River of the Universe- Chapter 8

She was woken to the sound of the Doctor shouting for her to rise and shine.With a bleary eyed yawn she stepped outside her lodge.

The camp was in full morning mode, people were scurrying about.

She could see a small group of men outside the tribal leaders’ lodge,but couldn’t see the Doctor.

She wandered over and Nguwe gave her a good morning nod.

“Where’s the Doctor?” she asked as she took a cup of water from a young girl.

She frowned when it didn’t taste of just water.

“Don’t worry, it’s just a little guaranja juice to give you an energy boost and the Doctor is with the Council at the moment.”

The sound of conversation could be heard coming from inside the lodge and a few seconds later the Doctor and the shaman exited the lodge.

The shaman whispered something in the Doctors’ ear and gave him a small pouch attached to a set of beads which he placed around his neck.

He gave the shaman a small bow and murmured something back, which obviously tickled the shaman as he gave a croaky guffaw. He put a hand on the Doctors’ shoulder and nodded once and went back into the lodge.

He bounded down the steps and approached Martha. “Are we ready then, lead the way Nguwe.”

he fell into step with Martha.

She gave him a sideways glance. “Doctor, do you really think it’s a good idea to walk over a hundred miles with what’s happening to you?”

The Doctor gave her a look reserved for people that asked pointless questions.

“Martha I have two choices here, do nothing because I might die and the whole of existence disappears or do something that could possibly save the whole of existence and not worry about my dying. Personally I’d rather do the latter.”

With that he walked a few steps ahead of her, a clear signal that the conversation and that the subject was closed.

*********************

Nguwe had been following behind and had caught snatches of the conversation.

Clearly this Doctor was only here at the will of the gods as the shaman had said

Perhaps his outer body was only a short lived creation so that the gods could give their aid in defeating whatever had come to threaten the human world.

He shook his head, as a child the elders had filled his head with the tales of the gods sending spirits to help humans in times of need.

Sometimes they came in the shape of animals but most often in the shapes of unusual strangers, like the Doctor.

However, once he had been sent to the church school his belief in such things had receded and by the time he had returned from his studies at university he had no belief in them at all.

Suddenly this Doctor had come into the picture and he starting to doubt his logical look at the world.

***********************

The sound of the Doctors’ voice made Nguwe start.

“Penny for them?” he gave him a small smile.

“ Its’ not important, we should make camp before it gets too dark. I’ve sent a couple of the men ahead to find a suitable site.”

He hesitated before speaking again. “Doctor, I couldn’t help but overhear some of your conversation with Miss Jones, is it true that everything could disappear and that you could go with it?”

The Doctor frowned and sighed. “I won’t lie, if we can’t stop whatever they’re doing at that base then yes, everything could disappear and me with it.”

“So the shaman was right, you have been sent by the gods to help humankind. I didn’t believe it, I thought you were just another agent sent by some government to spy on Invo-Tech.”

The Doctor laughed. “Well, that’s the first time I’ve be called a helper from the gods, they’re usually trying to burn me at the stake by now."

Nguwe shook his head, this man was not like anyone he had ever met.

In the few hours he had known him he had turned his perception of the world upside down.

The shaman had also told him that man or whatever he was would change his life and that his future was entwined with his.

The trio had walked for most of the day and the sun was now starting to dip below the trees and they set about making camp for the night.

Nguwe had caught a small deer and had made a wonderfully warming stew. It was starting to drop cold as was the way in the rainy season.

The Doctor lay on the makeshift bed he had made from collected fallen branches and stared into the fire, lost in thought.

He sighed and wearily closed his eyes.

**********************

Martha and Nguwe were woken by a cry of agony mixed with fear.

They sat bolt upright and stared at each other before staring at the space where the doctor had been.

Martha started to speak but he put a finger to her lips to quiet her.

The cry came again, but this time further way, they both turned and sprinted towards the sound.

********************

The Doctor stumbled through the trees, his blood boiling like molten lava.

Another wave of pain swept through his body and he cried out in frustration.

He felt himself being torn apart from deep within and his mind screamed a million warnings to his body. Blindly he stumbled on, not caring where he was heading.

*********************

Nguwe ran faster than he thought he could, his speed spurred on by the shamans' words echoing in his ears.

He skidded to a halt as the trees thinned out and revealed the scene before him. He hardly noticed Martha skid up beside him, his eyes were fixed ahead.

The Doctor was balanced precariously on the edge of the waterfall, the stones crumbling beneath his feet as he swayed blindly.

He had his hands clamped to his ears and was muttering in a language Nguwe did not understand.

" Doctor, no!" Martha cried and rushed forward.

"Stay away!" the Doctor screamed. " Too much danger, all in danger!"

He shifted closer to the edge and before Martha could reach out to grab him the ledge gave way and he fell into the dark raging water of the rain-glutted river.