting for him.

There was a middle-aged man with grey hair, and

a young woman whose long blonde hair was tied in

a pony tail. Both were wearing dusty overalls.

'Welcome to Survey Four,' the man said.

'Thanks.' The Doctor grinned.

'We weren't expecting you,' the young

woman confessed.

'That's all right. Unannounced inspection,'

the Doctor said. 'You're not supposed to

expect me.' He flashed his wallet of psychic paper,

knowing it would tell them he was some

important official.

The man swallowed as he read what he saw on

the paper. 'Doctor Smith, from the Bureau of

Alien Technology.'

'How did you know?' the woman asked nervously.

'We know everything,' the Doctor told her.

He tapped the side of his nose and winked.

Absolutely everything. So you'd better leave

nothing out when you tell me all about it. Start at

the beginning, go on to the end, then stop. And

assume I know nothing at all about who you are or

what you're doing here on the Moon.'

The woman's name was Bobby (short for Roberta)

Goodman, and she was an archaeologist. The man

was Professor Dollund, and he told the Doctor he

was in charge of Survey Four.

'Surveying what?' the Doctor asked. 'Assume I

know nothing, remember,' he added quickly.

D o l l u n d led the D o c t o r t h r o u g h n a r r o w

metal-lined corridors as he explained. 'With such

a shortage of minerals and metal ores back on

Earth, the big corporations think it's worth mining

the Moon.'

'So you're surveying possible sites for the mines,'

the Doctor realized.

'And turning up some interesting stuff,' Bobby said.

'Though nothing alien. At least, not until now'

'Bobby's here to keep you people happy,

really,' Dollund said. 'They wanted an expert ready

on site, just in case.'

' Y o u can never be too careful,' the Doctor

agreed cheerfully. He noticed that Bobby and the

professor exchanged glances.

'You'd better come into the main control room

and see what we've found,' Dollund said.

He led the Doctor and Bobby along another

corridor which ended in a large circular door.

There was a big locking wheel in the middle of it.

An airlock.

'Just a precaution,' Bobby said. 'There's some minor

seismic activity in this area. If we get an earthquake it

might rupture the seal on one of the tunnels.'

'You should call it a Moonquake. Why not use

force bubbles, like you extruded on the surface for

me?' the Doctor asked as he stepped into the large

control room.

There was a young man sitting at the main

control desk. He stood up as the Doctor entered.

'Force bubbles take too much power,' the young

man said, hearing the Doctor's question. 'I've

already deflated the one round your ship and

recycled the air into the main tunnels.'

'Good idea,' the Doctor said cheerily. But

he knew that meant he couldn't get back to the

TARDIS. He was stuck here, until Goodman and

her friends decided he could leave. Hopefully, that

wouldn't be a problem.

T h e y o u n g m a n i n t r o d u c e d h i m s e l f a s

Clinton S e y m o u r , t h e c h i e f t e c h n i c i a n .

He beckoned the Doctor over and showed him the

main screen.

'Here it is,' he said. 'This green light is the problem.'

The screen showed a green light blinking on

and off. Three blue lines pointed down at different

angles. As the Doctor watched he saw that the lines

were moving very slowly towards the light.

'Those are the robot drills,' Seymour explained.

One of the lines was almost touching the light. It

was labelled 'Drill B', and like the others the speed

of the drill was given along with more information.

'Drill B will get there first,' Bobby said.

'I don't think so,' the Doctor replied, and he told

them why.

'The tunnels are automatically checked for leaks

and pressurised as they're dug,' Dollund said. 'As

soon as a drill reaches it, we can go and see what

we've got.'

'And what have we got?' the Doctor asked.

'Who knows,' Bobby said. 'Power source of

some kind. Henderson, he's the chief mining

engineer, wondered if it might be a large deposit

of quartz.'

'It is crystalline,' Dollund said. 'We can tell that

at least.'

The line on the screen touched the light, and a

message flashed up:

Objective Reached by Drill C

'You see, I was right,' the Doctor said. He

was checking some of the readings on the other

controls. 'I don't think it's natural, whatever it is.

Certainly not quartz. Could be what drew the

TARDIS off course,' he added quietly.

' G o o d j o b w e h a v e s o m e o n e f r o m t h e

Bureau of Alien Technology here,' Dollund said.

'Isn't it,' the Doctor murmured. 'Isn't it just.'

Seymour r e a c h e d f o r a m i c r o p h o n e

extending from the console on a flexible stalk.

'Henderson, what have you got down there?'

T h e r e w a s a crackle of static f r o m t h e

speakers, then a man's voice replied.

'It's incredible. Some sort of chamber. The drill's

broken through into a vast cavern. Looks like

whatever is down here is buried under the dust.

Bobby — you there?'

'I'm here,' she replied. What is it?'

' I d o n ' t w a n t t o u s e t h e drill, w e m i g h t

damage whatever it is. I suggest you bring along

your bag of tricks.'

'Good idea,' Bobby replied. 'We'll do this the

old-fashioned way..

'What's the old-fashioned way?' the Doctor

wondered as the speaker clicked off.

'Trowel and brush. Standard archaeology,'

Bobby told him.

'After all,' Dollund said, 'we have no idea what's

really down there.'

'No,' the Doctor agreed. 'No idea at all.' He

grinned at the professor. 'Exciting, isn't it?!'

Across

the Abyss

'You'd better stay here and keep an eye on things,'

Professor Dollund said to Clinton Seymour.

'Will do,' the young man replied. 'If you need

anything, give me a shout.'

Bobby led the way out of the control room and

down a narrow corridor to what looked like the

doors to a lift. She pressed a button, and the

doors opened.

Inside was a small metal chamber, just big

enough for the Doctor, Bobby and Professor

Dollund to squeeze inside.

'This is cosy,' the Doctor remarked.

'Elevator capsule,' Dollund explained. 'It will

take us to the bottom of the main shaft.'

'And what then?'

'Then we have to walk through the tunnels

we've drilled,' Bobby said. 'Won't take long.

Don't worry, they're all air tight.'

'I wasn't worried,' the Doctor assured her,

grinning. 'I don't worry. Well, not often. Should I

be worried?' he checked.

Bobby didn't answer. She pressed a button on

the wall and the elevator capsule dropped quickly

down the shaft.

'What if we get stuck?' the Doctor asked cheerfully.

'There's a maze of tunnels criss-crossing the

whole of this area,' Bobby told him. 'It would take

a while, but we'd be able to walk back up to the

main living area near the surface.'

'Assuming we could get out of this tin can,' the

Doctor said, rapping his knuckles on the metal wall.

After a few more seconds, the elevator capsule

slowed and then stopped. The doors slid open to

reveal a tunnel. It had been cut from the rock, the

walls were craggy and uneven. A line of puddles

of light stretched into the distance. Every so often

there was a metal bracing beam across the ceiling of

the tunnel, holding the roof up. Each of the struts

had a spotlight fixed to it, shining down at the

tunnel floor.

'This takes us to a natural fissure,' Professor

Dollund said. 'It's about a fifteen minute walk from

there to the drill shaft.'

'And then it's down hill all the way,' the Doctor said.

'Shouldn't be too steep,' Bobby told him.

He nodded. 'Still, wish I'd brought my roller skates.'

The tunnel sloped down very gently, and after a

while turned slowly to the left. Finally, it opened

out into a wide ravine, the roof so high the Doctor

couldn't even see it. There were lights fixed to the

ragged walls to guide them.

Bobby led the way through the ravine. She

stopped when she reached a part where the side

walls disappeared. In front of them was a sheer

drop into a deep abyss. A narrow strip of rock

extended across to the other side, where the

ravine continued.

'Not much of a bridge,' the Doctor observed.

'Best we can do, I'm afraid,' Bobby said. 'At least

we don't have to lug all the equipment down here.

Henderson and his assistant Lisa sent that down in

a pod attached to the drill.'

'I'll go first,' Professor Dollund said. He was

holding a device that looked a bit like a pocket

calculator. 'The readings say it will take our weight.'

'Haven't you been across here before?' the

Doctor asked.

'No need,' Dollund said. 'The drills have only

just got past this point. It's only been vacuum-sealed

for a few minutes. We're lucky to have the gravity at

Earth normal.' He put one foot on the bridge.

The Doctor was frowning. 'You mean you've

only this minute adjusted the gravity in this area?'

'What's the matter?' Bobby asked. 'Feeling

light-headed?'

There was a clatter of stones falling into the abyss.

The professor paused half way across the bridge.

'Actually, it doesn't feel that stable,' he said.

'Get across now!' the Doctor yelled. 'Don't

dawdle — just run.'

'What?'

'Run!'

T h e p r o f e s s o r l o o k e d c o n f u s e d , b u t h e

hurried across the narrow rock bridge. He had

almost got to the other side when there was a

tremendous cracking sound, and the rock split

across the middle. The two pieces of bridge

toppled into the abyss. The professor flung himself

forwards, just managing to grab hold of the edge of

the tunnel floor.

