Doctor Who_ Bunker Soldiers - Martin Day [35]
The woman pulled the cloak back over her head, and disappeared into the corridor of shadow beyond.
Immediately the younger guards began to laugh. ‘I have heard it said that a widow’s bed is warmer than a whore’s,’
sniggered one.
‘Quiet!’ snapped the older man. ‘We should offer to light the way for her – the corridors are dark.’
But the woman was nowhere to be seen.
‘We will make camp,’ announced Mykola as the exhausted party found sanctuary once more on the edge of a wood of black-green trees. ‘We will be safe here.’
‘Are you sure?’ queried the Doctor. ‘The wolves.. ’
‘The wolves will not attack unless we are sick and they are hungry,’ said Mykola. ‘The horses, and an hourly watch, will be enough to alert us.’
One of the soldiers helped the Doctor down from his horse.
He was, truth be told, more than grateful to be out of the saddle, although he was not sure how well he would sleep in these circumstances.
He watched as the men arranged the animals in a defensive circle, with the supplies and bedding in the centre. Torches were swiftly extinguished; little more was said as the men laid down to sleep.
‘I shall take the first hour,’ said Mykola.
The Doctor examined his expression closely, striving to read signs of duplicity in his eyes. But the man quickly looked away.
The Doctor tried to put aside his worried thoughts but, as the silence of the plains enveloped them, he could not help but watch Mykola through half-shut eyes.
Isaac looked up suddenly as the door creaked open.
‘Father, you should be more discreet.’
Isaac let out a sigh of relief. ‘And you should knock before you enter.’
Nahum closed the door behind him, and approached his father. The old man’s desk was covered with papers, parchments and leather-bound volumes; his fingers were black with ink.
Isaac put down his stripped goose-quill.
‘But the authorities could discover your work,’ continued Nahum.
‘Damn the authorities!’ exclaimed Isaac with unusual vehemence. ‘They should have better things to consider.’
‘Of course,’ said Nahum, seating himself on a bench to face his father. ‘But if Yevhen already knows...’
‘Knows, and delights in reminding me of his knowledge at every turn, as if I am some farm animal that can be led out to pasture only when needed.’
‘Do you think he will ever go to the Church authorities?’
Isaac snorted. ‘Remember poor Olexander? It is not beyond the man.’ He dabbed a cloth at his fingers. ‘I do not accept their Church, their beliefs... there are times I am not even sure I accept my own!’
‘Which only makes you more vulnerable.’
Isaac looked sadly down at his work. ‘It is a shame. If you could only see the majesty of the original words, the text... the beauty of language as it springs from the page as if alive.’
Nahum smiled. ‘I must admit, I have had use for some words from the Song of Solomon this very day.’
‘Why should the people not have these holy words in their own tongue? “Your breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle that graze amongst the lilies. Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, I shall go to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense.” Who could possibly take offence at such words?’
‘There are many,’ said Nahum with a smile.
‘And there are many sons who would not favour their fathers making such “bawdy” talk!’
‘Perhaps. How is mother?’
‘She is sound asleep in our chamber.’ Isaac paused, his eyes twinkling. ‘You are deliberately changing the subject!’
‘Forgive me, father.’ Nahum bowed his head in mock humility.
‘I can forgive you almost anything, my boy. How could any father not say the same?’ Isaac grinned at his son. ‘I know you are only protecting the identity of your beloved.’
‘No, father, I –’
‘Very noble, my son, but I will not take offence. You should know that. No matter what her beliefs, no matter what her class...’ His words trailed away as his brow furrowed. ‘Indeed, an honest serving girl might be preferable to anyone who comes from a family of puffed-up importance and self-justification.’
‘Those are the people you now work