"Look Doctor, it is Earth." Barbara surveyed the surrounding panorama. This could almost be southern France. It was too hot for England but what were a few hundred miles to someone who had walked on alien worlds and breathed alien atmospheres?
"Yes, yes Barbara. Every sense of which I am capable of and possess tells me this is indeed Earth. But where are the flowers hmmm? Those trees over there resemble cycads."
"You mean this is Australia Doctor? They still have cycads in the bush."
"I most certainly do not. No this is familiar Barbara and if I'm right then we should leave now." The Doctor set off towards the blue box shape of the ship.
"Oh now you're just being silly."
"Silly am I? We'll see, we'll see. If I'm so silly then you can discuss the matter with that Diplodocus.
Barbara looked up just as the strong sun was blocked out by a large bulky creature. The Earth began to shake as it moved. "You mean to tell me it was there the whole time?" She scurried after the Doctor.
"Well I wanted to see if you had learned anything from me my dear. Observation and study are the first tenants of a true scientist. Chesterday wouldn't have made such a basic mistake despite his limited study in scientific curiosity."
Barbara was almost at the door to the ship when a huge head leaned down and picked it up, swallowing it. She backed away in fright losing control of herself. She had been so close to it. Trees, must get to the trees. She ran for it hoping for safety.
"Grandfather close the doors." Susan cried as the Doctor fumbled over the controls.
The inner ship doors swung closed. Ian entered the control room. "What's going on Doctor? Where's Barbara?"
"Ah Chesterminute, Barbara didn't make it back in time. I'm, I'm sorry."
"What do you mean? Open the doors at once."
"Now that's not safe. It's not advisable it's not safe out there either."
"What do you mean?" Ian grabbed the Doctor by the lapels.
"Take your hands of me this minute young man!"
"Tell me what's going on then."
"Something has eaten us, I saw a big giant head swooping down to engulf the ship just as I was entering. Barbara was too far behind to get to safety."
"We can't just leave her."
"She's on an Earth filled with dinosaurs, if she isn't trampled by that herd of diplodocus then there are a number of other nasty creatures to worry about. Carnivores, poisonous insects, very little food to eat."
"We're not leaving her behind."
"We must."
"No grandfather, I won't let you take off." Susan pulled a small block of transparent plastic out of the console, put it to her head and then replaced it. "There I've set the ship so it can only be operated by me."
"Thank you Susan. I'm glad to see you have compassion and sense. You could take a lesson from her you know Doctor."
"Yes well now we have plenty of time to discuss the matter. Several days I shouldn't wonder."
***
What she needed was a cave, protection, safety. Suddenly the ground fell away from under her feet and she was carried into the air. Huge talons bit deep into her shoulders. Suddenly they were dipping down, trees whipped at her ankles and thin sticky blood splattered her face. She looked up, there was a raggedy hole in the creature's wing membrane. They broke free of the trees and spiralled down into a lake. It let her go a few feet from the surface and she landed in the lake with a splosh.
***
The next two days were spent gathering together a variety of equipment. Shovels, buckets, space suits to breathe clean air with and a number of cleaning supplies. The inner doors were locked to prevent unnecessary contamination. Now they just had to wait for æNellyÆ as Ian called the dinosaur to get over her shyness.
***
Barbara was running, she was faster than the small snapping predator. She spotted a chunk of branch and stopped. She swung it like it was a hockey stick and sent the snarling beast flying backwards three feet maybe four. ôThat will teach you not to bully.ö She laughed as it slinked off; a beaten foe.
***
The work went well and they soon managed to clear a path to daylight. That was the easy part of the job completed. Now they had to find Barbara.
***
She swung her cardigan like a Roman gladiator would a net. She managed to tangle it up and ran for it again. Soon she was through the trees and into open ground. Now she was easy prey for the larger predators so she had to run fast.
***
ôIan, grandfather, look!ö Susan pointed towards the approaching figure.
ôWell I never.ö
ôYes a most remarkable feat of survival.ö
Barbara fell into IanÆs strong arms, tired, hungry and scared. Ian put some sort of mask over her head.
ôJust breathe in and out, slowly. Soon youÆll be back in the ship in a nice hot tub and drinking a nice cup of tea.ö Ian and the Doctor supported BarbaraÆs slight weight as they carried her back to the ship. They entered a greeny brown cave and suddenly they were in the ship. Finally she could relax.
ôSheÆs passed out, she needs rest." Ian and Susan carried their friend into the interior of the ship.
ôShe needs a bath.ö Ian commented on BarbaraÆs torn clothes.
ôWe all could Ian, that Dinosaur was not very aromatic.ö They both laughed.
