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The air whistled and rumbled, and boulders smashed and crashed about us. We too, now less that half of our Earth weight, were picked up by the swirling air and must have tumbled over many a dune. Was the planet itself angry at our arrival? Was this the work of the Ice Warriors? It seemed that all was lost, and worse to come.
I cannot describe to you the noise around us. Once or twice we saw lightening - or rather, sudden bursts of sparks in the clouds, unlike the 'forks' and flashes we have on Earth. I began to scream and cry wildly as we stumbled blindly through the storm-torn desert.
Then, my uncle relaxed his grip and put his arm around my shoulders, and guided my gaze through the turmoil to a faint and flickering light at not a great distance - it was the blue lamp atop the police box disguise of the TARDIS. By chance, we had come back to safety, and now the TARDIS stood like some beacon to guide us home. Soon, we were standing around the time-column, as Dr. Who set the controls for home.
The 'blips' and 'blobs' faded from the scanner-screen to reveal the Sussex townscape. I removed my space boots and sat down again.
My trip to the planet Mars was three years ago, and I have not seen my uncle since. Doubtless, his little police box has been constantly spinning from one alien world to the next - on some welcomed; on others not! - ever since.
My Uncle realised that, for me, journeying through space and time was not an adventure. No - for I am an Earthling. I am of the Earth, and my blood and bones are fashioned from mater as old as the world. The trees, the creatures, the soil and stones, and the water of the Earth are my kin. For me, the moon and stars are but a decoration of the night sky - and I but rarely stop to wonder if my mysterious uncle is not still buzzing around one of those far off points of light in his beloved TARDIS.
written by
IAN McPHERSON
copyright 2009
artwork by
CHRIS EVANS
copyright 2009
  
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the reluctant companion page3