'Don't look down,' Bobby shouted as the

professor clung desperately to the edge. 'Can you

pull yourself up?'

The professor's hands were slipping. His fingers

were losing their grip.

The Doctor pulled his coat off, bundled it into a

ball and flung it across the gap.

'How's that help?' Bobby demanded.

'It doesn't,' he told her. 'But this does.' He backed

up along the tunnel. Then he started to run.

'Doctor — you'll never make it!' Bobby yelled.

The Doctor reached the edge and leaped into

space. His legs were still running, his arms flailing.

He crashed into the far side of the abyss, close to

where the professor was dangling. But the Doctor

was slightly higher, his hands had a better grip and

he managed to haul himself up into the tunnel.

Then he reached down and grabbed the professor's

hands, dragging him up too.

'Thank you, Doctor,' the professor gasped. 'What

went wrong? The readings said it would be OK.'

'Yes,' the Doctor said. 'But they assumed lunar

gravity — which is one sixth of Earth's. And now

you've adjusted it to Earth normal.'

The professor nodded. 'So I weighed six times as

much as the readings were assuming.'

Too much for the bridge to hold,' the Doctor agreed.

'So how do I get over there?' Bobby called. 'I'm

not jumping — you only just made it.'

'Oh it'll be easy for you,' the Doctor called

back. 'Tell Clinton to lower the gravity to lunar

levels again, just till you're across. It's a simple jump

at one sixth normal gravity.'

He was right. With the gravity reduced, Bobby

made the jump easily — landing several metres

further down the tunnel.

'Whahey!' she exclaimed. 'That was fun.'

'Better put the gravity back to Earth normal

though,' the Doctor said. 'Otherwise we'll be

bouncing about when we walk and banging our

heads on the ceiling.'

They completed the journey without further

incident. The ravine became narrower and lower,

and finally they found themselves in an open area

where the drill had been set up.

Cables and pipes snaked down a shallow incline

where the drill had done its work. The path it

had gouged out of the rock and dust was almost

circular, and they had to walk down in single file.

The slope wasn't too steep, but even so they had to

be careful not to slip or to bump into each other

as they went. Lights were strung up on a cable that

was riveted to the roof.

'Not far now,' Bobby called back over her shoulder.

T h e D o c t o r w a s at the back, b e h i n d the

professor, and he paused to examine the tunnel

wall. It wasn't hard rock like earlier, but compacted

dust. He drew his finger along the uneven surface

and it came away coated with fine grey powder.

'Wouldn't like to have to spring clean down

here,' he murmured, before hurrying to catch up.

The tunnel became shallower as they reached the

end, and opened into a vast cavern. The roof was so

high up the light didn't reach it.

The Doctor whistled. 'This is impressive.'

'Must be a natural formation,' Bobby said. 'Have

you ever seen anything like it?'

'Can't say I have,' the professor said.

'Oh loads of times,' the Doctor told them.

'No, no — y o u go ahead and gawp. E n j o y

yourselves. But I've done this sort of thing before.

Impressive, but not unique.'

The cavern was lit by lamps that stood on metal

tripods at intervals. There were two figures in the

distance, pushing one of the large tripods into an

upright position and adjusting the light on the top.

'There's Henderson,' Bobby said. And Lisa.'

'Lisa Summerton is our junior engineer,' the

professor told the Doctor. 'Come and meet them.

Let's see what they've found.'

Henderson was a short m a n with an

impressive moustache. His dark hair was streaked

with grey — though whether that was because of

his age or from the dust that was everywhere, the

Doctor couldn't tell.

Lisa Summerton had close-cropped hair, and the

Doctor could see a tattoo of a butterfly on her arm

where her short-sleeved overalls ended. Both the

engineers looked hot from their work.

'This is it,' Henderson said, leading them over

to one wall of the cavern. 'The drill broke through

into this chamber, and we've sent all three drills

back up shaft A by remote control.'

L i s a h a d a d e v i c e similar to t h e o n e t h e

professor had used to check the rock bridge. She

held it in front of the wall of the cavern. 'The

energy source, whatever it is, seems to be less than

a metre behind this wall.'

'May I?' The Doctor took the device from her

and examined the readings. He tapped the screen,

shook the device, held it sideways and squinted at

it through his glasses. Then he licked it. 'I think

you're right,' he agreed. 'And it does seem to be

crystalline, doesn't it. And definitely alien,' he added.

'I'm sorry,' Lisa said, taking back her device. 'But

who are you?'

'He's from the Bureau of Alien Technology,'

Professor Dollund said.

'From BAT?' Henderson was impressed.

'Which I guess makes me the BAT man,' the

Doctor said with a grin. 'But you can just call me

the Doctor.'

'So what do you think it is, Doctor?' Bobby asked.

The Doctor examined the wall. He tapped it

and rubbed at it. Grey dust flaked off and fell to

the floor.

'I have your tools here, Bobby,' Lisa said. She

pointed to a large rucksack lying nearby.

'Thanks. I'll get a brush and a trowel,' Bobby said.

'You know, I don't think that'll be necessary,' the

Doctor told her. He was digging his hands into the

wall and gouging out handfuls of the grey dust. 'It's

just coming away, look. Soon see what's inside...

Like a lucky dip, or a bran tub — you ever done

that? Oh.'

The Doctor was standing absolutely still, staring

at the wall where he had been working.

'What is it, Doctor?' the professor asked.

'Well...' The Doctor stepped back so they

could all see.

The wall was a grey mass, hollowed out where

the Doctor had been scooping out the dust.

And from the middle of the hollow something

was poking out into the cavern.

'Is that what I think it is?' Lisa asked nervously.

'I'm afraid so,' the Doctor said. It's a hand.

A human hand.'

The Secret of

the Cavern

Nervously, Bobby reached out and touched the

hand that was poking out of the grey wall of

dust. It was cold, like stone.

'It isn't real,' she said. 'It's a statue or something.'

'Well, that's a relief,' the Doctor said, grinning.

'You knew, didn't you?'

'Knew it wasn't anyone I'd met,' he said. 'Though

there is something familiar about the fingernails.'

'It's exquisitely carved,' Professor Dollund said.

He leaned forward to peer at the hand. 'Is it stone,

do you suppose?'

'Careful,' Bobby said, as the professor tapped at

the back of the hand with his fingertips.

T h e r e w a s a l o u d c r a c k , a n d t h e h a n d

dropped away, sheared off at the wrist. With

lightning-fast reactions, the Doctor caught it

before it hit the ground.

'That was...' Lisa said, impressed.

'Handy?' the Doctor finished for her. 'Here you

go.' He gave the broken hand to Bobby.

'I need to get this preserved,' she said. 'I've got a

specimen box in my toolkit. I'd like to get it back

to the main base and run an analysis. I'd like to

fetch some equipment too. This wall is so soft I

think a vacuum hose would be more use and do

less damage than a brush and trowel.'

'Is there a different way back?' Dollund asked

Henderson. 'We had a bit of bother on the way

down here.'

'What happened?'

'Oh nothing much,' the Doctor told him.

' C o l l a p s i n g rock bridge, possible fall into

bottomless crevasse, long jump over the abyss.

Usual sort of thing, really.'

Henderson and Lisa looked at him, neither sure

if he was joking or serious.

'So another way back would be useful,' the

professor prompted.

'Oh, yes,' Henderson said. 'We can take the

secondary shaft. It's a bit further but it'll get us back

to the elevator capsule a different way.'

Bobby opened her rucksack and rummaged

around inside. She pulled out a clear plastic box.

'Sandwiches?' the Doctor asked.

But she didn't answer. She opened the lid and

put the hand inside. It almost filled the box.

'It's not air tight,' she explained. 'But it will do

until we can get the hand up to the control room.'

'I'll take it back to Clinton, and he can start

analysing it,' Professor Dollund said. 'You can

make a start down here. We still haven't found that

energy source.'

'Oh, it's in there somewhere,' the Doctor told

him. 'Tell you what, I'll come with you. I could

do with a bit of exercise, and you can explain a bit

more about what you're up to here and how your

survey is going.'

'I'll be glad of the company, to tell you the

truth,' Dollund agreed. He pushed the box with

the hand into his own rucksack and swung it up on

to his back

'We'll make a start,' Bobby said. 'We can brush

away some of the surface dust and dirt. But if

you can bring back the vacuum hoses, that'll be

a big help.'

The journey passed quickly with Professor

Dollund giving the Doctor rather more detail than

he wanted about the survey. In fact, the Doctor

was more interested in what Clinton Seymour's

analysis of the broken hand would say, but he didn't

tell the professor that.

T h e y s o o n arrived b a c k a t the elevator

capsule, arriving from a tunnel on the other side

of it this time. The journey had indeed been

longer, but a much easier walk through gently

sloping tunnels with rough rock walls.

Bobby had called ahead to tell Clinton what

was happening, and the young technician was

waiting for them when the capsule arrived back

in the main base. He led them back to the main

control room.

