CHAPTER 56

ROCK CLIMBING

The TARDIS had materialized on a wide expanse of rock overlooking a narrow ravine. Behind it, a stone wall rose up further, the reddish brown rock catching the sunlight at numerous angles. Jason exited first, going cautiously to the edge of the cliff and looking down to the raging river below.

"Looks a bit like the Grand Canyon, only on a smaller scale," Mel remarked as she came out behind him.

"The Not-So-Grand Canyon?" the Doctor said aridly as he locked the door.

"I don't think they have bridges across the Grand Canyon, do they?" Jason asked, pointing to just such a bridge several yards away. It was narrow and made of stone, but a bridge nonetheless. He looked down towards the river again. "There's a path along side this wall here."

The Time Lord came over to join him. "You're being rather generous calling that ledge a path," he observed darkly. "And that's a very long way down before it widens out."

"You're not afraid of heights, are you, Doctor?" the Alterran asked amusedly.

"Only plummeting from them," came the succinct reply.

"Don't worry, your paratereseomania will be the death of you."

The Doctor gave him a sideways look. "It that an official diagnosis, Healer Jason?"

"No charge," Jason replied with a smile.

"I'm glad you know what he's talking about," Mel injected.

The Alterran threw an amused look in her direction. "Paratereseomania is an insane desire to investigate new scenes and subjects."

"How apt."

"That's enough from the pair of you," the Time Lord admonished, waving a hand at them.

Jason turned back to look down the path, the smile vanishing from his face. "There's someone down there."

The Doctor turned back just in time to see a fleeting figure disappear into the shadows. "I think we've found our man," he said in a satisfied voice. He started toward the path, stopping when Jason took hold of his sleeve. "I think I should go first," the Alterran said firmly. "Then if you fall, you'll have something soft to land on."

The Doctor did not reply, knowing that he wasn't joking. Should he or Mel lose their balance and fall, the Alterran would turn himself into something large and soft that would break their fall.

The path was indeed little more than a ledge and Jason started down slowly, keeping his back against the wall. He held out a hand and the Doctor took it, copying his descent. Then he in turn held out his other hand to Mel.

"Be sure to keep a look out for Trevor," the Doctor instructed as he inched his way along the narrow footpath. "I'd hate to have him spring out at us when we're only halfway down."

"Don't worry," Jason replied mildly, "I've got my sensors wide open." He squeezed the Time Lord's hand, adding, "I could tell you a thing or two about your blood pressure and adrenaline levels right about now."

"This is no time to be showing off," the Doctor retorted, throwing a quelling look back at Mel as she giggled at this exchange.

Jason giggled as well. "Just a few more feet and the path widens out. We'll be able to—" He broke off and stopped dead, closing his eyes and listening. "I thought I heard something."

"Then you probably did," the Doctor replied tersely. "What did you hear?"

"I'm not sure. The water's hard to filter out the closer I get to it. I sounded like…footsteps, or something scraping on the ground."

After a few more feet, they reached the point where the path opened up so they could all walk without fear of falling off the edge. Jason went cautiously to where he had seen the fleeting figure and touched the wall, scanning it for the presence of a disguised Alterran. "No one here now," he informed. He wasn't sure if he should be relieved or disappointed.

"I suggest we look a little further on," the Doctor said, nodding on ahead of them. "That looks promising." There was an arched bridge crossing the river some distance away, across from which was what looked like the entrance to a cave. He exchanged glances with his companions before setting off towards the bridge.

The Doctor entered the cave, finding stack upon stack of crates and boxes. "Mother load," Jason remarked as he came in behind him.

The Doctor nodded. Then a sudden thought struck him and he pulled his companions back behind a stack. "What if Justin and friends are here as well?" he asked in a hushed voice.

"I'd say that would complicate matters," Jason replied quietly.

The Time Lord took a quick peek around the stack, seeing no one. "They weren't exactly taciturn, were they? And I don't hear a thing."

Jason closed his eyes and listened a few seconds. He cocked his head to one side and opened his eyes. "There's somebody here," he observed quietly, pointing further ahead. "That way."

The Doctor looked in the direction indicated and then turned back to his companions. "Mel, stay very close to Jason," he instructed suddenly.

The Alterran looked back at her and held out a hand, which she immediately took hold of. He turned back to see the Time Lord looking at him, his face uncharacteristically serious. "If you're going to protect someone, Jason, protect Mel," he said firmly. "She doesn't know exactly what we're up against."

"I will," Jason promised.

The three moved out quietly. The cave ended with a system of tunnels that had numerous rooms going off in every direction. After several minutes, they had gone from room to room, finding nothing but more crates. Suddenly there was the sound of feet on wood, and a familiar robed figure appeared atop a stack of crates. He was looking around, apparently having heard the time travelers approaching.

"Trevor!" the Doctor called out, causing the figure to turn in his direction. He pulled back his hood, revealing his face.

"So, you survived, Doctor. I'm impressed. Have you come for my little stash?"

Jason appeared beside the Doctor. "We're not after your stash. We're after you."

Trevor stiffened, his eyes narrowing when he saw him. He stood motionless for a long time before shouting, "Then come and get me!" He jumped down from the crate he was standing on and ran.

The Doctor was already running after him, threading his way through the stacks. He did not even notice when an enormous stack moved from one spot to the next, cutting him off from his companions. At the same time, the ventilation system came to life and the room was filled with the sound of the enormous fans as the air was circulated through the elaborate system of tunnels.

Jason came up to where he had seen the Doctor turn, coming face to face with a wall of wood. "No!" he exclaimed angrily, slamming his fist on a crate and causing it to crack. He looked around to see if he might have been mistaken. "Doctor, where are you?" he called, but knew he wouldn't be heard over the fans.

"He can't've vanished," Mel protested.

"Well, he has. Damn the man! He's going to get himself killed," the Alterran growled in annoyance. "Come on, we have to find the way around this." He took Mel by the hand again and started back, searching for another way out.

At one point, the Doctor thought he had lost sight of his quarry, only to have him reappear further on ahead. After several more minutes chase, he lost sight of the fleeing figure and eventually stopped to catch he breath. He turned back to remark to his companions, and finally noticed that they weren't there.

"Melanie! Jason!" he called at the top of his voice. "Where are you?" He growled a few curses at himself for having gotten carried away in the moment. Now the only thing to do was to get back out into the open.

There was light streaming in up ahead that looked like daylight and he headed towards it, eventually finding his way back into the outdoors. The exit led to a tall, narrow passage with a footpath leading upward. Since the only other alternative was to return to the tunnels, the Doctor chose the footpath, a heavy sigh escaping him as he struggled up the steep incline. He was halfway to the top when a piece of rock disengaged itself from the tunnel entrance, two blue eyes appearing in its surface, watching him intently as he slowly made his way to the top.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The mile long mania name that Jason rattles of is for real. I came across it in a Medical Dictionary and, well, how could I not use it?