Chapter 2
Tegan's consciousness returned slowly. She was first aware of a coarse material bristling against her cheek and a rank, oily odor near her nose. At least she could breathe again, though with the foul smell she was not entirely glad for the return of this basic function. She moved her hand to brush away the scratchy irritation, but it seemed to surround her. She opened her eyes then, blinking in the dull light.
Her first sight was matted, gray hair next to her face. She sucked in a breath and sat up abruptly, but this sudden movement brought a sharp pain to her right side. She gasped and hunched over, cradling her bruised ribs with her arm.
Tegan saw that she had lain on a grimy animal skin in the corner of a room. The walls were made of a combination of roughly hewn stone and broad, thick boards. These, however, did not prevent the cold from seeping in through many gaps, and she shivered involuntarily. She realized that her cloak was gone, as were her boots. The room was hazy in the light of a few thick, smoky candles, but after a minute her eyes adjusted. She could see several other women huddled against the opposite wall, whispering softly to each other.
Tegan coughed as a bit of smoke wafted toward her. The women looked at her, and she said, "Hello" in a hoarse voice.
One of the women stood and took a clay container from a sturdy table, the sole piece of furniture in the room, and held it out toward Tegan. Tegan took the cup, saying, "Thanks" as she did.
The woman backed up toward the wall and her companions as Tegan drank the water. Thankfully, it was very cold, and if it was brackish she could not taste it.
Tegan set the cup on the floor after she had finished. The women still watched her warily. She could not imagine that she presented any threat to them. They appeared much sturdier than she was, with broad faces and large bones. They wore simple shifts with fur vests on top. Their hair was either braided or loose, and they all looked somewhat somber. She judged that their ages were similar to hers; none had deep lines in her face or gray in her hair.
"Thank you for the water," she said, attempting to begin some sort of conversation.
The women remained silent, so she continued. "My name is Tegan. What are yours?"
The woman who had brought her the water responded shyly, "I'm Elara."
Tegan leaned forward and extended her hand, but Elara merely stared at the appendage without understanding its significance. Tegan asked, "Do you live here, in this house?"
Elara shook her head. "No. We're waiting."
"Waiting? For what?" asked Tegan.
There was a heavy silence among the women; Elara looked down at the floor before answering.
"You must wait, too."
"But what for?"
Elara seemed to sigh. "For the men."
"The men?" Tegan felt as though she were merely parroting Elara, but extracting information from the woman was difficult, to say the least.
"They will come for us."
Tegan nodded. "All right. Then what?"
Elara looked at Tegan questioningly. "You don't know?"
Tegan shook her head.
"You don't know what men do with women?"
Tegan saw Elara and her companions shift slightly; several seemed to hunch into themselves.
With growing understanding and building uneasiness, Tegan said, "I think I do."
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Turlough had managed to stumble to his room in the TARDIS shortly after Tegan left to retrieve the rocks. His chest was still sore and slightly heavy, but he was able to breathe with little difficulty.
He was disappointed with himself, and as he made his way down the corridor, he remembered several boys in school who had suffered from asthma. He had always thought them rather weak with their ever-present inhalers and sudden bouts of wheezing. Now he understood the brief panic he had seen in their eyes before they had steadied their breathing. He had wondered, during those last few minutes before Tegan managed to drag him into the TARDIS, if he would die. The inability to take a breath was terrifying, and he hoped he would never feel that way again. But still, if the atmosphere on this planet triggered the attack, other atmospheres might have the same effect.
This thought was quite unsettling. The entire experience had thoroughly exhausted him, and by the time he fell onto the bed his fatigue was complete. Turlough's eyes closed, and within a few seconds he had fallen into a deep, unyielding slumber that would envelop him for many hours.
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A high stone wall surrounded the village, protecting it somewhat from the sharp wind. As the Doctor and the Aseylian men entered through a wooden gate, the howling decreased considerably. The Doctor took this opportunity to attempt a discourse.
"Gorrob," he began, "this is your village?"
Gorrob nodded brusquely, then pointed toward a stone building. "That's my house."
"Ah, I see. Are we going there?"
Gorrob turned to look at the Doctor. His expression was one of distrust. "No. We'll go there." He tilted his head toward a larger building. Dark smoke rose from the stone chimney, and firelight glowed through the chinks in the walls.
"Of course," the Doctor said, "the public house."
"Public-- house?" Gorrob repeated.
"Yes. A place where people gather for food and drink."
"Public-- house," Gorrob said. "Food and drink, yes. And the women."
The Doctor's eyebrow twitched upward; he knew, of course, that this society was a crude one, but still, he preferred to avoid those interactions that appeared brutal to him. The Time Lords' policy of non-interference prevented him from making any attempts to alter the society. Even so, in these cases it was always easier when his exposure was minimal.
"Come," Gorrob urged none too gently with a sharp tap on the Doctor's shoulder.
"Yes, of course," the Doctor said agreeably. "But I wonder about the cart. Will the repairs take long?"
Gorrob shrugged. "I don't know."
"The rocks you were transporting seem quite heavy. I hope that your friends can repair the wheel sufficiently. I could go back and help them if you like. I have some knowledge of these things."
Gorrob's expression again showed suspicion. "No. Sondno will fix it. You'll come with us. We'll thank you."
"Of course." The Doctor followed Gorrob for a few steps, then remarked offhandedly, "That was quite a large quantity of rocks. Will you use them for more buildings?"
Gorrob scowled. "No."
"For the wall, then?"
"No." Gorrob continued walking.
The Doctor's eyes quickly skimmed the small village. Aside from the wall and the buildings, he could see no other use for stones.
"They would make fine weapons," he said after a moment.
Gorrob stopped and turned to him. "That's not your concern. Come," he jerked the Doctor's arm, "and we'll show you our thanks."
The Doctor smiled again, but his eyes continued to scan all around him. He needed to determine the layout of the village and where the cart would likely be left so that he could reach it quickly once he slipped away from the men. However, until the cart returned, there was nothing he could do. He could perceive no evidence of other molybdenitic rocks anywhere else in the village.