'Can't wait to get a look at this hand thing,'

Clinton said. 'I've set things up so we can run a few

tests. Spectrographic analysis and that sort of thing.

Carbon dating too. With luck we can find out what

it's made of and how old it is.'

'The hand is in here,' Professor Dollund said,

swinging his rucksack off his back and setting it

down on a workbench at the side of the room. He

unzipped the rucksack, and lifted out the clear

plastic box.

It was empty.

The Doctor and Dollund stared at the box.

'Well, where is it?' Clinton asked, not realising

anything was wrong. He reached into the rucksack

and felt round inside. lust dust in here. The stuff

gets everywhere.'

'It's gone,' Dollund said, shaking his head in

disbelief. 'It was in there. In that box.'

'What?' Clinton said.

'He's right,' the Doctor confirmed. 'Bobby put

the hand in the box, and the professor put it in his

rucksack. No one has taken it out, and the box was

sealed. Now it's empty.'

'Well, apart from some dust,' Clinton said,

s t a r i n g i n t o t h e b o x . ' I t o l d y o u , i t g e t s everywhere.'

'Never mind the dust,' Professor Dollund

protested. 'What's happened to the hand?'

Before anyone could answer, there was a

bleeping sound from the main control console.

'That's B o b b y c a l l i n g in,' C l i n t o n said,

hurrying to operate a control. 'Clinton here. You'll

never guess what's happened.'

'Never mind that.' Bobby's voice was clear and

loud through the speakers. 'Is the Doctor there?'

'I'm here,' he replied. What is it?'

'We were talking, discussing how best to

approach the excavation without damaging

w h a t e v e r is inside t h e r o c k a n d dust. It's

obviously fragile.'

'Obviously,' the Doctor said. He had his glasses on

and was examining the almost empty plastic box.

'So we were looking through my tools, waiting

for those vacuum hoses. Then we went back to look

again at the wall...' Her voice tailed off.

'And?' the Doctor prompted. 'What did you find?'

'We found the hand,' Bobby said. 'The hand you

took with you. It's back. Sticking out of the wall,

just like it was before.'

'That's good,' the Doctor said slowly.

'Good? Why is that good?'

'Because we were sort of wondering where it had

gone,' the Doctor said. 'Don't touch anything. We'll

be back with those vacuum hoses in two shakes of a

lamb's tail. Actually, make that three shakes. We'll

come the long way again.'

The v a c u u m hoses were thick plastic tubes

connected to a small metal cylinder. Dust was

sucked through the tubes, and sprayed out of a

hole at the back of the cylinder.

Bobby set to work with one of the hoses,

working her way carefully round the hand that

once again extended from the wall of dust and

dirt. Professor Dollund and Lisa watched while

Henderson adjusted controls on the cylinder.

Beside her, the Doctor was peering through his

glasses, pointing to areas he wanted uncovered. It

was a slow job, but before long they had removed

enough of the wall to reveal that the hand was

attached to a wrist. And an arm.

'How extraordinary,' Professor Dollund said.

'It must have been here for centuries, yet this

statue, or whatever it will turn out to be, seems

human. And it seems to be wearing a suit.'

They took it in turns to operate the hoses,

gradually uncovering more and more of the figure

embedded in the wall of the enormous cavern. A

grey statue, exactly the same colour and texture as

the Moon dust around it, but hard as coal.

'Here's something else,' Lisa said. S h e w a s

moving the hose gently across the figure's chest.

On its lowest setting it was gently sucking dust and

debris from where the man's tie would be.

But instead something glittered as it caught the

light. Something about the size and shape of an

egg, but faceted like a jewel.

'Crystalline,' Professor Dollund said. 'That

could be our energy source. We should call

Clinton up in the control room and see if he's

getting a stronger reading.'

'In a minute,' Bobby said. 'See if you can get it

free first.'

'I w o u l d n ' t try,' H e n d e r s o n said as L i s a

gently tugged at the transparent crystal. 'We've

been excavating from the bottom of the wall,

disturb it too much too suddenly and the whole lot

could come down.'

'Like taking a tin of beans from the bottom

of the pile,' the Doctor said. 'I've tried that. Not

recommended.'

'I think it's coming,' Lisa said. just give me a second.'

But she didn't have a second. With a sudden

roar, the whole side of the wall above her slipped

and collapsed. The Doctor grabbed Lisa's arm,

dragging her clear as dust and soil and rock

avalanched down.

They stood coughing and spluttering as the dust

slowly settled. The light struggled through as the

air cleared, revealing the statue standing in front of

them, free of the wall at last. For the first time, they

could see its head. They could see its face.

'That's not possible,' Bobby gasped, wiping dust

from her eyes and blinking at the grey figure in

front of them.

'No wonder that hand looked a bit familiar,' the

Doctor said quietly.

The figure standing in front of them — the

figure made of dusty rock that had been buried

for centuries — stared back impassively. With the

Doctor now coated with grey dust, it was like

looking in a mirror.

The statue was wearing a suit. It had spiky

hair and thin features. Except for the crystal

gleaming at its throat, it was the exact image of

the Doctor.

T h e Hand of Fear

Clinton Seymour watched the energy readings

change. They increased slightly and he guessed

that Bobby and the others had uncovered the

power source — whatever it was.

There was a thin layer of fine dust across the top

of the main console where he was working. He

brushed it away with the back of his hand.

The communicator beeped, and Clinton

answered. 'Hey there — what's going on? The

power source readings are increasing. You found

something?'

'You could say that,' Henderson's voice replied.

We've used the vacuum hoses to uncover what

seems to be a statue.'

'Cool!' Clinton said. 'It must have been buried

there for centuries.'

'The thing is,' Henderson went on, 'this statue...

well — it's a statue of the Doctor.'

'What?' There was another thin layer of fine dust

across the top of the main console, and Clinton

again brushed it away with the back of his hand.

'But that's impossible.'

'Isn't it just?' the Doctor's voice answered. 'It's

a good likeness though. I'm very pleased with it.

Looking good.'

Y e t a n o t h e r t h i n l a y e r o f f i n e dust h a d

appeared across the top of the console. Irritated,

Clinton swept it away once more. Then he frowned,

realising he had already done this twice before.

'That's odd,' he said.

'What? Something to do with the readings you're

getting?' the Doctor asked.

'No, nothing like that.' Clinton swivelled in his

chair to look at the floor where he'd swept the dust.

'The dust...' He stopped, staring open-mouthed.

The floor was covered in a layer of grey dust. It

was deeper by the side of the console and close to

the door. Clinton looked up, wondering if it was

falling from the ceiling. 'How did that happen?'

'How did what happen?' the Doctor's voice

demanded through the speakers. 'Clinton — what's

going on up there?'

'Oh nothing. Nothing to worry about. Just...'

He gasped in astonishment as he looked back at

the dusty floor. 'OK, now I'm worried.'

'What is it?'

'Doctor — that hand, the one that disappeared?

It's back.'

Bobby was frowning. 'What's he mean?'

'I don't know,' the Doctor said.

Before he could ask, there was a shout of

surprise and fear from the intercom.

'Clinton — Clinton are you all right?' Henderson

shouted.

The shout had subsided to a retching, gasping

sound. The Doctor was running across the cavern.

Henderson hurried after him.

'It might be quicker to take the access tunnel,' he

shouted as he caught the Doctor up. 'If we run.'

'How long?'

Henderson had a device like a calculator, except

on its screen it showed a schematic map of the

tunnels and the base. He examined the screen,

holding it so the Doctor could see.

'Then the answer's obvious,' the Doctor said, as

they ran. 'Lead the way!'

The grey hand from the statue was lying on the

floor when Clinton saw it. He had been speaking

to the Doctor on the intercom, at the same time

stooping down to examine the hand.

He had reached out, carefully, nervously,

towards it.

And the hand jumped. It suddenly extended its

fingers, propelling itself at Clinton's face.

That was when he cried out. The hand was

clamped to his face, cutting off his breathing. He

scrabbled at it, trying to tear it away. He managed

to lever the finger away from his bruised cheeks.

But the hand dropped slightly and the fingers

curled round his throat, choking him.

Clinton was pulling at it with both his own hands.

The hand was cold and hard as stone, clamped on

his windpipe. He managed to work his fingers

underneath. His vision was blurring and misty.

With a last, desperate effort, he prised the hand

away from his neck, and hurled it away.

The hand clattered to the floor. Its fingers

scrabbled in the dust. It dragged itself along by

its fingertips, heading back towards Clinton.

Bracing itself, ready to jump again.

Clinton was looking around, trying to find

anything he could use to defend himself. How did

the thing know where he was — could it see him?

Hear him? Maybe it could smell him? He backed

away behind the main console, trying to hide.

How long he stayed silent and still, crouched

behind the console, he didn't know. Was help

coming? Was the hand still there — still hunting

for him?

He caught a slight m o v e m e n t out of the

corner of his eye. Something grey shimmered as

it caught the light. But it was only dust, blowing

as if in a slight breeze. Cautiously, Clinton stood

up. He looked around carefully, peering into any

shadow or corner where the hand might be hiding.

