Doctor Who_ Bunker Soldiers - Martin Day [16]
I looked more closely at his angular features. His eyes, as ever, were alive with possibilities, with ideas, with nuances of much that I could not begin to read. But, as he watched the men toiling on the church walls, I did wonder whether he was having second thoughts, despite what he had said.
I decided to change the subject. ‘Dodo went off with Yevhen’s daughter again this morning.’
The Doctor nodded. ‘They have a great deal in common.’
‘And Yevhen?’
I must admit, I couldn’t bear the thought of Dodo being on the receiving end of either his tongue or his temper.
‘If Dodo were a young man, I would fear for her safety,’ said the Doctor, with a sly smile. ‘But, as it is.. Yevhen has a number of other problems to consider.’ He got to his feet, leaning on his cane for support. ‘The midday sun does not appeal to me. I should be getting back to the governor’s residence.’
I nodded, and watched him stride off. I saw, with interest, that the guard who had been watching him from a discreet distance now walked some way behind him. Perhaps they were beginning to trust us. Perhaps they were beginning to believe that even if we escaped from the attentions of the watching soldiers we had nowhere to run to – nowhere, that is, but the TARDIS.
I got to my feet, and looked around with interest. I’d become very used to the idea of one or more guards following me everywhere, but now I came to think of it, I couldn’t remember when I’d last seen my own escort.
As far as I could make out, I was alone.
Ridiculous plans for escape ran through my mind. I barely considered each one, for I knew well enough that unless I could find my way past the soldiers assigned to guard the Doctor’s ship I might as well stay where I was. And, without the key, without the Doctor...
I was amazed how quickly I had started to forget about the TARDIS, its white walls and clinical beds, its incredible control room stuffed with antique furniture. Sometimes it seemed more alien to me than this world I now lived in – for all Dodo’s complaints, sometimes I felt it suited me. It was a simple life, with simple rules and customs, and a clear sense of priority –
even more so, perhaps, given the coming attack. People were more important than things, time more important than business, and everything that could not be entirely understood or explained was to be respected.
Compared to the life I had once had – of training, of striving, of never standing still – it had some advantages.
It was for all these reasons, and more, that I felt unable to do anything with even this whisper of liberty, of possible escape.
I sighed, and returned to work.
It was about ten minutes later that I found the body.
IV
Eripe me de inimicus meis
Downloading test signals...
Complete.
Downloading heuristic diagnostics...
Complete.
Downloading shared archive 76-FG-92-SD...
Complete.
Run archive 76-FG-92-SD...
Initial summary:
Intelligence suggests that target BDR-997-XRF meets all requirements for complete infiltration and subversion of the northern bunker. However, this target is well guarded, and rarely leaves the dome. Other potential targets have been isolated and subjected to rigorous probability analysis, but none can present a satisfactory index of mission success. BDR-997-XRF is confirmed as primary target.
Intelligence further suggests that foodstuff staff may present the best hope for ingress into the northern dome (see supplemental material). A range of initial subjects have been suggested, dependent upon situation at arrival.
The soldier looks around in curfew darkness, keenly observing the landscape of buildings and factories. For once, it is quiet, with only a skeleton staff working through the night. Most of the impure have been sent home, to conserve energy in readiness for the counteroffensive.
An inspection craft droning overhead causes the soldier to instinctively seek refuge in the shadows. It accesses its intelligence and topographical