The men pushed their way through a poorly hung door into the public house. The Doctor found the interior much as he had expected it, with several simple benches and tables, a large stone fireplace against one wall, and clay containers set out on the tables. Candles illuminated the dim interior; there were no windows. Several men sat at a table near the fire. They acknowledged the returning villagers with nods.
A single woman stood near the back of the room, where the Doctor saw a hallway and glimpsed two other doorways. He suspected that there was some sort of kitchen and possibly living quarters beyond the greatroom. The waiting woman appeared to be in her late forties. She held a large round of bread in her arms, which she promptly set on one of the tables once the men were inside. She turned and disappeared into the hall.
Gorrob poured dark amber liquid into a smaller clay cup and took a sharp drink. The Doctor smelled the pungent odor of grain alcohol. The other men helped themselves to additional containers of the liquor, some drinking directly from the jar while others used cups. Gorrob poured a second cup and handed it to the Doctor.
"Thank you," the Doctor said, sniffing the drink as he held it to his mouth. He had anticipated setting it aside without touching it, but the men, particularly Gorrob, watched him intently and with some skepticism, so he tilted the cup toward his mouth, keeping his lips tightly closed. As he lowered the cup, he coughed and said, "Excellent!"
Gorrob nodded. "Now we'll eat."
The woman returned with a large bowl. Steam rose from it, but the Doctor could not tell what it contained. She set the bowl on a table and began ladling a thick, pasty substance into smaller bowls. The men grabbed these from her without acknowledging her presence.
As the Doctor approached the woman, he could see that her face was lined deeply. Additionally, she had several scars on her lips, cheek, and forehead. He recognized these as typical of the results of blows. He smiled kindly at her as she handed him a bowl. She did not meet his eyes, however.
The Doctor sat near the outer door, but Gorrob said, "No, here."
The Time Lord moved obligingly. He had hoped to station himself near the door so that he could exit quietly while the men were otherwise occupied. At the rate they were drinking, he knew that they would soon be sluggish and bleary.
He settled next to Gorrob, already planning his escape once his hosts grew intoxicated. As the woman provided the men with second helpings, the Doctor thought again with relief that Tegan and Turlough were within the safe confines of the TARDIS. He planned to join them as soon as it was feasible. He hoped, though, that neither would decide to come after him. This was the last group to which he wanted them, and Tegan in particular, exposed.
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Tegan's companions had begun speaking to her slowly. Each had given her name before they heard male voices outside. The words were indistinguishable in the residual wind, but the women had ceased talking. They did not appear particularly afraid; rather, Tegan sensed a resignation that reminded her of the feeling she had had before school exams. She had been loath to undergo the experience but eager for it to be over.
The men's voices died away; Tegan thought they must have entered a nearby building. She resumed conversing with the women.
"Who was that?" she asked.
Elara responded slowly, "Gorrob and the others."
"Is Gorrob the leader?"
Elara nodded. "Yes."
"Does he have a wife?" Tegan inquired. She was having trouble understanding the structure of this society.
"A wife?" Elara did not appear familiar with the word.
"Yes, you know, a woman who's always with him, who has children with him."
Elara's brow wrinkled. "There's not one woman. He takes many."
Tegan sighed. "I see."
"He'll send for us. We'll go to him and the other men."
"And then what?" Tegan was fairly certain that she knew the answer, but she still dreaded hearing it.
"They pick which one of us they want. Gorrob will choose first. They'll take us, and then later, when they're done, we'll go to our house until they send for us again, unless a man is very pleased with one of us."
"So you don't always stay in this building?"
Elara shook her head. "We sleep and work in a house over there," she nodded toward the back wall, "until a man decides he wants us to stay with him for a time. Then we go to his house until he tires of us."
"Aren't there any other women in the village?" Tegan asked in surprise. There were at least thirty houses.
"Yes, there are others. But some are with child or have babies. They stay together in the other houses."
"And what about the children?"
"The old women care for them."
Tegan was growing more appalled with the society by the moment. "You don't have to live like this," she said, her voice rising in anger.
Elara and the others looked at her blankly.
"You aren't animals, and you shouldn't be treated like you are--" she began.
Without warning, the door burst open and the man who had carried Tegan to the village stepped inside. He strode toward her swiftly, roaring, "Quiet! You do not speak!"
Tegan stood to face him; she was livid at him for addressing her so commandingly and for his treatment of the women. "I'll speak whenever I want to--" she began.
His hand slammed against her mouth with such speed that she did not see it coming. The force of the blow knocked her back against the wall.
"You do not speak!" he repeated, enunciating each word in a voice that echoed through the room. He gripped her chin savagely with his fingers, then he released her with a hard jerk.
The other women shrank back against the wall; all had bowed their heads. The man stormed toward the door but stopped before exiting. He turned back to Tegan. "I'll teach you not to speak to a man. You'll be the first one I take. You'll wish you'd never spoken out to me."
He spoke with such a menacing tone that Tegan pressed her body into the corner. His glare was both choleric and salacious. She found that she was shaking when he slammed the door shut. She heard a heavy bar fall into place against the outside of the door.
Her eyes darted around the room frantically. She could see no means of escape. There was no fireplace, and the floors were made of dirt. She thought for a moment of igniting some piece of wood with a candle and causing a fire, but she doubted the table would burn, particularly with the poor flame of the simple wicks. She had no matches with her.
She sank back down to the floor, wiping her hand gingerly across her lip. She tasted blood in her mouth, and she found a red smear across her palm when she lowered her hand. Her lip pounded in pain, but she barely acknowledged it. Her singular thought was of escape; she had to find a way out of this building.
"We have to get out of here," she said softly to the other women.
Elara held a hand to her mouth and shook her head. Tegan saw that she would receive no help from these oppressed women. She drew her knees up to her chest and rested her head against them. She had to think of something, and she knew that she had very little time.
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The men had been drinking for nearly an hour, yet they appeared barely affected by the alcohol. The Doctor had still managed to move stealthily toward the door. He now stood only a few yards away from it. Gorrob and another man were engaged in a heated discussion about the best way to brew the beverage they drank. The other men seemed relatively engrossed in their drinking and continued eating.
