Doctor Who_ Bad Therapy - Matthew Jones [47]
The siren began as a low wail, rising in pitch and intensity before almost dropping away to nothing, only to begin the cycle over again. It came from somewhere within the metal perimeter fence.
‘Here we go.’ Patsy pushed herself away from the tree she’d been leaning against, smoking. She looked alert, ready for action.
Chris scanned the patches of night sky visible through the trees. Searching for lights reflected on the dark clouds, for any indication of a ship in the heavens. There was nothing.
Following Pop’s instructions, they had taken the West road out of the small town, leaving the country road to trace the perimeter fence of an old hospital.
Patsy had remained quiet throughout their journey, a serious expression on her face. Chris hadn’t seen her so intent and businesslike before. Their journey had ended at the edge of a small wood by the metal chain fence of the hospital.
It seemed an unlikely place for a craft to land. He considered the alternatives: time corridor technologies, perhaps? an artificial wormhole?
The outline of a figure approached from the other side of the fence. Chris slipped behind a tree and was about to motion for Patsy to do the same, when he saw that she had already moved out of sight. The figure was at the fence now. It was still too dark to make out who it was, but Chris could see that he was dragging something heavy behind him. He heard, rather than saw, the fence move. There must be a breach in it somewhere.
If the newcomer turned out to be unfriendly it would be easier to engage him when he crossed to this side of the fence. He looked around for a weapon, just in case. The floor of the wood was a thick sludge of wet leaves and was littered with small branches. None were large enough to use as a club. Without weapons, their best bet would be to set an ambush. The classic manoeuvre would be for him to step out and distract the target whilst Roz slipped around behind them and. . .
78
He closed his eyes and gently rested his forehead against the trunk of the tree. Grief winded him, it couldn’t have hurt more if he’d been physically punched in the stomach. Tears pressed at his eyes, and he let them run down his face.
Goddess, he’d forgotten about her. He’d not thought about her since the train journey. How could he have got so caught up in things that he could forget her? So caught up in just living. He imagined Roz angry with him for being able to do anything at all. He should be mourning her, not running around the English countryside. What was he doing here? Alone. Just him and an alien woman hiding in a cold Essex wood, waiting for more space refugees to drop out of the sky.
Oh Goddess, I shouldn’t feel guilty for just being alive, should I?
Patsy’s voice distracted him. She’d stepped out from behind her tree, and was striding confidently over to the fence. A torch was directed at her, a stab of light in the dark forest, bleaching her face electric white.
Chris saw his chance and slipped around the other side of the tree, aiming to get behind the torchholder. Shouldn’t be a problem now his attention was focused on Patsy. Chris was coming up behind the newcomer when the torch was turned on him.
‘I wouldn’t try creeping up on me, lad,’ a familiar voice warned.
Chris tensed. So much for taking him by surprise.
Pop turned the torch on himself, its light cast ghoulish shadows across his craggy face. He grinned, evidently pleased with himself at having avoided their trap. ‘Now give me a hand. These two weigh a ton.’
Pop indicated a hospital gurney, which stood, incongruously, next to him.
Its wheels were caked with mud. Two people were strapped to it, lying head to toe. An elderly white woman and a small Chinese boy – who couldn’t have been more than four years old. Their eyes were closed. Drugged, thought Chris. They’d have to be to sleep through the bumpy ride across the field.
What was going on? These people were inmates of the asylum. They were even wearing straitjackets, for Goddess’ sakes! Pop was dressed in an orderly’s uniform.
What had he got himself involved in?