Doctor Who_ Cats Cradle_ Witch Mark - Andrew Hunt [35]
'Morning, Hugh,' the Doctor said cheerily. 'A good night’s sleep I hope?'
'Yes, thanks. You're up early.’
'Time is relative,' the Doctor told him. I’ve been up all night. '
'Ah,' Hugh nodded, 'so it was you we heard playing rock and roll on the record player at two this morning?'
'At two?' the Doctor asked, surprised. 'Oh dear, I think I’d better have a word with Ace about these antisocial behaviour patterns. I went out at twelve to track the spoor of our visitor.’
'That was a bit dangerous, wasn't it?'
'I don't think so. No, not really.' The Doctor looked out of the window at the lush, green hillside, the dewed grass glimmering in the sunlight. 'Anyway, at two I was stargazing up in the hills.' His eyes gleamed and Hugh found himself looking into eternity within their dark orbits. 'The sky was beautifully clear; the Milky Way a bold stroke of the creator's spray-can across the heavens; there was a meteor shower from the direction of Aquarius; the music of the spheres was being played by a full orchestra.'
'A good night then?'
'The best.' The Doctor returned his attention to the frying pan. 'Eggs, bacon, tomato and fried bread be enough for you? I've just put the kettle on.'
'I think that should be just about adequate.'
'Ready in a few minutes then.'
'Right, I'll go and rouse Janet.' Hugh disappeared through the kitchen door.
'Wicked smell, Professor,' Ace announced herself. 'What’s cookin', Doc?'
‘Ace, I hear you've been boogieing the night away.'
‘Oh yeah. I just had a look at their record collection. There’s some groovy stuff there, you know. Bill Haley, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly. They've even got some Cliff - I never really believed he was around back in those days.'
'There are those of us who bear our accumulated years quite well Doctor told her. 'But really, Ace, you shouldn't play records in other people's houses when they re trying to sleep.
‘Right-o, Professor, I'll bear that in mind. Those eggs look good enough to eat.'
The Doctor took a look. 'Ah yes, pass me a few plates quickly.’ He dished out portions on to two plates. 'Go and give Janet and Hugh a shout, Ace. Oh, needn't bother, I hear them descending even as we speak.'
Hugh and Janet came in, still wearing their nightclothes,
‘This is quite a treat,' Janet said, sitting down at the table.
‘Breakfast is served,' Ace proclaimed, setting a plate in front of Hugh with a flourish. 'I used to be a waitress, you know, she confided.
‘Yes, I believe you were fired, weren't you?’ the Doctor commented.
‘Nobody's perfect, Professor. There you are, Janet.’
‘Thank you, dear.'
‘Hey, Professor,' Ace complained, 'you haven t done any for us.
‘You noticed that did you, Ace? I didn't think you'd need any after your midnight visit to the fridge.'
Ace protested, 'It was just a snack, Professor.’
‘We'll have an early start, Ace.' He picked up his hat from the table and set it upon his head. 'You can have something when we get back from looking round Emrys Hughes’s land. With any luck he'll still be eating his breakfast too.’
Ace gave a loud whoop as she ran down the slope from the ridge that separated the two valleys. As she neared the bottom her momentum became too much for her and the weight of .her rucksack sent her tumbling head over heels, leaving her in a crumpled heap at the foot of the hill. The Doctor followed more sedately, but Ace was still cursing to herself when he reached her and helped her to her feet.
‘There are some ways of descending hills that are more decorous for a young lady than others, my dear Ace,’ he told her, flicking a few pieces of wet grass from her black jacket.
‘I bet they're all boring though, aren't they?’ Ace retorted, her enthusiasm for speed over stateliness undiminished,
'You could be right. Now then, the village is this way, am I right?'
Ace pulled a face. 'The