The Doctor took another step backward. He was startled by the door flinging open, and he sat quickly on a nearby bench. A huge, ruddy man stepped heavily inside. He appeared angry and reached for a container from the nearest table. He drank for several seconds, liquid dribbling down his beard.
Finally he looked up and noticed the Doctor. "Who're you?" he asked in a thundering voice.
Gorrob responded, "He's Dock Turr. He kept our cart from killing the animal."
"He's strange in color," the new man said, eyes narrowing at the Doctor.
"He's from away. We'll share our food and drink with him to thank him," Gorrob said.
"The animal isn't hurt?" the enormous man asked.
Gorrob shook his head. "No. Dock Turr saved it."
The Doctor stood and extended his hand to the newcomer. "Pleased to meet you," he said affably.
"Dock Turr," the man said, "I'm Vandak." He did not offer his hand in return.
"You look as though you've just come back from hunting," the Doctor said, noting a smear of blood on the man's knuckle.
"No." Vandak followed the Doctor's gaze then said proudly, "I taught a woman to keep her place."
The Doctor felt himself scowl involuntarily, but he quickly forced a neutral expression. "I see."
Vandak helped himself to a second container of liquor and drank most of it in a single swallow then sat down next to Gorrob. The woman brought several more drink containers. These men could not remain sober for much longer; the Doctor eased himself closer to the door.
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"When will he come back for us?" Tegan asked her companions in a soft voice. She knew that remaining quiet was in her best interest, but she was seething and wanted nothing more than to scream at these women and force them to see how terribly they were treated.
Elara shrugged her shoulders and whispered, "Soon."
Tegan continued to search the room for any weapon. Her eyes rested on her stockinged feet; her toes felt nearly numb in the cold air. She massaged them with her fingers. "Do you know what happened to my boots and cloak?" she asked. The boots had proven a fairly effective weapon earlier. Her aching ribs were proof of that.
Elara shook her head. "Vandak probably took them for his woman."
"But he said he was--" She hesitated to speak the words, "--he was going to come back for me."
Elara nodded. "He will. He only wants you for the night."
Tegan clenched her fists. "Damn it!" she muttered. Her eyes searched the room once again, but she could find no means of defense.
"Don't try to fight him," Elara whispered. "It will be easier if you let him do as he will."
"That's what you all do, isn't it?" she asked bitingly.
"Yes. We don't fight, but some of the women they've taken from far away do. It only hurts them."
Tegan let her head fall back against the wall. "Where will they take us?" she asked after a minute of thought.
Elara gestured toward the side of the building. "Over there."
"To another building? What's it like inside?"
"Like this. There are some tables and benches, and a fireplace, too."
Tegan nodded. She felt a scrap of hope mounting. Perhaps she could find a weapon in the other building. At the very least, it had a fireplace. In this cold, surely the fire would be roaring. If she could be patient and allow Vandak to think she was compliant, she might be able to push him into the fire or ignite some object to create a distraction. It was a viable plan. She just hoped that she could endure the man's horrid touch long enough to permit him to let down his guard. Despite her resolve, Tegan began to tremble.
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The Doctor stood only feet from the door. The men were growing more sluggish, although their voices had become even louder. At the moment, no one was watching him directly. He had seen the wagon enter the village through a gap in the timbers of the door, and Sondno and his companion had joined them in the public house. This was an opportune time to slip away.
The Doctor took another step.
"Oy!" Vandak hollered.
The Doctor froze momentarily, then he casually reached for a cup. "Delicious," he said, feigning a sip.
Vandak rose; he towered over the Doctor. He stalked toward the door as the Doctor attempted to step back. Vandak's expression was difficult to read. However, his eyes swept over the Doctor with little attention. His huge hand pressed against the door.
"I'm getting the women," he bellowed.
The other men grunted and mumbled in accord.
Vandak stepped out into the cold. The Doctor sat on the bench closest to the door. He had found an ideal opportunity for escape. When the women entered, he would slip out behind them. He felt certain that the men would be distracted momentarily and would not notice his absence for several minutes. This would allow him time to remove the rocks from the wagon and leave the village.
He still wondered about the use of the rocks. He would try to explore the area before returning to the TARDIS, but he knew that he could not devote much time to this endeavor. Despite his warnings, he doubted that Tegan and Turlough would wait indefinitely for him. He needed to get back to the TARDIS before they decided to come after him. Each moment he spent with these villagers reinforced his resolve to keep his companions away.
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Vandak stepped into the room with a snort, shouting, "Up!" The women immediately responded; all stood and moved toward the door.
Tegan found herself shivering violently as cold air rushed into the room. She, too, rose and took a tentative step forward.
Vandak grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him, then he shoved her ahead, still gripping her arm painfully.
She took a deep breath and clenched her teeth. She would get through this. She would find a way to escape, and if this brute were hurt in the process she would not regret it. She steeled herself for the difficult task ahead. She knew that she would have to allow him to touch her, to think that she had submitted, before she could act. She hoped that she had the strength to do this.
Vandak dragged her along toward a building perhaps ten yards away. The other women walked in front of them. Tegan was surprised for a moment that they moved so easily; however, she quickly realized that it did not occur to them to do anything else. This was their way of life.
Tegan straightened slightly and lifted her chin. This would never be her way.
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The Doctor heard feet moving over the ground a minute before the women entered the building. They walked through the door slowly, one at a time. Their gazes were fixed straight ahead; none looked at any of the men. Their faces were utterly expressionless.
The Doctor stood, shielded in part by the women in front of him. He took a step toward the door, but Vandak's bulk stopped him. The Aseylian stepped inside, jerking a woman behind him.
The Time Lord had to stop himself from crying out in surprise as Tegan was dragged through the doorway. Her eyes swept the room, and when they met the Doctor's face she opened her mouth. He shook his head nearly imperceptibly and cast his gaze downward. Tegan remained silent; she understood his signal.
The women had moved to the center of the room. Gorrob stood and eyed the group greedily. He ran his hands roughly over several women's heads and backs. They remained stoic.
