The Curious Conundrum of the Weirdling Wood (short story)
The Curious Conundrum of the Weirdling Wood was the fourth Doctor Who Adventures short story published in 2017. It was the final entry in The Paternoster Gang Investigates series before Doctor Who Adventures went on hiatus. It was written as one of Jenny Flint's diary entries.
Plot
The Paternoster Gang visits Reading to investigate reports from workers on the Great Western Railway of trouble in the nearby Weirdling Wood. The locals at the inn tell them that the wood has been haunted since Roman times. When they set up camp in the wood Jenny, not believing that the wood is haunted, expresses doubt that they will resolve the mystery, only for them to be immediately attacked by the trees. Strax recognizes that the trees have been infected with an alien virus known as the Blight, and recently awakened by the upgrades to the railway. The trio chop up the infected trees and Strax buries the wood to prevent the virus from spreading.
Characters
Worldbuilding
- The inn they visit is called the Vanishing Blue Box, and is described as having royal blue doors. Jenny muses that a friend of theirs must have visited the area some time in the past.
- London is also known as the Big Smoke.
- The Blight is an extraterrestrial virus that takes over planets by eliminating technology. Burning infected plants releases it into the atmosphere, which is why Strax buries the wood instead.
Notes
to be added
Continuity
to be added
