Chapter Eleven

'No,' he admitted grimly as he slid across to the driver's seat. 'But I trust him. Come on!'

As Bessie sped away up the hill, Benny turned back, watching the Doctor recede into the distance. The thick cloud was engulfing the buildings now. The screaming had started.

'Vrgnur, report!'

The scientist was hunched over his instruments. 'My Lord, the Red Death is reacting with the increased levels of oxygen and biological activity in the Terran atmosphere. It has entered a feeding frenzy and is multiplying at an astonishing rate.'

Gerayhayvun was on his feet. 'It's attacking that village. Can't you control it?' he squealed in his own language.

Xznaal narrowed his eyes. The Death was a thick fog now, billowing down the hillside.

'It is operating on instinct, sir, I can't restrain it.'

'Show me what it sees.'

The hologlobe switched its image, showing a disjointed view of the human settlement. It was like a compound eye: hundreds of circles, each containing a different viewpoint. Every single one was filled by images of humans and their animals running in the streets, terrified. Xznaal watched as the cloud picked them off, swirling around their heads, grasping their nostrils, forcing itself into their mouths and lungs.

'This is horrible,' Xztaynz was crying.

'It is unavoidable,' Xznaal said calmly.

He ran down over the village green, past the Bull's Head, keeping control of his breathing. The red mist was everywhere: hanging around the police station, wafting over the cottages on Donkey Lane and around the roof of Mrs Darling's corner shop. The Doctor shooed the ducks from the duckpond as he hurried past them.