Doctor Who_ Bunker Soldiers - Martin Day [22]
‘My father,’ whispered Lesia, as if the very thought made her flesh crawl.
‘How is he towards you?’
Lesia sighed. ‘He is polite enough, unless he has drink inside him. Then he sees me as no less evil than the Devil’s horsemen who come towards us!’
‘Your mother’s death changed him.’
Lesia nodded. ‘It changed me, but for the better I trust.’
‘I know only that you are the most perfect creature I have ever seen. Your eyes are doves, your lips are like a thread of scarlet.’
‘Poetry? For me?’
‘It is a quotation.’
‘I thought the words might not be yours.’
‘They are no less true. Hush, there is more. “You have ravished my heart, my sister, my love; you have ravished my heart with but one glance of your eyes! How sweet is your love, my sister, my love; your love is more fine than wine, more fragrant than any spice.”’
‘The Old Testament?’
‘The wisdom books,’ agreed Nahum with a smile. ‘My father’s own translation –’
He stopped, wondering if anyone was listening, but no one was even looking in their direction. And if they were, what would they have seen? Two young lovers, staring wildly into each other’s eyes, murmuring the words of gallant love that convention dictated – lovers so lost in each other that every touch was electric.
The Doctor and the others returned to the debating chamber and Steven was brought in from the cells. Dmitri stood at the head of the table waiting for everyone to acknowledge him in silence, then sat down.
He turned to the group of soldiers stationed at the door with Mykola at their head. ‘The body may be released to the family for Christian burial,’ he said simply. ‘Inform them that the poor fellow was killed, and that we have his murderer.’
The Doctor jumped to his feet. ‘But you can’t still believe that Steven did it!’
Dmitri forestalled his arguments with a gracious wave of his hand. ‘I do not wish the people of Kiev to even begin to imagine that there is some other force at work within the city walls. It will do them well to imagine that the matter is in hand, and does not involve animals... Or worse.’
He turned to Steven who stood stoically, surrounded by armour-clad soldiers.
‘I am sorry, Steven, but I must ask that you remain in prison.
I have wider concerns to consider.’
‘But you cannot make Steven a scapegoat!’ exclaimed the Doctor, indignant.
Yevhen grinned triumphantly, but said nothing.
Dmitri ignored the Doctor’s interjection, his focus remaining on Steven. ‘The Doctor’s arguments are convincing, but it is also difficult for me to conclude with absolute certainty that you are innocent. The manner of your transport, the machinery you speak of... how am I to know that you do not have access to creatures or witchcraft beyond the normal wit of man?’
‘You’re making a grave mistake,’ said Steven. ‘Somebody clearly wants me out of the way.’
‘Why?’
Steven was frustrated. ‘I don’t know,’ he admitted. ‘But surely it’s no coincidence that I found the body.’
And there is something far more dangerous than Steven at liberty within your city,’ added the Doctor. He paused, choosing his words carefully. ‘A creature from a faraway land.’
Dmitri nodded. ‘There may indeed be truth in what you say.
I cannot afford to believe you are in error. I shall be ordering a doubling of the city guard. If there is some animal loose within the city it will be found and destroyed. In addition, my advisers and their families will remain within this building. I do not know when I may need their expertise and, in addition, I wish to keep them safe.’
‘But, my lord,’ said Yevhen, ‘I will be needed to oversee the fortification, and –’
‘You will delegate,’ interrupted Dmitri. ‘You and your family, and Isaac and his, will remain here at all times. These are uncertain days. I will need to rely on you yet more as the Tartars approach.’
He turned to the Doctor. ‘I have also instructed that you and your woman will remain here at all times. Steven will be quite safe in the prison.’
The Doctor shook his head. ‘I’m sorry. I can’t agree to that.’
Dmitri smiled. ‘You have no choice.’
‘Then I have an