The Doctor's mind had been racing since Tegan was brought into the building. Now he could not simply slip away; he had to take her with him. She could not be left here with these men for even a few minutes. He had seen immediately that she was trembling and pale. Her lower lip was badly swollen and cut, obviously the result of a blow. He recalled the blood on Vandak's hand with a surge of fury. He knew it was crucial that he remove her from here quickly.
When Gorrob spoke to him, he was startled from his thoughts. "Dock Turr. We'll finish thanking you by letting you have one of the women."
The Doctor opened his mouth, but he was at a loss for words for several seconds. "Thank you," he stammered, then he regained his composure. "I would enjoy that."
He made a concerted effort to avoid Tegan's gaze. "Where shall we go?" he asked.
"Go?" Gorrob asked blankly.
The Doctor nodded. "Yes. Where should she and I go? Are the rooms back there?" He pointed toward the back of the building, where the serving woman hovered in the doorway.
Gorrob and several of the other men snorted. "Yes, but you don't take your woman in there. We have them here, together." His eyes narrowed in suspicion once again.
"Ah--" the Doctor suppressed his repugnance quickly. "Of course. It is done as a group." He tried to keep his voice even. "My people prefer to be alone--"
"No," Gorrob said flatly. "If you want a woman, you take her like we do. That's our way. Later you can go back there with her, if she pleases you. Pick one." He gestured to the group of women, running his hands over several again with blatant familiarity.
The Doctor's preeminate concern was getting Tegan away from Vandak. He stepped toward the women and made a pretext of looking over each one cursorily. He murmured, "Hmm," then he turned toward Vandak.
"I want that one." He tilted his head toward Tegan.
Vandak gripped her arm more fiercely; the Doctor saw Tegan's face twitch with pain. "No," the sturdy Aseylian said, "I get this one."
The Doctor nodded calmly and turned his gaze toward Gorrob. "I did save your wagon and the animal," he reminded the leader.
"Yes," Gorrob said. He looked at Tegan then at the Doctor, who appeared relatively disinterested with his hands thrust into his pockets.
Vandak was glowering; the tension between him and Gorrob was palpable. Clearly these two men had vied for superiority in the group. Somehow Gorrob had prevailed, but the Doctor sensed that this victory was tenuous.
"I want her," Vandak growled.
"Dock Turr saved the cart and the animal. He gets her -- for now."
Vandak scowled even more darkly. "I get her later."
Gorrob said, "Yes, when he's done with her."
Vandak grunted and pushed Tegan toward the other women. The men began to stand as Gorrob took Elara's arm and led her toward the wall. Most of the other men followed suit, so the Doctor stepped forward toward Tegan.
Her eyes met his briefly, but he looked away. Still, she felt enormous comfort in that momentary glance. He placed a hand on her arm, careful to avoid the area where Vandak had gripped her. "Come," he said curtly, leading her toward an empty corner, as far from the others as possible.
He pushed her gently so that her back rested against the vertex of the two walls; he stood in front of her. He still wore his cloak, as did several of the other men in the chill of the room. He hoped that the garment would at least protect her from the pervasive draft and shield her from view of the others.
The Doctor pressed his hand against the wall, next to Tegan's head, and leaned forward. She still trembled, and her expression was pained.
"It's going to be all right," he whispered, keeping his lips as still as possible.
"Doctor--" she began, but he put his hand over her mouth very lightly.
"Don't talk," he said almost inaudibly. "You mustn't arouse suspicion."
Her eyes questioned him; he knew that she wanted to ask what his plan was. He turned his head quickly to glance at the doorway. Perhaps there was a chance that he and Tegan could dash away while the men were otherwise occupied. However, he immediately realized that this was impossible. There were more men than women, and three burly fellows had pulled a bench in front of the door, where they sat watching their companions with vulgar grins. The doorway was blocked quite solidly.
He whispered, "We have to get through this part, then we'll get away from the others. There may be a window or a door in back."
She nodded imperceptibly, her eyes locked on his. From around the room, sounds began issuing from the men: various grunts and groans of raw pleasure. The women made few noises.
Tegan's eyes darted across the room toward Vandak, where he towered over a dark-haired young woman. Her dress had been lifted over her hips. The Doctor placed his hand on Tegan's cheek and turned her face back to him.
"Don't look at them," he said softly.
The Doctor, however, did glance back toward Gorrob. He held Elara against the rough wall. One hand was tangled in her hair; the other was under her vest. The leader turned away from Elara for a moment to watch the Doctor. His expression still appeared vaguely suspicious.
The Doctor looked back at Tegan and swallowed; his throat felt terribly dry. His voice seemed unsteady as he said under his breath, "Tegan, they have to believe this is real."
Her eyes widened as the Doctor moved closer to her. "I'm sorry," he murmured.
She felt him push her skirt up over her thighs, and when he grasped the edge of her tights at her hip and pulled them downward toward her ankles, the shock on her face was genuine.
"Do you have to--" she began in a whisper. Her words were slightly slurred from the swollen lip.
The Doctor's eyes met hers for barely a glance; she sensed that he could not look at her.
"It must appear real," he said again through nearly closed lips, then repeated, "I'm sorry."
He moved his right hand to her face, turning her head to the side and pressing his lips against the edge of her mouth. His fingers brushed up toward her hair, entwining in the soft strands. She gasped when she felt his left hand touch her thigh and pull her leg to the side. Tears began to sting her eyes as the Doctor pressed in more closely against her. His body pushed her back further, and her shoulders made a soft thud against the wall.
His hand remained on her thigh, lifting her leg so that it rested over his hip. His cheek was against hers; she heard his breath catch in his throat. His cool fingers had left her hair and trailed down her face, then to the back of her neck. He turned her head and pushed her upward with a thrust of his hips against hers.
She felt his fingers move to the side of her neck; there was a growing pressure in his touch. She gasped again, then her eyes closed and her head fell forward on his shoulder. She was unconscious.
Gorrob turned to watch the visitor. He saw the fair-haired man moving rhythmically against the woman. Her body was crushed against the wall; he held her bare leg up at his side, where it was visible beside his cloak. Gorrob grinned in approval and returned to his woman.
