Doctor Who_ Bunker Soldiers - Martin Day [31]
I turned to Dodo, impatient to find how she came to be here. ‘How did you get away from the governor’s residence?’ I asked.
Dodo couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Lesia knows the building like the back of her hand – she used to play in it as a child. It’s riddled with tunnels and little passages that don’t really go anywhere. She told me about a sort of chute that leads from one of the main corridors into the servant’s quarters. From there, it was easy to get out through the tradesmen’s entrance.’
‘But how did you evade the guards?’
Dodo looked puzzled. ‘There was a young guard assigned to us. I happened to mention to him that, where we come from, women’s skirts are a little shorter.’ She paused. ‘Well, quite a bit shorter.’
‘I was intrigued,’ said Lesia. ‘I felt it only appropriate to illustrate!’
Dodo continued. ‘While the guard was looking at Lesia, I smacked him over the head with some crockery.’
I glanced at the comatose soldier at our feet. He grunted, rocking his head from side to side.
‘I should set up as a neurosurgeon,’ I joked. ‘With you around, I could make a fortune.’ I led the others towards the door. ‘We ought to be going. How many guards are out there?’
‘None,’ replied Lesia. ‘They seem to have been sent away.’
I nodded. ‘Allowing our friend here to get all heavy without interruption.’
As I headed for the door Olexander exclaimed ‘Where are you going?’
‘Anywhere but here,’ I replied. ‘Come on.’
‘But I can’t come with you!’ said the old man, genuine anguish creeping into his voice. ‘Unless my reputation is restored, I cannot leave this place. Without my good name, I am as nothing in the city of Kiev.’
Lesia turned to him. ‘But you must come. I have missed you greatly. You cannot rot away in here!’ Her affection for Olexander was clear. Given the strength of her reaction, I came to wonder if she had been told he was dead rather than iinprisoned.
‘I must submit myself to the authorities,’ said Olexander.
‘But you go, Steven. Clear your name from without while I work from within to clear mine.’
‘Are you absolutely sure you won’t come with us?’ I asked, glancing at the unconscious form of Mykola. The soldier was stirring again.
‘You go,’ said Olexander firmly. ‘I have welcomed your presence, however brief. I sense that things are moving, in the city and beyond – events we may or may not be able to control.
We all have our roles to play, our fates to uncover.’
He embraced Lesia warmly and then shooed us away. As we ran through the deserted corridors, I couldn’t help but wonder how-the soldier would react when he came to and found one prisoner escaped, and another sitting at his feet and looking calmly back at him with those old but wise eyes.
Even though the other soldiers had been sent away, I was surprised that we didn’t encounter a soul as we made our way to the gated entrance to the prison. I suspected that, perhaps, with human resources very much at a premium, all the other prisoners were sent to work on the fortifications during the day. Olexander was too old to participate – and whoever had arranged for Mykola to ask about the keys to the TARDIS clearly had other plans for me.
‘We must get back to the residence of the governor,’ said Lesia. ‘Even if the guard we tricked is embarrassed into silence, my father will notice that I am gone.’
‘I’m sorry to have to say this,’ I said, as we sought sanctuary in the deep shadows of the city’s walls. ‘But I think you should keep an eye on your father. Something is going on here, and Yevhen is at the root of it.’
Lesia nodded curtly without a word.
‘Leave it to us,’ said Dodo.
‘Thank you for rescuing me,’ I said.
‘Try not to get in trouble,’ warned Dodo. ‘We don’t want to have to do it again!’
‘Where will you go?’ Lesia asked.