Cold Fusion - Lance Parkin [34]
Nyssa stepped through carefully.
There was someone in the shower. She saw a large shape behind the translucent shower curtain, his head bent forward so that he could wash his hair. Water was splashing around him. Nyssa hadn’t heard the shower from outside – the room must be soundproofed. It was Jovanka, of course, she could tell that even through the curtain.
Nyssa edged back towards the door, fumbling for the handle, all the time keeping her eyes on the man behind the curtain. Her hand brushed against the handle.
‘Off!’ he shouted, making her jump. She realized he was talking to the shower. The water died down.
‘Towel!’ The towel rack swung out and extended.
‘Curtain!’ The curtain flung back and Jovanka stepped out, blinking, groping for the towel. Nyssa blushed and looked away, turning only to face a full length mirror. He filled it. Unsure where to look, Nyssa turned back. He kept his distance. His muscular development was extraordinary, with broad biceps, developed pectorals and abdominal muscles. His calves and thighs were toned, and... now he had covered the rest with a large towel. Nyssa looked down at the floor.
‘Did ya want something, sport?’ Understandably, he seemed a little confused by her presence, but clearly didn’t seem too worried by her. Why should he be? He was twice her size. Despite the physical advantage, Nyssa sensed no hostility from him, only curiosity.
After a moment composing herself, Nyssa looked up, straight into his eyes. She took a deep breath.
‘I’m the maid. My friend says you aren’t Australian!’ she blurted, before flinging open the bathroom door and fleeing the room. Jovanka protested, moved to stop her, but she was out and across the bedroom before he could reach her. Without looking back, she opened the door and leapt out into the corridor.
Tegan was waiting for her. Nyssa grabbed her arm, tugging her around the corner and down the corridor.
‘What’s going on?’ Tegan demanded.
‘Sssh!’ Nyssa pulled them into an alcove.
The door to Jovanka’s room opened again.
‘He’s coming after us?’ Tegan hissed. She was ready to get up and confront him.
‘Don’t worry, he won’t come far, he’s naked,’ Nyssa assured her.
Tegan boggled. ‘You were only in there for two minutes!’ Nyssa reddened.
The door closed again.
Nyssa stood up, and helped Tegan to her feet. ‘What was all that about?’
‘It’s a long story.’
‘Did you find anything sus?’
‘No he’s a solar panel salesman.’ She handed her the business card. Tegan turned it over, examining it thoroughly.
‘What exactly are you looking for?’ Nyssa asked. She was beginning to run out of patience. ‘He’s a good man, Tegan, I can sense it.’
‘I don’t know really. I guess he could be genuine.’ Tegan seemed almost disappointed.
‘What’s NSW?’
‘New South Wales,’ Tegan explained. ‘One of the Australian states.’
‘Can we go back to the bar, now? Quickly?’
‘OK,’ Tegan conceded. As they headed back to the lifts, Tegan looked back in the direction of the room.
The room that Whitfield had led them to was quite small.
A heavy metal testbench sat along one wall, its surface packed almost solid with scientific instruments and monitoring equipment. A flatpanel computer terminal was hanging on the opposite wall, next to the built-in bunk bed. The room smelt of antiseptic. Someone had placed a box in the middle of the tiled floor containing the remains of the camera from the skitrain station. The Doctor strode into the middle of the room, taking it all in.
‘I am afraid that I must leave you now, Doctor, Adric,’
Whitfield said softly. ‘If you need anything, you may page one of my staff. Breakfast will be brought for you at zero seven hundred.