Doctor Who_ Byzantium! - Keith Topping [52]
Daniel and his brother Aaron guided the Doctor through the twisting rocky paths of the hills behind Byzantium, and then through the long stretch of wasteland towards the place where the TARDIS had crash-landed. The journey took them most of the day, with the Doctor frequently having to stop to catch his breath.
If truth be told, he was not feeling at all well, the concussion in his head having yet to clear fully, despite what he had told James earlier.
At last, the small outcrop of rocks where the TARDIS had come to rest a week earlier came into sight. The Doctor's mood visibly brightened and he pointed towards the incline behind which his salvation lay. 'Over there,' he told Daniel. "That is where my carriage rests.’
The Christian nodded and then turned to his brother. 'Run on ahead and make sure that an ambush has not been prepared for the unwary,' he said.
Aaron raced off into the distance.
`Can I just say,' the Doctor said, shaking the hand of Daniel, `that I hope everything works out for you and your people. And I don't think I would be breaking any great laws of time if I were to tell you that your religion will continue to flourish and grow over the coming years.
Eventually, every man, woman and child on Earth will know of Jesus of Nazareth and what he did and said.'
Of course, whether they believe it or not is a different matter, the Doctor thought as Daniel digested this. A shout from the distance caused both the Doctor and Daniel to look up suddenly.
Aaron was running back towards them, his arms pin-wheeling as he dashed across the dry lake bed, a cloud of dust trailing behind him.
Panting and out of breath, he took a moment to recover, doubled-up, hands on knees.
Ìs everything all right?' asked Daniel, fearing that a trap had been sprung, but he could see no other sign of the approach of hostile forces.
`What does this carriage of yours resemble unto?' Aaron asked the Doctor.
`Blue,' the Doctor replied. 'Slightly taller and broader than the height of a man.'
Aaron shook his head. 'There is nothing of such a description in that place. Lots of tracks and footprints. If your carriage was there, it is now gone.'
A cold chill ripped through the Doctor. Suddenly, he felt very old and very tired.
And very alone.
Stranded, in Byzantium.
Chapter Seventeen
The Culture Bunker, Part Five —
How Soon Is Now?
And he began to speak unto them by parables.
Mark 12:1
`Well, this is a fine kettle o' fish, isn't it?' Ian asked Fabulous as the old man poked his head out of the library door and then returned with the news that the coast outside was clear.
Ian emerged from his hiding place in the space between two rows of shelves and looked nervously around.
'Are you sure?' he asked, ready to spring back into concealment at the slightest hint that any of his numerous female pursuers were in evidence.
Às certain as it is possible to be,' noted Fabulous with a bemused smile. 'The ladies of the household seldom venture into this unworthy vessel of knowledge.'
Ì could make a comment about that,' Ian replied, ‘but I'm in enough trouble with every woman I seem to come into contact with. I don't want any more of them after me.' Chesterton sat down and put his head in his hands. 'This is ridiculous,' he said, in an anguished comedy-voice. 'I feel like a character in a Whitehall farce, rushing around trying to avoid nookie.'
He looked up to find his friend laughing. ‘And you're not helping any, I'm sad to say.'
Fabulous was puzzled as well as amused. 'Why do you not simply surrender to the arms of your admirers and let them have their way with you? There are worse situations to be in, surely?'
`Because,' Ian said, 'that would be the worst thing I could possibly do. I'm not here to make enemies and get my end away as often as possible.' He shook his head at the continued puzzlement on Fabulous's face. 'Never mind, let's just say that I don't want to do anything that would give anybody who wishes me harm any possible ammunition.'
Fabulous saw the wisdom of Ian's reticence.