But he didn't see it until it leaped.

With a gasp of astonishment, Clinton grabbed

the nearest thing to defend himself with — the

chair beside the console. It was heavy, but he was

desperate. He swung the chair in a low arc, right

at the hand.

The hand and the chair met with an impact

that jarred Clinton's arms. He dropped the chair.

T h e h a n d e x p l o d e d i n t o a c l o u d o f d u s t .

Clinton sank to his knees.

At the same m o m e n t the door opened and

the Doctor sprinted in, skidding across the dusty

floor and stopping right in front of Clinton.

Henderson appeared in the doorway behind him,

looking hot and flustered.

We got here as fast as we could,' he said

breathlessly. 'Took the access tunnel and ran all the

way. Now, what seems to be the problem?'

But before Clinton could answer, the intercom

beeped and Lisa's voice came out of the speakers.

'Doctor? Are you there yet? Is everything OK?'

'We're fine,' the Doctor called. And Clinton's

fine too, I think. Just going to tell us all about it.'

'Before he does,' Lisa said, 'there's something

you should know. While we were worrying about

Clinton, something happened to the statue.'

'Let me guess,' Clinton said. 'Its hand's gone

missing again?'

'No, stranger than that. It's changed.'

'Changed?' the Doctor said. 'What do you

mean, changed?'

'I mean it doesn't look like you any more.'

'No accounting for taste,' the Doctor muttered.

Louder he said, 'So, what does it look like?'

It was Bobby's voice that answered. 'It's still

got that crystal in the same place. But the whole

figure is different. I don't understand it. Like Lisa

said, it doesn't look like you, Doctor. It looks

exactly like me.'

Half a galaxy away, on the cold desolate planet

Karagula, a meeting was taking place. Three fig-

ures stood in the central chamber of a vast, sprawl-

ing stone edifice. From the outside it looked like a

gigantic medieval cathedral. Set on a rocky plain,

built into the side of a mountain it looked like it

might have grown there rather than been built.

The high, vaulted ceiling of the chamber was

held up by enormous carved pillars. The conference

table in the centre of the room was like a giant stone

altar. The sign of the dark flame was embossed on

its sides and on its top surface.

The three figures all wore heavy, dark, hooded

cloaks. One was a deep crimson, another purple,

the third grey.

The grey figure spoke. Its voice was like the

brittle, flaking stone that made up the floor and walls.

'You are sure it is the Crystal, Brother Talen?'

The crimson-cloaked figure nodded. 'There can be

no mistake. After all these years, it has been found.'

'We are homing in on the location now,' the

purple-cloaked figure said. 'It is somewhere in

Mutter's Spiral. Soon we will know the star system,

and then the exact position.'

'Thank you, Sister Hellan. You have done well.'

H i g h Minister Drakon, the leader of the

Darksmith Collective folded back his dark grey

hood. Beneath it, his hairless head was like a

skull encased in amber. His pale yellow skin was

translucent, the bone beneath clearly visible.

Veins traced their way through the jelly-like flesh,

throbbing and pumping.

'We have waited for centuries,' he said quietly.

'And now, the waiting is almost over.'

Escape to Danger

While Lisa and Bobby were talking on the

intercom, Professor Dollund was examining

the statue.

'It's extraordinary,' he said, peering at the grey

face that was exactly like Bobby's. 'Absolutely

extraordinary.'

'How can it have happened?' Lisa asked,

j o i n i n g h i m . B e h i n d t h e m B o b b y w a s still

talking to the Doctor.

' I w i s h I k n e w . S o m e sort of m o l e c u l a r

rearrangement, perhaps. Maybe it's trying to find

the most effective shape and form based on what

it touches — first the Doctor, then you...' The

professor stopped in surprise.

'Maybe we're about to find out,' Lisa said.

'Bobby — look at this.'

As they watched, the statue changed again.

It started with the face. The features seemed to

shimmer and blur. Dust rolled from the eyes like

dry tears. The nose receded, and the whole face

seemed to dissolve into a shapeless blob.

The same thing was happening to the rest of the

figure. Details of the clothes became smudged and

blurred. Then the limbs themselves dissolved.

B o b b y w a s t r y i n g t o e x p l a i n w h a t w a s

happening over the intercom. But she stopped as

the distorted shape in front of them started to

move. A shapeless, dusty leg twitched, then slid

forwards. Another lifted slightly, bending at the

knee. The figure took a step towards the professor,

Lisa and Bobby.

Grey arms reached out. Stubby fingers clutched

the air, dust s h o w e r i n g d o w n f r o m them.

The creature took another shuffling step. Then one

a r m s e e m e d t o e x t e n d s u d d e n l y . A dry,

dusty hand smothered Professor Dollund's

face. Another dragged him towards the walking

statue.

Lisa gave a shriek, grabbing the professor's arm

and trying to pull him away. Bobby dropped the

communicator as she rushed to help.

'What is it? What's going on?' the Doctor's voice

demanded through the speakers.

Bobby and Lisa were struggling to drag the

professor clear as the dusty creature engulfed him.

'We're on our way!' the Doctor was yelling.

With a horrible sucking sound, the professor's

head came free of the creature's grip. He staggered

backwards, almost falling. Bobby helped him keep

his balance.

'Let's get out of here,' she said.

The three of them ran across the chamber,

heading for the access tunnel. Behind them, the

shapeless statue lumbered forward.

The wall behind the statue shimmered and

bulged. Another shapeless approximation of a

figure pulled itself out of the wall and lumbered

after the first across the cavern...

The Doctor and Henderson hurried from the

control room.

'Hey, you're not leaving me behind this time,'

Clinton shouted after them. He set off at a run to

catch them up.

Henderson led the way back to the access

tunnel, and soon the three of them were running

down the shallow incline.

The Doctor skidded to a halt so suddenly that

Clinton and Henderson almost ran into him.

'Can you hear that?' the Doctor said, looking

towards the point in front of them where the

tunnel turned.

'What?' Henderson asked.

'Someone's coming,' Clinton said.

Sure enough, from ahead of them came the

sound of rapid footsteps, echoing off the rock walls

of the tunnel. Distorted shadows danced across the

tunnel floor, as something moved in front of the

wall-mounted lights in the next section of tunnel.

It looked as if something huge and shapeless was

oozing towards them.

'What is it?' Henderson gasped.

But then three figures appeared round the

corner. Three human figures. Their shadows

elongated and distorted by the angle of the lights

behind them. Professor Dollund, Bobby and Lisa

were running towards the Doctor and his friends.

'Thank goodness,' Dollund said. 'We have to get

out of here.'

'Those things can't be far behind us,' Bobby said.

The Doctor looked at them with interest.

'Really? What things?'

'Horrible,' Lisa told him. 'The statue — it sort of

came to life.'

'Shapeless creatures. They almost got the

professor,' Bobby explained.

'One of them just came out of the wall of

the cavern.'

'What?' Clinton said. 'But that's impossible. Isn't

it, Doctor?' he asked, suddenly worried.

'Well, not if it happened,' the Doctor pointed

out. 'Tell me, how did it happen? Did the rock

wall sort of bulge out, then form into a shape that

detached itself from the wall? A shape that then

sort of grew legs to walk, and arms to reach out to

get you?'

'Yes,' Bobby said. 'How did you guess?'

'I didn't,' the Doctor said. 'It's happening just

over there.'

They whirled round, in time to see a massive

shape heave itself out of the rock wall of the tunnel

behind Lisa.

'Back to the base!' Clinton shouted.

They turned to run. But the walls of the tunnel

behind them were bulging now The rock was

shimmering and rippling. Dust flaked to the floor.

The lights flickered and one of them went out. Then

another. The rest were getting noticeably dimmer.

' P o w e r ' s going,' H e n d e r s o n said. 'If the

o x y g e n p u m p s stop...' H e d i d n ' t n e e d t o

complete the thought.

He didn't have time either. 'Run!' the Doctor

yelled. He pushed Professor Dollund ahead of him,

and everyone charged up the tunnel.

A grey shape whipped at them. The floor was

moving beneath them. Hands punched through

the rock walls, clawing at them as they ran past.

Lisa screamed as something caught in her hair.

But when she thumped at it, it was just dust.

Bobby struggled to keep her balance as the

whole tunnel floor heaved and tilted. Henderson

lashed out at the arms that stretched across the

tunnel like a spider's web to try to catch him.

Dollund was yelling for them all to hurry as he

struggled past the grey limbs that clawed and

thrashed at him. Clinton just put his head down

and charged through, eyes closed.

The Doctor walked calmly after them. He

slapped away a misshapen hand that reached for

him. It exploded in a shower of dust.

'Fascinating,' he said quietly. He grinned

a n d s h o o k h i s h e a d . ' E x t r a o r d i n a r y , b u t

fascinating.' Then he realized that the grey shapes

were getting thicker, stronger, faster and he dashed

quickly after the others.

