Chapter Eight – Venom
Today I was restless, my eczema had flared up and the itch constantly nagged me. I haven't suffered with this for many years, but I can understand why the recent stress would cause its return. I have taken anti-histamines before bed, knowing they will make me drowsy and hoping that I will fall into a sleep so deep I don't remember my dreams.
The door this time, takes me to green pastures beside a glorious blue lake. I think I am back in Scotland. The scenery is so reminiscent of that which I knew and loved.
My first thought is to find the Doctor, but I cannot see any civilisation around and I begin to walk to the water's edge instead, suspecting he will find me soon enough.
The green trees wind down to the water's edge and I revel in the sunshine glinting off the blue water. This place is beautiful and I feel so very happy and contented. Taking off my sandals I dip my toes in the water and incline my head back, shutting my eyes.
"Beautiful, isn't it," a voice says beside me.
I open my eyes to see a gentleman sitting next to me looking totally out of place. His stiff Victorian costume is in stark contrast to the tranquil scene that surrounds us. He had a charming smile though and a twinkle in his eye. I have no doubt he is the Doctor and I feel relaxed in his company.
"It's glorious," I say, looking around me and running my hands over the soft grass. "One of my favourite places."
"You've been here before?" he asks, looking deep into my eyes.
"Yeah, I think so, or somewhere similar, with you, don't you remember?"
"I haven't been to New Zealand before," he states. "Pity, I wish I had."
I turn to study him. New Zealand, well now, that's a first for me too. "We should look out for hobbits," I suggest. "Frodo Baggins lives round here."
"You don't get hobbits on Earth," he answered. "No that's the planet Taquiem."
"You're kidding, right? You are aren't you? There are no such things as hobbits."
"Tolkien might disagree," he said. "He was quite taken with them, if I recall correctly."
I look at him again, unsure whether he is having me on, and decide that he must be for my own sanity.
We sat in companionable silence for a while and I relished the opportunity to do just that. I had a feeling it was a rare opportunity and I might never get the chance again.
"Walk?" he asks me after a while of quiet contemplation.
"Yeah, sure." I look around for my sandals and then see them hanging from his fingers. Smiling I take them from him and slip them on.
We walk through fields speckled with purple flowers and I wonder at the mountains majestically reaching through the clouds. I was sure they weren't there before, but no matter, they are obviously here now.
As we are walking I see up ahead, a strange light. It was there, a bright white light and then it disappeared. I looked across to my new Doctor and his face told me all I needed to know. This wasn't good news. I had a sense of foreboding that I knew I had felt many times before.
The Doctor's pace quickened as we headed for the small copse up ahead. I was able to keep pace with him stride for stride. This was good news surely, how many times before had I been left behind?
He stops suddenly, and grasps my arm. "Go back Alice, this is not safe. Go back."
"No, no, I'm sticking with you. I don't want to be on my own."
His expression is now one of frustration, he hasn't got time to argue, and carries on walking ahead. I trot along behind, desperate to stay with him.
"What's the matter, what is it?" I puff a little bit, not quite as fit as he is.
"It's the Master," he replies under his breath.
The tone of his voice suggests the Master is not good. Perhaps I should have stayed by the lake after all. We reach the spot where the light was seen, and there is nothing. No sign of any presence, no person hiding in the trees. I turn on the spot, relaxing a little.
"There's no-one here," I announce, stating the obvious.
"He's here."
I look around again, and shudder as my nerves start to get the better of me again.
And then he rears up, right out of the ground in front of me, tall, dark and menacing. His eyes are black as night, and I can tell he is nothing but evil.
I take a step back but he his arm whips across and catches my wrist. I can't break free and he twists it painfully, sneering at me.
"Let her go," the Doctor shouts. The Master obeys and leaves go of my wrist. "How did you get here," he continues, looking round as if some vehicle is going to show itself.
The Master didn't answer, just stares at him with those cruel eyes. He turns those eyes on me and I cower, scared of the venom livid in them.
"Leave her alone, this is between you and me,"
The Master moves away from me and then disappears right before my eyes. I stare at the space where he stood, dumbfounded. And then out from the shadow at the base of a tree, a serpent rises and strikes at me.
It strikes on my ankle and what starts as a mild discomfort begins to sting and then turns to a throbbing agony. I fall to the ground and then sit transfixed as I can see the venom travelling through my veins, up my shin and over my knee.
Trying not to panic I look up at the Doctor who is searching the ground for the vanished snake.
"What's happening to me? What is it?" I call out to him.
He notices me now. My face twisted in agony and forgets the Master for a moment and pulls a handkerchief from his velvet jacket pocket.
"Don't move," he orders, dropping on his haunches beside me. "Keep very still."
I do as he says and wait whilst he ties the tourniquet around my thigh cutting off the blood supply. I start to feel strange, lights dancing before my eyes and I fight against it, determined to stay conscious.
The Doctor is on edge as his attention diverts between myself and the surroundings, trying to keep both under his careful eye.
On the fringe of my vision I see the Master back to his full height closing in on us again and I shout a word of warning.
The Doctor is back on his feet and I watch as they circle each other, like boxers in a ring, wondering who is going to land the first blow. But there is no physical violence, only what looks like a battle of the minds. The Master is retreating, the Doctor clearly having gained some power over him and then as quickly as he appeared he has disappeared.
"Alice! Alice!" I hear my name and smile up at the Doctor who is back by my side.
He picks up my arm and rolls up my sleeve. Underneath the livid black lines are obvious, running down my arm almost reaching my wrist.
"Don't say it," I beg him. I already know there's nothing he can do.