I hope you won't mind. Susan told us you were keeping a diary. I think it's rather sweet. And obviously of great historical value considering all your travels. Anyway, I thought I should write and let you know what we've been up to while you're in Millennius seeking the fourth key, so you can include these events as well.
Oh, Ian has just asked me to spell his name for you "C-H-E-S-T-E-R-T-O-N," and to say he hopes you're having a wonderful holiday! Seriously, though, we all know you're working very hard on finding the key so we can help Arbitan and get back to the TARDIS.
When we arrived in the jungle, Susan was screaming as if something were attacking her. We didn't see anything at the time, though perhaps we should have looked more closely. Ian took Altos and Sabetha with him to explore, leaving Susan and I waiting just where we'd arrived.
I swear, sometimes he treats us like Dresden china. I know he means well, but we really are capable on our own. While we were searching the area, Susan was attacked by a living creeping vine. I pulled it off her. She knew what it was, but I couldn't believe it at that time.
I pushed through the wall of foliage behind us and found a grotesque idol back there. Upon further examination, I saw it had what looked like one of the key circuits we were looking for implanted on its forehead. Ian and the others arrived about this time, and so I decided to climb upon the idol and snatch the key.
I must have triggered some mechanism in the wall, however, because it swung round, trapping me on the other side. I'd thrown the key aside, though, so Ian sent Altos, Sabetha and Susan on after the second key and soon followed after me by climbing on the idol and re-triggering the mechanism.
The whole jungle here seemed to be booby-trapped, and I was soon captured by a friend of Arbitan's, Darrius, who thought we were working with the Voord to steal the keys. Unfortunately, before we could convince him, he was attacked by one of the creeping tree limbs. Ian managed to arrive and beat the limbs away from him, but it was too late. Darrius was dying.
We had gained his trust, however, and so he told us where to find the second key and gave us a clue, which turned out to be the chemical formula on the jar the key was hidden in. We also found that the people here had apparently mastered "growth acceleration," which changed the natural tempo of destruction. This was the source of the attacking plant life. They could accelerate their growth to approximate attack. It really was very frightening.
Having found the key, we turned our travel dials toward our next destination to re-join the others. When we arrived, however, we were unprepared for the extreme cold. It must be below zero, and neither of us are dressed for this weather, least of all Ian in those clothes Marco Polo gave him.
I fear if we do not find shelter soon, we shall freeze to death!
-Barbara Wright
Based upon the teleplay by Terry Nation,
first broadcast on BBC 25th April 1964
No comments:
Post a Comment