Doctor Who_ Atom Bomb Blues - Andrew Cartmel [14]
‘You seem to know a hell of a lot about it,’ said Butcher truculently, staring at the Doctor.
‘Oh, I’m sure that’s because he was a personal friend of the Führer’s,’ said Kitty. ‘They probably got together and had nut cutlets while listening to The Merry Widow.’ Butcher snorted with disgust and moved off. Kitty turned and smiled at the Doctor. ‘Dr Smith, I believe. We haven’t been properly introduced. A pleasure to meet a man who knows about music here on this barren rock.’
‘Even if it’s the music of the enemy?’ said the Doctor, amusement dancing in his eyes.
‘Well you never said you liked it, did you?’ Kitty turned to Ace. ‘So how did you two meet?’ Before Ace could phrase an answer – any one of a dozen facile lies and semi-truths that she had been forced to develop over the years – they were interrupted by a gargantuan moan from Ray. The big drunken man was twitching, his face contorted with despair.
‘I just can’t listen to this stuff any more,’ he said, nodding at the record player from which the Wagner was still pouring. He turned abruptly away and lurched towards the door, people stumbling out of his path.
‘Well that got rid of him,’ said Ace. ‘So I guess that rubbish is good for something.’
The Doctor smiled. ‘I feel somebody ought to put the case for Wagner here.
I think the Liebestod is some of the most beautiful music ever written.’
‘Oh God. Don’t you start,’ murmured Ace.
‘So do I,’ said Kitty Oppenheimer.
‘However,’ said the Doctor. ‘I also recognise it’s not the only music.’
Kitty smiled at him. ‘So do I. Now would you excuse me? I think my husband is gesturing to me desperately.’ Across the room Oppenheimer was indeed beckoning to her, and Kitty strolled over to join him, leaving the Doctor and Ace alone together for the first time since they had arrived at the party.
‘So are you enjoying yourself, Ace?’
‘Well, I like her. Kitty Oppenheimer. She’s been nice to me.’
‘Have you had the chance to make the acquaintance of anyone else?’
25
‘Just that big drunk.’
‘I’m afraid, given the state of the guests at this party, you need to be a little more specific.’
‘That big bloke with the beret. Looks Chinese or Korean or something.’
‘Japanese.’
‘Japanese?’
‘Yes. Ray Morita, a third-generation Japanese-American physicist of some considerable genius, who appears to be in the process of destroying himself with alcohol.’
‘He certainly does. But listen Doctor, if he’s Japanese – I mean half Japanese or whatever – shouldn’t they have him locked up?’
The Doctor nodded grimly. ‘Indeed, that is the government’s current policy.
So perhaps it’s not surprising he’s drinking himself to death when you consider his entire family – loyal Americans all – have indeed been locked up in a detainment camp for the duration of the war.’ He paused for a moment and gave Ace a curious look.
‘What is it?’ she said.
The Doctor smiled. ‘Why Ace, you’d already heard about that, hadn’t you?’
‘Sure.’
‘But how did you know about America’s dubious policy of internment for its citizens of Japanese descent during World War Two?’
‘There was a movie.’
‘Ah, I see, excellent.’
‘It had Dennis Quaid in it.’
‘Good, good. Well in any case you’re quite correct in assuming that normally Ray would be behind bars. But because of his special abilities in science he is needed here. In short, he is allowed his freedom because he is helping Uncle Sam.’
Major Butcher, who had returned to the room, drifted close to them just in time to hear Ace say, ‘Who the hell is Uncle Sam?’
Before Butcher had a chance to consider Ace’s anachronistic remark, there was the sound of angry voices from outside. Butcher immediately moved to the nearest open window of the house. Outside, on the lawn, Oppenheimer was standing talking to another man. Both men were gesticulating, hands waving and elbows jerking, their voices rising in growing fiery. It looked as if they might come to blows at any moment. Butcher recognised the man with Oppenheimer, and he just smiled and turned away from the window. He didn’t notice who took his