As soon as everyone was through, Henderson

slammed shut the huge airtight hatch at the end of

the access tunnel.

'The walls here are lined with metal, and will

keep anything out.'

'Sure about that?' the Doctor asked. He brushed

himself down, dust showering to the floor. He

stamped his feet, hoping to get the dust off his

trainers. 'These used to be white,' he complained.

'Now look at them. Still, they say grey is the new

black. It's the new white now, too.'

The main lights flickered, and went out. Red

emergency lighting cut in.

'Main generator's stopped,' Henderson said.

'Will we still have oxygen?' Dollund asked.

'So long as the backup emergency generator

doesn't pack up too,' Clinton told him.

The Doctor was jumping up and down, dust

flying round him as it shook off his clothes and

shoes.

'What are you doing?' Bobby asked.

'Just checking the gravity. Seems OK for now.'

He clapped his hands together. 'Right, I've got a

sonic screwdriver, so let me at this generator of

yours.'

'We can manage,' Henderson told him. 'It just

needs resetting.'

'Happens every now and again,' Lisa said.

'Oh.' The Doctor sounded disappointed. 'OK,

you sort it out then, and I'll...' He shrugged and

stamped his feet some more. 'I'll come and

watch maybe.'

'You can come with me, Doctor,' Clinton said.

'Once the main power's back we can send a signal

to Moonport Five and get them to send help. We

won't be able to boost a signal that far until the

generator's back, but as soon as it is we can send

a mayday.'

'They're overstretched as it is,' Dollund said.

'You really think they'll send help to a small

operation like ours?'

'That's w h y I w a n t the Doctor with me,'

Clinton said.

'Of course,' Bobby realized. 'If an agent of the

Bureau of Alien Technology asks for help, they're

sure to send someone.'

'Er,' the Doctor said. 'Yes. Well.' He sighed, then

grinned. 'Better get started then. Henderson — you

and Lisa get us power as soon as you can.'

The main generator was controlled from a small

room at the back of the main base. It was one of

the first parts of the base to be constructed, hewn

out of the Moon rock itself.

H e n d e r s o n a n d L i s a h a d r e s t a r t e d t h e

g e n e r a t o r s e v e r a l t i m e s . I t w a s o l d a n d

temperamental, and as the base expanded and the

tunnels grew it was less and less able to cope with

the demands for power.

The door slid open and Henderson let Lisa

go in first. She headed straight for the main

control console, while Henderson went over to the

enormous generator itself. Only the side of it

extended into the room. The rest was built out into

the Moon rock beyond.

'Diagnostics says the main filters are blocked,'

Lisa reported.

'We cleaned t h e m last week, didn't we?'

Henderson set about taking off the grille of

the generator. 'It shouldn't get clogged up that

quickly.'

'I'm just telling you what it says. The filters

are blocked so the air cooling isn't working. The

system's cut out so it doesn't overheat.'

Henderson pulled out a long, rectangular

filter. It should have been a fine plastic mesh,

perhaps spotted with dirt trapped as the air

circulated inside the generator. But the filter was

completely coated with thick dust. Henderson

coughed as the dust became a thick cloud.

'Where did that come from?' he managed to

gasp. He reached in for another filter. 'They're all

the same, look.'

'I'd love to,' Lisa said. 'But I can't see anything.'

The air was thick with dust. It drifted like

smoke.

'We'd better find a vacuum hose and get them

clean,' Henderson said. 'There must be a leak in the

system where it's getting drawn in.'

There was no reply.

'Lisa?'

Henderson peered into the mist of dust hanging

in the air. A dark shape was approaching him.

'Oh, there you are.'

But it wasn't Lisa. The figure was taller,

broader, darker. It wasn't a person at all, just an

approximation of a human figure. A massive grey

shape reaching through the dusty air for Henderson.

And from the other side of the room, somewhere

beyond the dust, came Lisa's muffled screams.

Restart

The red emergency lighting was still on in the

the main control room. It bathed everything

and everyone blood red. Clinton was sitting at

his console, checking readings.

'Generator's still out,' he reported.

'Doesn't usually take them this long to reset it,'

Dollund said.

Bobby saw the Doctor's frown. 'You think there's

a problem?'

'I think there are loads of problems. Masses

of problems. Don't suppose you have a security

camera or something in the generator room?' he

asked Clinton.

'We do,' he said. 'But there's not enough power

to run it without the generator.'

The Doctor sniffed. 'Good design. Who sold

you that, then?'

'We can talk to them though.' Clinton pressed

the communicator button. 'Henderson — how's it

going down there?'

The speakers crackled with static.

'Henderson? Lisa?'

Still there was no answer.

'Something's not right. I'm going down there,'

the Doctor said.

He ran from the room, then skidded to a halt,

looking first one way then the other.

Bobby joined him. 'It's this way,' she said.

They ran through the base, dust swirling round

their feet as they kicked it up. Soon they were

outside the generator room. The door was shut.

'It won't open!' Bobby said, trying the controls.

' L e t me.' T h e D o c t o r p o i n t e d his sonic

screwdriver at the controls. The end glowed with a

blue light and there was a flash followed by a shower

of sparks. The door slid open.

T h e r o o m l o o k e d as t h o u g h it h a d b e e n

abandoned long ago. Everything was covered

with a layer of dust. It could have been years since

anyone had been inside. Except for the bodies.

Henderson was lying by the access panel to

the generator. Lisa was slumped over the control

c o n s o l e o n t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e r o o m .

Like everything else, both were coated with dust.

'But they've only been here a few minutes,'

Bobby said. Are they...?'

The Doctor was already examining Henderson.

He ran over to check on Lisa.

'They'll be fine,' he said. 'Unconscious — almost

suffocated.'

'But how?'

' C h o k i n g on dust, I s h o u l d think.' T h e

Doctor hauled Lisa out of her chair and carried

her into the corridor. He put her down gently,

propping her against a wall. Then he dragged

Henderson after her.

'Can I do anything?'

'Check their airways are clear and m a k e

sure there's no dust in their mouths. I'll get the

generator started.'

' O n l y H e n d e r s o n and Lisa can do that,'

B o b b y said. 'It's a security m e a s u r e . T h e

computer prompts you and you have to know

the next symbol in the sequence to reset the

systems.'

The Doctor paused in the doorway. 'Can't be

that hard to work out,' he said. And if I'm right,

we need to get power back and get a message out as

soon as we can. We're all in the most terrible danger.'

Bobby gave a nervous laugh. 'From this dust?'

But the Doctor was deadly serious. 'Yes. Dust

that can clog up the communications so they won't

work. Dust that can choke you, dust that can shape

itself into walking statues to come after you and

smother you. Dust that can kill.'

The Doctor answered the questions displayed on

the computer screen on the console as quickly as he

could. They weren't too difficult, and he suspected

they were not for security as much as to confirm

the operator really did want to reset the systems.

T h e n e x t s y m b o l i n t h e s e q u e n c e w a s

obviously the third one. Or was it the second?

No — definitely the third. But the odd one out,

that was the second symbol. Then it was just a

m a t t e r o f f i n d i n g t h e o n e t h a t f i t t e d t h e socket, like a key had to fit a lock. That was a bit

trickier as they needed turning, and the Doctor

f o u n d himself twisting his head round and

squinting to work it out. He grinned, and selected

the first of the possible symbols.

There was a satisfying whirring sound from

behind him as the generator started up again. The

red lights dimmed and were replaced by the harsh

white light of the main systems.

The Doctor made some adjustments to the

settings on the main console, then hurried to join

Bobby in the corridor outside.

Tye set the generator's cooling system to use

water instead of air. It's not as efficient, but the

water cooling is a sealed system. With luck, the

dust won't get in and clog it all up again.'

Henderson's eyelids were fluttering as he

regained consciousness. 'That's very clever, Doctor,'

he said weakly.

'How are you feeling?' Bobby asked.

'Terrible. My throat's so sore and dry.'

'That'll be the dust,' the Doctor said. He checked

on Lisa and was pleased to see that she too was

coming round.

As soon as they were strong enough, the

Doctor and Bobby helped Henderson and Lisa to

their feet.

'Let's get back to the main control room,' the Doctor

said. 'Clinton needs to send that mayday message.'

'We should be fine now the power's back,'

Bobby said.

'Don't bet on it,' the Doctor told her. 'Look!'

The corridor in front of them was filling with

dust. It hung in the air, and swirled round their feet

like a sandstorm. Slowly but surely, the dust was

coming together to form shapes — huge, lumpy,

grey figures that reached out for the Doctor and

his friends...

On the distant planet of Karagula, High Minister

Drakon of the Darksmith Collective watched as a

group of Brother technicians demonstrated their

latest creation.

Brother Ardos was in charge of the project. He

was dwarfed by the massive creature fashioned from

plastic and metal that stood silently beside him.

Almost two metres tall, it was in the shape of a

man. Through the sections of transparent plastic,

gears and levers, circuits and motors were visible.

The whole robot gave an impression of colossal

strength and power.