Tegan's consciousness returned slowly. She was first aware of a coarse material bristling against her cheek and a rank, oily odor near her nose. At least she could breathe again, though with the foul smell she was not entirely glad for the return of this basic function. She moved her hand to brush away the scratchy irritation, but it seemed to surround her. She opened her eyes then, blinking in the dull light.
Her first sight was matted, gray hair next to her face. She sucked in a breath and sat up abruptly, but this sudden movement brought a sharp pain to her right side. She gasped and hunched over, cradling her bruised ribs with her arm.
Tegan saw that she had lain on a grimy animal skin in the corner of a room. The walls were made of a combination of roughly hewn stone and broad, thick boards. These, however, did not prevent the cold from seeping in through many gaps, and she shivered involuntarily. She realized that her cloak was gone, as were her boots. The room was hazy in the light of a few thick, smoky candles, but after a minute her eyes adjusted. She could see several other women huddled against the opposite wall, whispering softly to each other.
Tegan coughed as a bit of smoke wafted toward her. The women looked at her, and she said, "Hello" in a hoarse voice.
One of the women stood and took a clay container from a sturdy table, the sole piece of furniture in the room, and held it out toward Tegan. Tegan took the cup, saying, "Thanks" as she did.
The woman backed up toward the wall and her companions as Tegan drank the water. Thankfully, it was very cold, and if it was brackish she could not taste it.
Tegan set the cup on the floor after she had finished. The women still watched her warily. She could not imagine that she presented any threat to them. They appeared much sturdier than she was, with broad faces and large bones. They wore simple shifts with fur vests on top. Their hair was either braided or loose, and they all looked somewhat somber. She judged that their ages were similar to hers; none had deep lines in her face or gray in her hair.
"Thank you for the water," she said, attempting to begin some sort of conversation.
The women remained silent, so she continued. "My name is Tegan. What are yours?"
The woman who had brought her the water responded shyly, "I'm Elara."
Tegan leaned forward and extended her hand, but Elara merely stared at the appendage without understanding its significance. Tegan asked, "Do you live here, in this house?"
Elara shook her head. "No. We're waiting."
"Waiting? For what?" asked Tegan.
There was a heavy silence among the women; Elara looked down at the floor before answering.
"You must wait, too."
"But what for?"
Elara seemed to sigh. "For the men."
"The men?" Tegan felt as though she were merely parroting Elara, but extracting information from the woman was difficult, to say the least.
"They will come for us."
Tegan nodded. "All right. Then what?"
Elara looked at Tegan questioningly. "You don't know?"
Tegan shook her head.
"You don't know what men do with women?"
Tegan saw Elara and her companions shift slightly; several seemed to hunch into themselves.
With growing understanding and building uneasiness, Tegan said, "I think I do."
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Turlough had managed to stumble to his room in the TARDIS shortly after Tegan left to retrieve the rocks. His chest was still sore and slightly heavy, but he was able to breathe with little difficulty.
He was disappointed with himself, and as he made his way down the corridor, he remembered several boys in school who had suffered from asthma. He had always thought them rather weak with their ever-present inhalers and sudden bouts of wheezing. Now he understood the brief panic he had seen in their eyes before they had steadied their breathing. He had wondered, during those last few minutes before Tegan managed to drag him into the TARDIS, if he would die. The inability to take a breath was terrifying, and he hoped he would never feel that way again. But still, if the atmosphere on this planet triggered the attack, other atmospheres might have the same effect.
This thought was quite unsettling. The entire experience had thoroughly exhausted him, and by the time he fell onto the bed his fatigue was complete. Turlough's eyes closed, and within a few seconds he had fallen into a deep, unyielding slumber that would envelop him for many hours.
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A high stone wall surrounded the village, protecting it somewhat from the sharp wind. As the Doctor and the Aseylian men entered through a wooden gate, the howling decreased considerably. The Doctor took this opportunity to attempt a discourse.
"Gorrob," he began, "this is your village?"
Gorrob nodded brusquely, then pointed toward a stone building. "That's my house."
"Ah, I see. Are we going there?"
Gorrob turned to look at the Doctor. His expression was one of distrust. "No. We'll go there." He tilted his head toward a larger building. Dark smoke rose from the stone chimney, and firelight glowed through the chinks in the walls.
"Of course," the Doctor said, "the public house."
"Public-- house?" Gorrob repeated.
"Yes. A place where people gather for food and drink."
"Public-- house," Gorrob said. "Food and drink, yes. And the women."
The Doctor's eyebrow twitched upward; he knew, of course, that this society was a crude one, but still, he preferred to avoid those interactions that appeared brutal to him. The Time Lords' policy of non-interference prevented him from making any attempts to alter the society. Even so, in these cases it was always easier when his exposure was minimal.
"Come," Gorrob urged none too gently with a sharp tap on the Doctor's shoulder.
"Yes, of course," the Doctor said agreeably. "But I wonder about the cart. Will the repairs take long?"
Gorrob shrugged. "I don't know."
"The rocks you were transporting seem quite heavy. I hope that your friends can repair the wheel sufficiently. I could go back and help them if you like. I have some knowledge of these things."
Gorrob's expression again showed suspicion. "No. Sondno will fix it. You'll come with us. We'll thank you."
"Of course." The Doctor followed Gorrob for a few steps, then remarked offhandedly, "That was quite a large quantity of rocks. Will you use them for more buildings?"
Gorrob scowled. "No."
"For the wall, then?"
"No." Gorrob continued walking.
The Doctor's eyes quickly skimmed the small village. Aside from the wall and the buildings, he could see no other use for stones.
"They would make fine weapons," he said after a moment.
Gorrob stopped and turned to him. "That's not your concern. Come," he jerked the Doctor's arm, "and we'll show you our thanks."
The Doctor smiled again, but his eyes continued to scan all around him. He needed to determine the layout of the village and where the cart would likely be left so that he could reach it quickly once he slipped away from the men. However, until the cart returned, there was nothing he could do. He could perceive no evidence of other molybdenitic rocks anywhere else in the village.
