"Is it much farther now?" asked the Doctor.
Telk turned on the slippery black stones to face him "I told you, I've never been this way before..." he examined the Doctor's face which was flushed and starting to perspire.
"Yes, you did say that... I'd forgotten."
"Perhaps we should rest," suggested Telk "you do not look well."
The Doctor shook his head quickly as if waking from a dream. "No, no I'm fine. We need to get to the surface, especially now that we have the light."
They had been moving through the rising tunnel for over two hours. Most of their progress had been make in complete darkness. Now a dim light could be seen reflecting off the cavern walls. It would not be long before they reached the surface. Soon the cavern filled with the unmistakable scent of sea water.
"Oceanside" Telk muttered, his face fell.
"I take it this is not a good place for us to exit."
Telk shook his head "Malik is constructing the weapon at this end of the village, no one is permitted to speak of it, but all know that it is there... there may be many guards."
"So the sea salt is brought down to the caverns where it's converted into soft rock, then the prisoners carry it to the surface where it's sent Oceanside to the weapon. How long has this been going on?"
"Fifteen turns, the rumor is that the weapon is nearly ready."
The Doctor shook his head "For what little good it will do." He laughed, then tipped haphazardly on the rock surface. He slipped precariously on the stony incline but caught a small outcropping in the tunnel wall and stopped himself from falling.
"You should rest, if you're not careful you'll drop to the bottom of this passage... and take me with you."
"Oh that," said the Doctor looking down at the chains which bound them together "I can easily take care of that." He reached into his pocket and retrieved his sonic screwdriver. While holding onto the outcropping for support, he bent low and held the device close to the cuffs. A brief whirring noise echoed off the cave walls and the cuffs popped open.
Telk stared at the Doctor in astonishment "If you could do that then why didn't you simply leave me in the pit?"
"Because I don't believe in imprisoning the innocent." He peered into the distance "You can always turn back if you like, however..." he pointed ahead of them, a vertical crack in the rockface let in a slim view of ocean and dimly lit sky "we're nearly there." They moved carefully to the cave opening. The rocky ground quickly became sand as they approached. There were small animal prints in the sandy surface but no sign that any guards had been there recently. The Doctor slowly poked his head out of the opening and peered outside. Far to the left he could see the ocean stretched along a rocky coastline. To the right, the edge of the village. And there, nestled between the city's outermost buildings sat Malik's weapon. A primitive rocket type structure encircled by scaffolding. The outer shell of the weapon was a patchwork combination of wood and iron. Guards moved carefully along the surrounding scaffolding.
"That's it?" said the Doctor incredulously. He began to laugh again.
"It's meant to fly." answered Telk.
"I sincerely doubt that it will, and even if Malik does manage to get that clap-trap collection of junk into the air, the damage done would be minimal."
The Doctor and Telk watched as the guards unloaded sack after sack of soft rock into the rocket's head.
"Ridiculous!" the Doctor giggled "Good lord, look at them..." and he started to walk in their direction.
"No!" Telk grabbed the Doctor's arm. "We can't go that way, they're sure to spot us." He began to guide the Doctor away. "If we're careful, we can skirt the outer edge of the village without being seen. Then we can..." he paused, unsure of how to broach the subject "then we can look for your friend."
The Doctor sobered instantly. "No... no you're quite right, don't know what I was thinking." He shook his head to clear it. "If there's even the slightest chance that she's still alive..." He turned quickly and strode away from the cave opening. Telk stood at the entrance for a moment, watching the guards add to the rockets payload, then he turned and followed the Doctor.
After walking for several hours in the growing cold they had managed to make their way around the village and out to the open plane. The Doctor searched the ground carefully until he discovered his and Alison's tracks in the dusty ground.
"Here!" said the Doctor excitedly "This is where I fell, and Alison seems to have continued West." He sprung forward and quickly traced her path. Telk ran after him as quickly as he could, but the Doctor was easily breaking away from him. After a time Telk slowed his pace and simply walked after him. In the distance he saw the Doctor come to a sudden stop, bend down and run his fingers over the cold earth. Telk began to run once more and quickly closed the distance between them.
"What is it?" he puffed as he reached the Doctor's side.
"You tell me." The Doctor slowly traced his finger around the imprint of a four pronged foot.
"The Toroth!" Telk gasped.
The Doctor stood once more and began to circle the area like a prowling animal. "She fell here, but she didn't manage to get up again, and then she was taken... literally taken straight into the air."
"They would not harm her" Telk said suddenly "They would know she was not of my kind."
"Would they?" the Doctor began to scan the sky. His face, usually a pallid white, now had a feverish blush. His eyes darted strangely from side to side, as though he had spun himself dizzy.
"Corbek once spoke of beings from other worlds." Telk began hesitantly "His people had befriended them long ago. He did not tell me much of them but I knew when you were brought to the caverns... well, I guessed that you were one of these." He watched the Doctor carefully but he seemed not to have heard him. "You are wounded. I cannot take you back to the village, but now that you are free perhaps you can return to your world... and they can heal you."
The Doctor's head dropped and his eyes fell on Telk. For a moment he simply stared at him, then suddenly he spoke. "Would the Toroth bother to retrieve her if she were already dead?"
Telk's brows knit in thought "I do not know" he said softly.
"Then it look's like you're going to get your wish Telk."
"What do you mean?"
"We're going to the Toroth city."
"Impossible!"
"Hardly... you said you'd already planned the journey."
Telk shook his head "You would not make the journey" he said flatly.
"Nonsense!" the Doctor shouted "I'll admit it's a bit warm out here, but..."
"It's near freezing..."
The Doctor looked at the lifeless surroundings as if considering Telk's statement, then he waved his hand dismissively. "I'll be fine."
Telk considered the situation, whatever this man was it was obvious he was used to getting his own way. And perhaps the Doctor was right, perhaps he was not as ill as he appeared to be. "The Toroth are in the low mountains of the North, there are ancient footpaths that should take us there" Telk paused "but you must promise me that you will at least rest when we reach the hills."
"Of course!" the Doctor smiled, he seemed suddenly elated "We'll need to rest eventually, but we'd best get moving before we lose the light."
Telk nodded uncertainly, unsure if he could trust the Doctor to keep his word. "Then follow me, we should reach the hills before nightfall." Then he turned and led the Doctor from the wasteland.