We have used every last item of temporal

engineering we have acquired over the years.

Who knows what the Agent will be called upon

to do in order to recover the Eternity Crystal. We

have fashioned its body from the hardest metal

augmented with plastics salvaged f r o m the

wreckage of the Nestene homeworid. It has been

programmed with the innate understanding of the

time Vortex that we found in a deactivated Gundan

robot. Sister Clathine's forge has been working at

full capacity to bring these elements together and fuse

them with our own technologies and discoveries.'

Drakon nodded with approval. His skull-like

face was twisted into what might have been a smile.

'You have done well. As soon as we have the exact

location, we shall despatch the Agent with all speed

to recover the Eternity Crystal.'

One of the cloaked figures standing nearby

stepped forward. 'High Minister, I must question

whether this is wise.'

Drakon turned slowly to face the Darksmith who

had spoken. 'Brother Stemnos, you question the

wisdom of the High Witan of the Darksmiths? You

would rather leave the Eternity Crystal, and for the

first time in our long history, fail to fulfil a contract?'

Stemnos took a step backwards. 'My apologies.

I know that our clients are most insistent, and

that they have become impatient over the years

since the Crystal was lost. But this effort, this

technology — surely the cost outweighs any

payment we shall receive from the client for

delivering the final device.'

'We must fulful our contract, as we always

have. And to do that we need the Crystal that

Brother Varlos took from us when he fled from

Karagula.' High Minister Drakon pointed at the

large robot standing before them. 'Here we have the

means to recover the Crystal and fulfil the contract.

An Agent that can ride the time winds, that can

destroy any opposition, that will stop at nothing to

achieve its mission. The honour of the Darksmith

Collective hangs in the balance. There is no power

in the universe that can stop us from recovering the

Eternity Crystal!'

The Way to

Dusty Death

The dust was getting thicker. It seemed to

be seeping into the corridor, gathering

a n d f o r m i n g into shapes. T h e D o c t o r

grabbed Lisa.

'Help Henderson,' he shouted to Bobby. And

run!'

Bobby helped the engineer to his feet and

they hurried after the Doctor and Lisa, who were

disappearing into the fog of dust. Henderson was

still groggy and needed Bobby's help after his

ordeal in the generator room.

The dust was dry and Bobby could feel it

coating her clothes, her skin, the back of her throat.

She kept her eyes almost closed as they ran. An

arm, formed from the grey dirt, thrust out in front

of them. Bobby ignored it and kept running. She

felt the impact as it caught her across the chest. The

arm exploded into powder, and she kept running.

At the end of the corridor, the Doctor was waiting

with Lisa. The girl looked almost unconscious as

the Doctor held her up.

'We can't hang around,' the Doctor said. 'It'll be

after us soon.'

'But what is it?' Henderson asked. He coughed

with the effort.

'Is it alive?' Bobby asked.

'Certainly seems it. Living dust,' the Doctor

pulled a face. 'Not something you see every day.

Which is probably just as well, really.' He tightened

his grip on Lisa. 'Right, come on then.'

Bobby shouted into her radio as they ran.

Clinton — Clinton, can you hear me?' But the only

reply was static.

Or was it? She could just about make out the

broken sound of a voice, beneath the sound of the

static, the pounding of her heart and the rasps of

her breath as she ran.

'Clinton? Are you there? I can't hear you.'

'Here, let me.' The Doctor took the radio from

her as they struggled onwards. The floor was coated

with dust that swirled and clawed at their feet as

they ran.

If you can hear me, Clinton,' the Doctor

yelled into the radio, 'track this signal. We're all

together, but we've got trouble. Can you close the

sections behind us? Seal them off. And turn the air

conditioning and ventilation up to maximum where

we are. Blow as much air through as you can.'

The static might have been a voice. It might have

been Clinton's reply. It was impossible to tell, so

the Doctor handed the radio back to Bobby, and

they kept going.

Lisa and Henderson had recovered enough

now that they didn't need helping along. But

they weren't up to running. The most they could

manage was a stumbling jog.

'You think anyone heard?' Lisa gasped.

As she spoke, a metal shutter closed behind

them, blocking the corridor and cutting off the

sight of the grey figures lurching after them.

The dust on the floor was whipped up angrily.

It seemed to sense it was alone now, and clawed

and tore at their feet. Ahead of them, the whole

floor was rippling as the dust drew up into a

curtain across the corridor. Arms thrust out through

it, snatching at the heavy air, waiting for the

Doctor and his friends to get close enough for it to

grab them.

'We're trapped,' Henderson realized.

'Come on, Clinton,' the Doctor said quietly.

'I know you heard me. Where's that air conditioning?'

The first sign was the hiss of the air blowing in

through vents in the walls close to the floor. Then

the curtain of dust began to sway. It struggled to

keep together, but soon the air rushing along the

corridor was tearing holes in the creature. For a

moment a face formed in the ragged sheet across the

corridor. A mouth twisted and screamed in anger.

Then the whole curtain was torn apart, dust

blasting down the corridor as the raging wind blew

it to pieces.

'Time to go!' the Doctor shouted above the gale.

They set off again, the wind whipping at their

clothes and their hair.

With the power back on, the security cameras were

working. Clinton and Professor Dollund stared

at the screens above the main control console.

But most of them showed only a grey mist — dust

hanging in the air in front of the cameras.

'I think that's them,' Dollund said, pointing

to one of the screens. Vague, dark shapes were

hurrying past, close to the camera.

'I hope you're right,' Clinton replied, operating

the controls that would seal off the section of

corridor behind the fleeing figures.

The intercom crackled and popped, but it was

impossible to make out what anyone at the other

end might be saying.

'We should keep this door sealed, until they get

here,' Dollund said.

'Good idea.' Clinton pressed a button, and the

main door slid closed.

The slight breeze caused by the movement made the

thin coating of dust across the floor shiver and ripple.

But neither Clinton nor Professor Dollund noticed...

The Doctor skidded on the dusty floor and crashed

into the closed door to the main control room.

Henderson and Lisa were able to run without help

now, and Bobby brought up the rear.

T h e D o c t o r k n o c k e d h a r d o n the door.

' C o m e on, come on.' He glanced nervously

over his shoulder. A wave of the grey dust was

sweeping through the corridor, filling it with

choking particles that rushed towards them.

'What are you doing in there?' the Doctor yelled.

'Let us in!'

Professor Dollund's voice was muffled. 'How do

we know it's you?'

'Well who else would it be — the milkman?'

'Open the door!' Bobby shouted, hammering on

it with her fists. 'Quickly!'

Slowly, as if reluctant, the door slid open. As soon

as the gap was wide enough, the Doctor pushed

Bobby through, then Lisa and finally Henderson.

Then he jumped through himself.

'Shut it, shut it!' he shouted.

'I don't know — open it, close Clinton

muttered. But he operated the controls and the

door slid closed again, just as a wave of dust crashed

against it.

A fine mist sprayed through the last millimetres

of the gap between the door and its frame and

scattered across the control room floor.

The Doctor was immediately at the control console

with Clinton. 'Have you sent the distress signal?'

'I don't know, to be honest.' Clinton pointed

to one of the readout screens. 'I've sent the

message, but I'm not getting a confirmation that it's

actually gone out. This whole system is clogged

with dust. Goodness only knows how much of it is

actually working. We're lucky to have life support

and gravity.'

'At least we should be safe in here,' Lisa said.

She was sitting on the floor, breathing heavily.

Henderson slumped down beside her. 'I didn't

think we were ever going to get here. That dust

— what is it?'

The Doctor whistled through his teeth as he

considered. lust dust, I think. But it's been

animated by some controlling force. Something that

binds it together and which obviously has an agenda.'

'What sort of agenda?' Dollund wondered. 'You

mean it knows we're here? It wants something?'

'Probably not as conscious or deliberate as that.

Maybe it just sees us as a threat. Maybe it's just

trying to survive.'

'I k n o w the feeling,' C l i n t o n g r u m b l e d .

He brushed away dust from the control console

with the back of his hand.

'Doctor,' Bobby said quietly. 'I think we have

a problem.'

She pointed at the door. It was bulging inwards,

the metal rippling and denting as something

incredibly strong tried to force its way inside. The

edge of the door was pushed clear of the frame.

Dust was pouring through like sand falling down

the narrow neck of an hourglass.

'That doesn't look good,' the Doctor agreed.

'Clinton, can y o u seal the d o o r w a y with a

forceshield, make it airtight?'

But Clinton didn't answer.

The dust he had been brushing absent-mindedly

off the control panel had gathered itself into a pile

on the floor. A pile that coalesced into a distinct

shape. A shape that became a hand and had launched

itself at Clinton.

The dusty grey fingers clamped on his throat, the

palm smothering over his mouth as Clinton fought

for breath and tried desperately to wrench the hand

away from his neck.

The dust falling through the door was rising up

too — forming into a lumpy, misshapen figure that

reached out with its death-grey hands as it lurched

across the room.