The men pushed their way through a poorly hung door into the public house. The Doctor found the interior much as he had expected it, with several simple benches and tables, a large stone fireplace against one wall, and clay containers set out on the tables. Candles illuminated the dim interior; there were no windows. Several men sat at a table near the fire. They acknowledged the returning villagers with nods.
A single woman stood near the back of the room, where the Doctor saw a hallway and glimpsed two other doorways. He suspected that there was some sort of kitchen and possibly living quarters beyond the greatroom. The waiting woman appeared to be in her late forties. She held a large round of bread in her arms, which she promptly set on one of the tables once the men were inside. She turned and disappeared into the hall.
Gorrob poured dark amber liquid into a smaller clay cup and took a sharp drink. The Doctor smelled the pungent odor of grain alcohol. The other men helped themselves to additional containers of the liquor, some drinking directly from the jar while others used cups. Gorrob poured a second cup and handed it to the Doctor.
"Thank you," the Doctor said, sniffing the drink as he held it to his mouth. He had anticipated setting it aside without touching it, but the men, particularly Gorrob, watched him intently and with some skepticism, so he tilted the cup toward his mouth, keeping his lips tightly closed. As he lowered the cup, he coughed and said, "Excellent!"
Gorrob nodded. "Now we'll eat."
The woman returned with a large bowl. Steam rose from it, but the Doctor could not tell what it contained. She set the bowl on a table and began ladling a thick, pasty substance into smaller bowls. The men grabbed these from her without acknowledging her presence.
As the Doctor approached the woman, he could see that her face was lined deeply. Additionally, she had several scars on her lips, cheek, and forehead. He recognized these as typical of the results of blows. He smiled kindly at her as she handed him a bowl. She did not meet his eyes, however.
The Doctor sat near the outer door, but Gorrob said, "No, here."
The Time Lord moved obligingly. He had hoped to station himself near the door so that he could exit quietly while the men were otherwise occupied. At the rate they were drinking, he knew that they would soon be sluggish and bleary.
He settled next to Gorrob, already planning his escape once his hosts grew intoxicated. As the woman provided the men with second helpings, the Doctor thought again with relief that Tegan and Turlough were within the safe confines of the TARDIS. He planned to join them as soon as it was feasible. He hoped, though, that neither would decide to come after him. This was the last group to which he wanted them, and Tegan in particular, exposed.
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Tegan's companions had begun speaking to her slowly. Each had given her name before they heard male voices outside. The words were indistinguishable in the residual wind, but the women had ceased talking. They did not appear particularly afraid; rather, Tegan sensed a resignation that reminded her of the feeling she had had before school exams. She had been loath to undergo the experience but eager for it to be over.
The men's voices died away; Tegan thought they must have entered a nearby building. She resumed conversing with the women.
"Who was that?" she asked.
Elara responded slowly, "Gorrob and the others."
"Is Gorrob the leader?"
Elara nodded. "Yes."
"Does he have a wife?" Tegan inquired. She was having trouble understanding the structure of this society.
"A wife?" Elara did not appear familiar with the word.
"Yes, you know, a woman who's always with him, who has children with him."
Elara's brow wrinkled. "There's not one woman. He takes many."
Tegan sighed. "I see."
"He'll send for us. We'll go to him and the other men."
"And then what?" Tegan was fairly certain that she knew the answer, but she still dreaded hearing it.
"They pick which one of us they want. Gorrob will choose first. They'll take us, and then later, when they're done, we'll go to our house until they send for us again, unless a man is very pleased with one of us."
"So you don't always stay in this building?"
Elara shook her head. "We sleep and work in a house over there," she nodded toward the back wall, "until a man decides he wants us to stay with him for a time. Then we go to his house until he tires of us."
"Aren't there any other women in the village?" Tegan asked in surprise. There were at least thirty houses.
"Yes, there are others. But some are with child or have babies. They stay together in the other houses."
"And what about the children?"
"The old women care for them."
Tegan was growing more appalled with the society by the moment. "You don't have to live like this," she said, her voice rising in anger.
Elara and the others looked at her blankly.
"You aren't animals, and you shouldn't be treated like you are--" she began.
Without warning, the door burst open and the man who had carried Tegan to the village stepped inside. He strode toward her swiftly, roaring, "Quiet! You do not speak!"
Tegan stood to face him; she was livid at him for addressing her so commandingly and for his treatment of the women. "I'll speak whenever I want to--" she began.
His hand slammed against her mouth with such speed that she did not see it coming. The force of the blow knocked her back against the wall.
"You do not speak!" he repeated, enunciating each word in a voice that echoed through the room. He gripped her chin savagely with his fingers, then he released her with a hard jerk.
The other women shrank back against the wall; all had bowed their heads. The man stormed toward the door but stopped before exiting. He turned back to Tegan. "I'll teach you not to speak to a man. You'll be the first one I take. You'll wish you'd never spoken out to me."
He spoke with such a menacing tone that Tegan pressed her body into the corner. His glare was both choleric and salacious. She found that she was shaking when he slammed the door shut. She heard a heavy bar fall into place against the outside of the door.
Her eyes darted around the room frantically. She could see no means of escape. There was no fireplace, and the floors were made of dirt. She thought for a moment of igniting some piece of wood with a candle and causing a fire, but she doubted the table would burn, particularly with the poor flame of the simple wicks. She had no matches with her.
She sank back down to the floor, wiping her hand gingerly across her lip. She tasted blood in her mouth, and she found a red smear across her palm when she lowered her hand. Her lip pounded in pain, but she barely acknowledged it. Her singular thought was of escape; she had to find a way out of this building.
"We have to get out of here," she said softly to the other women.
Elara held a hand to her mouth and shook her head. Tegan saw that she would receive no help from these oppressed women. She drew her knees up to her chest and rested her head against them. She had to think of something, and she knew that she had very little time.
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The men had been drinking for nearly an hour, yet they appeared barely affected by the alcohol. The Doctor had still managed to move stealthily toward the door. He now stood only a few yards away from it. Gorrob and another man were engaged in a heated discussion about the best way to brew the beverage they drank. The other men seemed relatively engrossed in their drinking and continued eating.
