Object
Sweaty Gelignite
A volatile nitroglycerin-based explosive compound, presented in two distinct narrative contexts. In its first appearance (in Sarah Jane Smith's possession), it manifests as 'Sweaty Gelignite'—an unstable demolition charge housed in a weathered wooden box. Its aged nitro-glycerin compound develops crystalline formations, slick with condensation and exuding a sickly sheen. Sarah handles it with frantic caution, recognizing it as a demolition tool against Sutekh's missile system, but its advanced degradation has rendered it unsafe—the Doctor's single touch confirms immediate peril, its volatility visibly tensing like a coiled threat. In its second context (handled by Laurence Scarman), it appears as 'Blasting Gelignite Sabotage Charge'—a dark gray paste-like substance wrapped in grimy cloth. Garry describes it as a sabotage tool for disabling Sutekh's missile, while the Doctor seizes it for tactical precision: a means to drain Sutekh's power without direct confrontation. Both descriptions refer to the same explosive compound (gelignite), differing only in its state of presentation—fresh and dangerous versus aged and near-instant failure. Its core identity as a high-explosive sabotage device remains consistent across both depictions.
4 appearances
Purpose
High-explosive demolition charge intended for disabling Sutekh's missile system through traditional detonation methods.
Significance
The substance's instability transforms a simple sabotage tool into a live threat, escalating the mission's peril and forcing the Doctor and Sarah into dangerous improvisation when planned detonation methods become impossible.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used