Crystal Clear

Bobby immediately ran to help Clinton. The

hand was clamped on his throat. Bobby could

feel her own fingers sinking into the surface as

she tried to prise it away — just as her feet sank into

the dust on the lunar surface...

The grey, misshapen creature formed from the

dust that had spilled in through the doorway was

reaching for the Doctor. As she struggled to help

Clinton, Bobby saw Henderson pick up one of the

chairs beside the main console and swing it in a

low arc at the grey creature.

The chair connected, and kept going. The

creature exploded into grey particles — dust floating

gently down through the air.

But almost at once another creature w a s

forming. And yet another was forcing its way

through the ever-increasing gap between the door

and its frame. The corridor outside was filled with

dust, hanging heavily like smoke in the air.

Finally, the pressure of Bobby and Clinton's

combined grip on the hand crushed it. The whole

thing shattered into dust and drifted like mist to

join the particles that were already reforming into

another lumpy, grotesque creature.

Lisa gave a shriek as a fist of dust smashed

t o w a r d s her. T h e D o c t o r r a i s e d his sonic

screwdriver. The tip glowed blue and there was a

high-pitched, whirring sound. The fist exploded.

'Sounds like I got the right frequency,' the

Doctor said grimly.

' B u t y o u can't s t o p t h e m all like that,'

Professor Dollund gasped. He was swinging a

clipboard in front of him, driving back a haze of

dust. But the dust was clawing round his hands,

dragging at the clipboard, ripping it away.

The creature in the doorway seemed to grow

thinner to squeeze through, filling out again as it

entered the control room. At its neck, the Crystal

they had all seen in the cavern caught the light and

sparkled with inner fire.

'That Crystal,' Bobby gasped.

'I see it,' the Doctor said.

'What about it?' Henderson said. He was still

swinging the chair for all he was worth, but he

seemed to be tiring.

Clinton and Bobby were backing away from

the console. The dust in the air in front of them

was coalescing, forming into the hand again. Its

powdery fingers probed the air as it sought them out.

'Never mind the Crystal,' Clinton shouted. lust

get those things... that stuff out of here.'

'Don't you see?' the Doctor said, fiddling with

his sonic screwdriver. 'The Crystal is the key. It's

the Crystal that's animating the dust.'

'That's ridiculous,' Dollund snapped.

'Oh, you think?' The Doctor held up the sonic

screwdriver. It glowed and whirred, but the lumpy

grey creature with the Crystal at its neck lumbered

forwards unaffected.

'What are you doing, Doctor?' Lisa asked,

dodging out of the way of a dusty arm that

snatched at her.

'Wasting time,' Dollund said.

'Saving your lives,' the Doctor snapped back.

'If I can't find a frequency that interferes with

signals that Crystal is giving out to

animate this dust...' He tried the sonic screwdriver

again. Still there was no effect. 'Then we're all dead,'

the Doctor finished grimly.

The grey creature lurched onwards. Its hands

reached out for the Doctor, closing on his neck.

The sonic screwdriver was knocked from his hands

and skidded across the floor...

A supra-lightspeed shuttle pod had been prepared. The

robot Agent only just fitted inside the sleek capsule.

We need only the final coordinates,' Sister

Maggen told Drakon. 'The pod can reach any point

in this galaxy mere moments after it is launched.'

Drakon nodded his approval, the shadows

beneath his hood deepening as he lowered his head.

'We are so very close,' he rasped. 'Brother Ardos

will have the coordinates very soon.'

'Does he know why the Crystal has become

active again?' Sister Maggen wondered.

'No one knows,' Drakon told her. 'Except

perhaps the traitor Varlos. He fashioned the

Crystal, created it out of the raw stuff of the

universe. Only he truly understands it.'

'If we find the Crystal, we may find Varlos,'

Sister Maggen said.

'Yes,' Drakon agreed. And if we do...' His husky

voice tailed off. 'But it is the Crystal that must be

our first priority. The Agent understands that.' He

turned to the robot standing inside the egg-like

pod. 'You know what you must do?'

The robot's head inclined slightly. Its voice

was an echoing metallic boom. ' M y mission

parameters are defined. Priorities have been set out.

Failure is not an option.'

'Excellent,' Drakon said quietly. 'With such

technology, such expertise, such ruthless determi-

nation, the Darksmiths of Karagula cannot fail!'

Another cloaked a n d h o o d e d D a r k s m i t h

hurried into the chamber. Drakon turned to greet

him. 'Brother Ardos, you have news?'

'Yes, H i g h M i n i s t e r , ' A r d o s s a i d . ' T h e

Crystal has increased its signal. We now have an

exact position. I have fed the coordinates into the

main network and the pod is being programmed

with its course trajectory.'

Drakon moved to inspect a screen set into

the inner shell of the pod door. A stream of

numbers and symbols scrolled rapidly across it,

reflecting in the pale gelatinous flesh of Drakon's

skull-like face.

'Lunar 1 of Sol 3 in the Mutter's Spiral,' Drakon

said. 'A moon orbiting a planet known as...' He

peered at the screen. 'Terra.'

' M o r e c o m m o n l y called "Earth", H i g h

Minister,' Ardos said. Although the planet is heavily

populated, its Moon is uninhabited except for some

scientific and geological teams, it would seem.'

'That doesn't matter,' Drakon told him. But

his words were also meant for the armoured

robot standing patiently inside the pod. 'Whatever

it takes, we must have the Crystal. No matter how

many people have to die in the process.'

There was a bleep from the pod. The door swung

heavily shut, cutting off the Darksmiths' view of

their creation.

'I understand.' The voice was muffled through

the shell of the pod. 'I am ready.'

The Darksmiths drew back, walking quickly

and silently to the back of the chamber where huge

blast screens had been erected. From behind them,

Drakon, Ardos, Maggen and her assistants watched

through thick windows of toughened duraglass.

Sister M a g g e n w a s standing at a small

control console that, like the screen, seemed to have

been carved from stone. She reached for a control,

and the roof of the chamber slid open. Above

the vaulted d o m e stars shone d o w n f r o m a

cloudless sky.

Then the chamber echoed with the sound of the

pod's powerful supra-lightspeed engines. The pod

shivered for a moment, fire erupting from beneath

it. There was a tremendous flash of light. Drakon

and the others shielded their sensitive eyes with

their translucent hands. The bones of their fingers

were silhouetted against the light for a moment.

Then it was gone.

And the pod was gone too. A tiny streak of fire

etched across the heavens, heading for a distant

star, a small blue planet, a grey dusty moon...

Dust to Dust

The Doctor hurled himself aside as the grey

hands reached for him. He felt the dusty dry limbs

brush across his face and grab at him as he fell.

His shoulder hit the floor hard, forcing a cry

from his lips as he skidded across the dusty floor.

The floor itself was alive, clawing at his clothes,

trying to hold him down. He rolled on to his

stomach and scrabbled onwards. He could see the

sonic screwdriver ahead of him, and he stretched

out, desperate to reach it.

Henderson swung the chair again, sending the

dust flying. But he was being forced back into a

corner of the room. His foot caught on something

and he stumbled, almost falling.

The sonic screwdriver was kicked out of the

Doctor's reach. He gave a grunt of annoyance and

frustration and heaved himself after it. The dust

was still dragging him down. Tiny claws ripped at

him, holding him back.

Then a massive grey foot stamped down

i n c h e s f r o m t h e D o c t o r ' s f a c e . H e r o l l e d

desperately away. The foot stamped again. Grey

arms reached down. Darkness closed over his face.

The Doctor was fighting, thumping, tearing at the

powdery hands that held him. He could taste the

dust, could feel it forcing its way into his mouth,

choking him.

'This what you want?' a voice said. It was

muffled and filtered by the dust that enveloped

the Doctor's head.

He felt something being pressed into his hand.

The sonic screwdriver. He plunged it into the grey

fog that surrounded him. Heard the faint sound of

the sonic beam. Then he was breathing again, the

dust was gone and Bobby was kneeling beside him,

smiling with relief.

The Doctor smiled a thank you. But there was

no time for anything more, not yet. He leaped to

his feet and stood facing the grey dust monster that

was lumbering heavily towards him. Dust swirled

round its feet like mist. The Crystal at its thick neck

sparkled and glowed with icy fire.

The glow of the sonic screwdriver was just as

bright. The whole room seemed to shake with the

high-pitched sound it gave off.

Clinton and Henderson were backed into a

corner, pummelling the heavy air with their bare

hands. Professor Dollund was crouched beside the

main console, trying to shield Lisa who was curled

in a protective ball on the ground behind him. Bobby

stood beside the Doctor, facing down the monster.

The grey creature hesitated. Then it took

another step forward. But its foot didn't stop

when it met the floor. It was like it was taking a

step down a flight of stairs. The crude lumpy

features of the creature's face twisted in surprise and

fear. Then its other leg collapsed too, dust shooting

out from it and scattering across the floor.

The thing pitched slowly forwards on to its

face. It hit the floor, and exploded into particles.

