Doctor Who_ Beyond the Sun - Matthew Jones [120]
‘He doesn’t sound a happy boy, does he?’ Bernice said. She was all too aware that Nikolas was likely to take his anger out on Scott, who was standing to one side, surrounded by Sunless.
‘What now?’
‘I’m not sure. I don’t think they’re going to take this setback lying down, do you?’
Kitzinger pursed her lips. ‘No.’
They didn’t have to wait long. Ten minutes later, Sunless dragged Jason and Emile into the chamber. Bernice winced. Using amplifiers, Iranda issued a series of predictable demands which echoed around the entire cathedral-sized building. At the end of which one of the Sunless grabbed hold of Jason by the throat.
The meaning was clear.
Jason of course shouted for her not to try to save him. ‘That is a classic Kane manoeuvre,’ Bernice told her new companion. ‘Selfless self-sacrifice is the oldest trick in book. He is so manipu-lative. He just knows I’m far less likely to abandon him if he tells me to. He is a such a git.’
‘Are you sure this man doesn’t just mean what he says?’
‘Trust me. That man never means what he says.’
‘Why not?’
‘What?’
‘Why doesn’t he just say what he means?’
‘I’m really not sure. I think he just never got into the habit. Or else lost it soon after we married.’
‘Married?’
‘Yes, you know, weddings and all that. Oh no, of course you don’t. Tell me, do you have funerals on Ursu?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well weddings are like funerals, only you get to smell your own flowers.’
‘Bernice, I think you need the respirator.’
‘Why? I’ve just had it. It’s your turn.’
‘But you’re breathing very rapidly, talking nonsense and your face is flushed.’
‘It is? Oh dear.’
‘What?’
‘That isn’t oxygen starvation, although it has similar symptoms and one of its effects is to close down the higher functioning of the brain. I should’ve recognized it myself really. After all, I have been suffering from it for a few years now.’
Kitzinger looked puzzled. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘Love,’ Bernice said quietly. ‘I’m in love with him and I can’t let him die. I just can’t. You’d better give me the figurine.’
Kitzinger shook her head. ‘I can’t do that.’
She watched as Bernice’s face contorted through several emotions in quick succession: surprise, incomprehension, incredulity, and then, finally, predictably, anger.
‘Listen,’ Kitzinger said, urgently, remembering how Nikolas had tricked her into surrendering herself and then killed Aric anyway. ‘We mustn’t let them have the device – the consequences for my world would be catastrophic. They will kill this man, Jason, whatever you do.’
‘I know. But I can’t not try. I just can’t.’
‘Well I can. And you must learn to.’
‘No!’
Emile looked up at the sound of the cry. He searched around the flickering walls of the chamber for a moment, before he caught sight of Bernice standing on a little ledge several metres up the far wall, fighting with a woman he didn’t recognize.
Iranda and a few Sunless moved towards the distant figures. She gestured for two of them to leave the chamber, presumably intending to locate the passage which led up to the ledge.
They needn’t have bothered. After struggling for a short while, Bernice lost her footing and, pulling the other woman down with her, they tumbled from the gallery they were standing upon.
They slid down the sloping ice-covered walls, shrieking all the way, dislodging large chunks of ice, and collapsed in a messy heap at the bottom. A tiny avalanche of snow followed them down more slowly, dusting the two women with its white flakes.
Iranda slowed to a leisurely walk, before casually plucking the artefact from the middle-aged woman’s hand. She returned, holding the little figurine triumphantly out in front of her. ‘At last!’
Emile didn’t know what to do. A female Sunless stood next to him. Another held Jason in its vicelike grip, forcing the man to stand on tiptoes or else be hanged.
Iranda jammed the little statue into a small niche in the floor. ‘There!’ she yelled. ‘Finally, it is done. The device is complete.’
Emile cowered as the entire ceiling lit up with bright white light.
It was