The Bodysnatchers

CHAPTER 9: Enter the Tall Man

At first the Doctor had held his breath. Now, mentally crossing his fingers, he let it out. He took a good sniff. Then, several good sniffs. He coughed and slapped his lungs. Then he sneezed. "Phew! Musty in here!" The air was clean again. He turned and called back, “Sorry about that. Thought it'd be better for you to stay out there...you know..just in case I passed out from the gas, didn’t want to risk falling on you…” Despite her mild anger, she found herself grinning--was the Doctor's playfulness rubbing off on her? The Doctor looked around the chapel's dim interior. "All clear. There's no one in here, either...at least, no one living." Martha sensed a movement behind her and looked up. She gasped with fear. The tall man was standing not thirty meters from her. He was just standing there with this unspeakable grin on his face. Unable to take her eyes from the evil-looking man, she cried, “Doctor!”

The Doctor peered round the edge of the doorway. He walked out and stood on the steps in front of Martha, gently pushing her behind him. “Well,” he admonished the man, “you certainly took your time getting here, didn’t you?” The Doctor looked up, but saw no sign of the green cloud. “I will say, though, old chap, you do have a lovely smile.” Over his shoulder, he said to Martha, “Doesn’t he have a pleasant smile, Martha?” Before she could answer, the Doctor abruptly shoved her inside, saying, “Well, nice chatting with you, sorry we have to run.” And with that, he leaped through the doorway and bolted the door.

Martha just stared at him. “What’d you do that for?” The Doctor looked at her, surprised. “Do what for?” Hands on her hips, Martha simply shook her head. “Lock us in. You do realize that that man can just appear and reappear at will, don’t you? What’s to stop him from just turning up inside here?” The Doctor grinned confidently and held up his sonic screwdriver. “This.”

Holding the screwdriver aloft, he said to Martha, “You might want to cover your ears. This shouldn’t be harmful to humans--but, you never know.” Martha looked a trifle disconcerted. “You mean you don’t know.” The Doctor smiled reassuringly. “Never tried this around humans before, but I think it’s safe.” He scratched his head, adding hopefully, “I mean, I’m pretty sure it’s safe. Yeah. well..probably is.” Martha pointed towards the outside, in the direction of the tall man. “Isn’t he human?” The Doctor looked at her. “No. Humanoid, yes, but not human--at least, not in your sense.” Looking around at the unfeeling grey stone walls of the chapel, Martha rubbed her arms and asked, “So, what are you going to do, Doctor?”