The Doctor took another step backward. He was startled by the door flinging open, and he sat quickly on a nearby bench. A huge, ruddy man stepped heavily inside. He appeared angry and reached for a container from the nearest table. He drank for several seconds, liquid dribbling down his beard.
Finally he looked up and noticed the Doctor. "Who're you?" he asked in a thundering voice.
Gorrob responded, "He's Dock Turr. He kept our cart from killing the animal."
"He's strange in color," the new man said, eyes narrowing at the Doctor.
"He's from away. We'll share our food and drink with him to thank him," Gorrob said.
"The animal isn't hurt?" the enormous man asked.
Gorrob shook his head. "No. Dock Turr saved it."
The Doctor stood and extended his hand to the newcomer. "Pleased to meet you," he said affably.
"Dock Turr," the man said, "I'm Vandak." He did not offer his hand in return.
"You look as though you've just come back from hunting," the Doctor said, noting a smear of blood on the man's knuckle.
"No." Vandak followed the Doctor's gaze then said proudly, "I taught a woman to keep her place."
The Doctor felt himself scowl involuntarily, but he quickly forced a neutral expression. "I see."
Vandak helped himself to a second container of liquor and drank most of it in a single swallow then sat down next to Gorrob. The woman brought several more drink containers. These men could not remain sober for much longer; the Doctor eased himself closer to the door.
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"When will he come back for us?" Tegan asked her companions in a soft voice. She knew that remaining quiet was in her best interest, but she was seething and wanted nothing more than to scream at these women and force them to see how terribly they were treated.
Elara shrugged her shoulders and whispered, "Soon."
Tegan continued to search the room for any weapon. Her eyes rested on her stockinged feet; her toes felt nearly numb in the cold air. She massaged them with her fingers. "Do you know what happened to my boots and cloak?" she asked. The boots had proven a fairly effective weapon earlier. Her aching ribs were proof of that.
Elara shook her head. "Vandak probably took them for his woman."
"But he said he was--" She hesitated to speak the words, "--he was going to come back for me."
Elara nodded. "He will. He only wants you for the night."
Tegan clenched her fists. "Damn it!" she muttered. Her eyes searched the room once again, but she could find no means of defense.
"Don't try to fight him," Elara whispered. "It will be easier if you let him do as he will."
"That's what you all do, isn't it?" she asked bitingly.
"Yes. We don't fight, but some of the women they've taken from far away do. It only hurts them."
Tegan let her head fall back against the wall. "Where will they take us?" she asked after a minute of thought.
Elara gestured toward the side of the building. "Over there."
"To another building? What's it like inside?"
"Like this. There are some tables and benches, and a fireplace, too."
Tegan nodded. She felt a scrap of hope mounting. Perhaps she could find a weapon in the other building. At the very least, it had a fireplace. In this cold, surely the fire would be roaring. If she could be patient and allow Vandak to think she was compliant, she might be able to push him into the fire or ignite some object to create a distraction. It was a viable plan. She just hoped that she could endure the man's horrid touch long enough to permit him to let down his guard. Despite her resolve, Tegan began to tremble.
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The Doctor stood only feet from the door. The men were growing more sluggish, although their voices had become even louder. At the moment, no one was watching him directly. He had seen the wagon enter the village through a gap in the timbers of the door, and Sondno and his companion had joined them in the public house. This was an opportune time to slip away.
The Doctor took another step.
"Oy!" Vandak hollered.
The Doctor froze momentarily, then he casually reached for a cup. "Delicious," he said, feigning a sip.
Vandak rose; he towered over the Doctor. He stalked toward the door as the Doctor attempted to step back. Vandak's expression was difficult to read. However, his eyes swept over the Doctor with little attention. His huge hand pressed against the door.
"I'm getting the women," he bellowed.
The other men grunted and mumbled in accord.
Vandak stepped out into the cold. The Doctor sat on the bench closest to the door. He had found an ideal opportunity for escape. When the women entered, he would slip out behind them. He felt certain that the men would be distracted momentarily and would not notice his absence for several minutes. This would allow him time to remove the rocks from the wagon and leave the village.
He still wondered about the use of the rocks. He would try to explore the area before returning to the TARDIS, but he knew that he could not devote much time to this endeavor. Despite his warnings, he doubted that Tegan and Turlough would wait indefinitely for him. He needed to get back to the TARDIS before they decided to come after him. Each moment he spent with these villagers reinforced his resolve to keep his companions away.
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Vandak stepped into the room with a snort, shouting, "Up!" The women immediately responded; all stood and moved toward the door.
Tegan found herself shivering violently as cold air rushed into the room. She, too, rose and took a tentative step forward.
Vandak grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him, then he shoved her ahead, still gripping her arm painfully.
She took a deep breath and clenched her teeth. She would get through this. She would find a way to escape, and if this brute were hurt in the process she would not regret it. She steeled herself for the difficult task ahead. She knew that she would have to allow him to touch her, to think that she had submitted, before she could act. She hoped that she had the strength to do this.
Vandak dragged her along toward a building perhaps ten yards away. The other women walked in front of them. Tegan was surprised for a moment that they moved so easily; however, she quickly realized that it did not occur to them to do anything else. This was their way of life.
Tegan straightened slightly and lifted her chin. This would never be her way.
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The Doctor heard feet moving over the ground a minute before the women entered the building. They walked through the door slowly, one at a time. Their gazes were fixed straight ahead; none looked at any of the men. Their faces were utterly expressionless.
The Doctor stood, shielded in part by the women in front of him. He took a step toward the door, but Vandak's bulk stopped him. The Aseylian stepped inside, jerking a woman behind him.
The Time Lord had to stop himself from crying out in surprise as Tegan was dragged through the doorway. Her eyes swept the room, and when they met the Doctor's face she opened her mouth. He shook his head nearly imperceptibly and cast his gaze downward. Tegan remained silent; she understood his signal.
The women had moved to the center of the room. Gorrob stood and eyed the group greedily. He ran his hands roughly over several women's heads and backs. They remained stoic.