A cloud of dust billowed upwards.

Coughing, the Doctor waved the dust away. He

stepped into the mist, reached down, and picked

up the heavy Crystal that lay in a pile of inanimate

dust on the floor.

It glowed weakly in his palm for a moment.

Then the light died away, and was gone.

The Doctor tossed the Crystal into the air, caught

it and pushed it into his jacket pocket. 'There you

go,' he said. 'Wave cancellation. Should sort it

out, at least for a while. Until I can get it into a

stasis casket.'

H e l o o k e d r o u n d t h e c o n t r o l r o o m . H e

watched Dollund and Lisa getting slowly to their

feet, Clinton and Henderson looking round

the wrecked room in surprise and relief. He let

Bobby hug him tight, and laughed. The room

around them was deep with dust and dirt.

'I think,' the Doctor said, 'that you need a decent

cleaning woman, Or man. Or Snorkellian. Great

cleaners the Snorkellians, suck up the dust and

dirt through those big snouts and digest it. Ends

up as handy little pellets that are great for growing

tomatoes.' He f r o w n e d as a thought struck

him. 'Not sure I actually like tomatoes,' he said

slowly. 'Still never mind. Ashes to ashes.' He kicked

listlessly at the floor. 'Dust to dust.'

'We have a problem, High Minister,' Brother

Ardos said.

Drakon turned slowly towards him. He was

standing in the m a i n debating c h a m b e r of

the Darksmiths, preparing to deliver a report

to the members of the Witan, the Darksmiths'

ruling council.

'Problem?' Drakon echoed. The veins in his

translucent face pulsed angrily.

'The Eternity Crystal. It has... stopped.' Ardos

bowed his head, expecting the worst.

But Drakon's voice was quiet and controlled.

'Stopped? What do you mean?'

'I am sorry...'

'What do you mean?' Drakon repeated, louder.

This time there was no mistaking the edge of anger

and irritation in his voice.

'We are no longer detecting its emissions.'

'Has it moved out of range?'

'No, High Minister. It was there, and then it

was gone. It didn't move from Earth's Moon. The

emissions have stopped.'

'You mean they have reduced to the faint trace

we could detect before? Enough to know the

Crystal still exists, but not enough to trace its

whereabouts?'

'No, High Minister,' Ardos said nervously. 'Not

even that. Nothing. Nothing at all.'

There was silence for several moments. 'That

is not possible,' Drakon said. 'Only Varlos knows

how to destroy the Crystal. No one can stop its

wave emissions entirely, unless... '

'High Minister?'

Drakon's voice w a s quiet but determined.

'Can we get a message to the Agent?'

A r d o s n o d d e d . ' W e can still d e s p a t c h a

message capsule that will reach the pod before

the Agent arrives on Earth's Moon, yes. But it

must be soon.'

' T h e n tell t h e A g e n t t h a t it is f a c i n g a

powerful enemy. Someone with the knowledge

to block the Crystal's emissions. Tell the Agent

that nothing must stand in its way. If it has to use

extreme force, then so be it. We must have the

Eternity Crystal, whatever the cost.'

Ardos bowed and hurried from the chamber.

He had created the Agent, and he knew what

'extreme force' it was capable of. Whoever had

taken the Crystal would soon be dead.

/

Sentence of Death

The stasis casket looked like a fairly ordinary

small metal box, not m u c h bigger than

t h e Crystal itself. A s w i r l i n g circular

pattern w a s e m b o s s e d o n t o t h e d u l l

metal. T h e D o c t o r t o o k a last l o o k at t h e

beautiful Crystal resting on the purple velvet

inside, then closed the lid of the stasis casket.

A simple clasp held the box shut. The Doctor

balanced the box on the TARDIS console. He was

sure it was this Crystal that had somehow drawn

the TARDIS to the Moon. It must be incredibly

powerful.

Inside the casket, the Crystal could signal or

transmit, or emit waves or resonate or do whatever

it liked, but none of it would leave the box. It was

completely sealed. The inside, as far as the rest of

the universe was concerned, did not exist.

The Doctor's next task was to send for help.

He opened a communications channel through

the TARDIS' systems and sent the coded message

that Clinton had recorded for him. The main

communications in the base were so clogged with

dust — even dry, dead, ordinary dust as it now was,

that they didn't work and would take an age to

repair. Quicker to use the TARDIS, and he could

see that the Crystal was kept safe at the same time.

The Doctor's hand hesitated over the main lever.

He was about to leave the Moon. There was help on

the way, and the Crystal intrigued him — he'd like

some time to examine it properly and safely. Some

time to work out who had made it, and why...

But then again, he owed it to his new friends to

check they were all right and to tell them that help

was on the way. He couldn't send them a message

any more than they could signal out of the base.

A few minutes, just to make sure everything was

hunky dory, tickety-boo, going swimmingly...

Before he went, he attached a set of cables to

sockets on the outside of the stasis casket. No reason

why the TARDIS shouldn't start analysing it

without him.

Professor Dollund shook the Doctor's hand

enthusiastically. 'It's been very enlightening,

Doctor,' he said.

'Oh for me too,' the Doctor assured him.

Enlightening, uplifting, enthralling, and a bit

dangerous.' He grinned. lust how I like it.'

Henderson and Clinton shook the Doctor's hand

too. 'Thanks,' Henderson said, 'for everything.'

'Oh, it was nothing. Well, maybe something,

but nothing much. Not really.'

'Good to meet you, Doctor,' Clinton said. 'Sorry

it got so hectic.'

'Did it?' the Doctor shrugged. Always does

when I'm around.'

Lisa gave the Doctor a quick hug. 'Thanks,' she

said quietly.

'Pleasure,' the Doctor said, just as quietly.

T h e n h e w a s a l m o s t k n o c k e d f l y i n g a s

Bobby pulled him into a tight embrace. 'Careful,'

the Doctor said, winded. 'I might break.'

'Not you,' Bobby said tearfully.

'No, well, maybe not,' the Doctor admitted.

'You look after yourself,' he told her. 'Help's on the

way, won't be long now.'

'Moon Buggies are here already,' Clinton

announced. 'Er,' he went on, 'actually Doctor, you

might want to get back up top pretty quickly. One

of the relief crews is loading your blue box thing on

to a Buggy. Looks like they're taking it back with

them.' He turned to the Doctor. 'Is that all right?'

But the Doctor had gone.

By the time he e m e r g e d on to the M o o n ' s

surface again, the TARDIS was gone. Two Moon

Buggies had stopped inside the forceshield bubble

that Clinton had put up. The Moon Buggies were

large white vehicles with huge rubber tyres that

sank into the lunar dust. The cabin was a bulbous

dome at the end of a long, thin deck on which

cargo, like the TARDIS, could be loaded.

There were several sets of tyre tracks showing

where other Moon Buggies had been and gone.

One of them had taken the TARDIS, but which

one?

After a quick examination, the Doctor climbed

up into the protective airtight dome of the nearest

Buggy. He flashed his psychic paper at the driver

sitting inside.

'Customs and Excise, blue box division,' he

said. 'Follow those tracks.' He pointed to the set of

tracks he was sure were left by the Buggy that was

carrying the TARDIS.

'Right you are, sir,' the driver replied. The Moon

Buggy set off, a cloud of dust blown up like smoke

behind it.

Soon the low angular buildings of the main

spaceport came into view on the horizon.

'How did you know which tracks to follow?' the

driver asked. 'They all look the same to me.'

'One set was deeper,' the Doctor explained.

'So that was the Buggy carrying the heaviest load.

The blue box I'm after isn't exactly light, so I'm

betting it's on that Buggy.'

The driver nodded. 'Seems fair enough. Looks

like the Buggy went into Hangar 7. I'll drop you

there and get back to work if that's OK?'

Hangar 7 was a vast open space. Standing alone

and abandoned inside the hangar was a Moon

Buggy. The Doctor smiled with delight. But

as he approached, the smile faded to a frown.

The Buggy's cargo deck was empty.

The Doctor could see the dusty outline where

something had been standing — something square

and the exact size of the TARDIS. But it had

gone now The Doctor looked round, hoping to

see someone he could ask where the TARDIS

had been taken.

There was only one figure in sight. A robot

built of metal and plastic. It walked with an

elegance and speed that was surprising.

'Oh, hi,' the Doctor said as the robot approached.

Look at you, someone took pride in their work,

didn't they. You are beautiful, you know that? What

engineering. What design. What — are you doing?!'

The Doctor's voice had become a strangled yelp

as the robot hauled him off his feet. It lifted the

Doctor into the air, then hurled him aside. The

Doctor crashed painfully into the Moon Buggy,

and slumped to the ground. He shook his head

groggily, wondering what was going on. 'Was it

something I said?' he muttered.

The robot w a s looming over him. Metal

fingers snapped viciously as it reached down for the

Doctor. Its voice was an echoing metallic boom.

'Brother Varlos — I have found you at last,' it

grated. 'You have been tried in your absence, and

sentenced to death.'

To Be Continued...