The Doctor's mind had been racing since Tegan was brought into the building. Now he could not simply slip away; he had to take her with him. She could not be left here with these men for even a few minutes. He had seen immediately that she was trembling and pale. Her lower lip was badly swollen and cut, obviously the result of a blow. He recalled the blood on Vandak's hand with a surge of fury. He knew it was crucial that he remove her from here quickly.
When Gorrob spoke to him, he was startled from his thoughts. "Dock Turr. We'll finish thanking you by letting you have one of the women."
The Doctor opened his mouth, but he was at a loss for words for several seconds. "Thank you," he stammered, then he regained his composure. "I would enjoy that."
He made a concerted effort to avoid Tegan's gaze. "Where shall we go?" he asked.
"Go?" Gorrob asked blankly.
The Doctor nodded. "Yes. Where should she and I go? Are the rooms back there?" He pointed toward the back of the building, where the serving woman hovered in the doorway.
Gorrob and several of the other men snorted. "Yes, but you don't take your woman in there. We have them here, together." His eyes narrowed in suspicion once again.
"Ah--" the Doctor suppressed his repugnance quickly. "Of course. It is done as a group." He tried to keep his voice even. "My people prefer to be alone--"
"No," Gorrob said flatly. "If you want a woman, you take her like we do. That's our way. Later you can go back there with her, if she pleases you. Pick one." He gestured to the group of women, running his hands over several again with blatant familiarity.
The Doctor's preeminate concern was getting Tegan away from Vandak. He stepped toward the women and made a pretext of looking over each one cursorily. He murmured, "Hmm," then he turned toward Vandak.
"I want that one." He tilted his head toward Tegan.
Vandak gripped her arm more fiercely; the Doctor saw Tegan's face twitch with pain. "No," the sturdy Aseylian said, "I get this one."
The Doctor nodded calmly and turned his gaze toward Gorrob. "I did save your wagon and the animal," he reminded the leader.
"Yes," Gorrob said. He looked at Tegan then at the Doctor, who appeared relatively disinterested with his hands thrust into his pockets.
Vandak was glowering; the tension between him and Gorrob was palpable. Clearly these two men had vied for superiority in the group. Somehow Gorrob had prevailed, but the Doctor sensed that this victory was tenuous.
"I want her," Vandak growled.
"Dock Turr saved the cart and the animal. He gets her -- for now."
Vandak scowled even more darkly. "I get her later."
Gorrob said, "Yes, when he's done with her."
Vandak grunted and pushed Tegan toward the other women. The men began to stand as Gorrob took Elara's arm and led her toward the wall. Most of the other men followed suit, so the Doctor stepped forward toward Tegan.
Her eyes met his briefly, but he looked away. Still, she felt enormous comfort in that momentary glance. He placed a hand on her arm, careful to avoid the area where Vandak had gripped her. "Come," he said curtly, leading her toward an empty corner, as far from the others as possible.
He pushed her gently so that her back rested against the vertex of the two walls; he stood in front of her. He still wore his cloak, as did several of the other men in the chill of the room. He hoped that the garment would at least protect her from the pervasive draft and shield her from view of the others.
The Doctor pressed his hand against the wall, next to Tegan's head, and leaned forward. She still trembled, and her expression was pained.
"It's going to be all right," he whispered, keeping his lips as still as possible.
"Doctor--" she began, but he put his hand over her mouth very lightly.
"Don't talk," he said almost inaudibly. "You mustn't arouse suspicion."
Her eyes questioned him; he knew that she wanted to ask what his plan was. He turned his head quickly to glance at the doorway. Perhaps there was a chance that he and Tegan could dash away while the men were otherwise occupied. However, he immediately realized that this was impossible. There were more men than women, and three burly fellows had pulled a bench in front of the door, where they sat watching their companions with vulgar grins. The doorway was blocked quite solidly.
He whispered, "We have to get through this part, then we'll get away from the others. There may be a window or a door in back."
She nodded imperceptibly, her eyes locked on his. From around the room, sounds began issuing from the men: various grunts and groans of raw pleasure. The women made few noises.
Tegan's eyes darted across the room toward Vandak, where he towered over a dark-haired young woman. Her dress had been lifted over her hips. The Doctor placed his hand on Tegan's cheek and turned her face back to him.
"Don't look at them," he said softly.
The Doctor, however, did glance back toward Gorrob. He held Elara against the rough wall. One hand was tangled in her hair; the other was under her vest. The leader turned away from Elara for a moment to watch the Doctor. His expression still appeared vaguely suspicious.
The Doctor looked back at Tegan and swallowed; his throat felt terribly dry. His voice seemed unsteady as he said under his breath, "Tegan, they have to believe this is real."
Her eyes widened as the Doctor moved closer to her. "I'm sorry," he murmured.
She felt him push her skirt up over her thighs, and when he grasped the edge of her tights at her hip and pulled them downward toward her ankles, the shock on her face was genuine.
"Do you have to--" she began in a whisper. Her words were slightly slurred from the swollen lip.
The Doctor's eyes met hers for barely a glance; she sensed that he could not look at her.
"It must appear real," he said again through nearly closed lips, then repeated, "I'm sorry."
He moved his right hand to her face, turning her head to the side and pressing his lips against the edge of her mouth. His fingers brushed up toward her hair, entwining in the soft strands. She gasped when she felt his left hand touch her thigh and pull her leg to the side. Tears began to sting her eyes as the Doctor pressed in more closely against her. His body pushed her back further, and her shoulders made a soft thud against the wall.
His hand remained on her thigh, lifting her leg so that it rested over his hip. His cheek was against hers; she heard his breath catch in his throat. His cool fingers had left her hair and trailed down her face, then to the back of her neck. He turned her head and pushed her upward with a thrust of his hips against hers.
She felt his fingers move to the side of her neck; there was a growing pressure in his touch. She gasped again, then her eyes closed and her head fell forward on his shoulder. She was unconscious.
Gorrob turned to watch the visitor. He saw the fair-haired man moving rhythmically against the woman. Her body was crushed against the wall; he held her bare leg up at his side, where it was visible beside his cloak. Gorrob grinned in approval and returned to his woman.