Doctor Who_ Cats Cradle_ Witch Mark - Andrew Hunt [58]
‘Look, Ace.'
'What?' She sat up in her sleeping bag and looked to where the Doctor was pointing. Although the sunlight had faded some hours ago there was an orange glow along the horizon to the north. It highlighted the black outline of the forest in the distance and the tops of the low hills around the travellers reflected the light dimly. 'What is it?' she asked.
‘Who knows?' The Doctor raised an eyebrow. ‘But we’re heading that way, so I should think we’ll find out. Now go to sleep, Ace.’
'G'night, Professor'
'Goodnight, Ace.'
'G'night, John-boy'
'Sssh, Ace. Go to sleep.’
Thermal identified at 1:1: 0:100. Alter heading to accommodate.
Rise 1000.
Awaiting instructions.
Scan.
Target identified at 3:7:4:3560. Motion vector 3:7. Alter heading to accommodate.
Descend 3460.
Awaiting instructions.
Ignite primary burner. Eructate.
Descend 100.
Extend #3411, #3412.
Consume target.
Awaiting instructions.
The new day dawned as dull and oppressively as the day before and was only the Doctor shaking her that woke Ace - there was certainly not enough light from the sun. Bathsheba was left to sleep until they were ready to leave. She sat in front of the Doctor, supported by his arms on either side. The additional passenger made it difficult for them to proceed any quicker than a fast trot, but before an hour had passed they were within sight of the forest of Coed. The map indicated that there was a thoroughfare which offered a safe passage through the mighty woodland. They rode up close to the edge of the trees and then they followed the borders in the hope that they would intersect the road.
As noon approached the Doctor reined in his horse and called Ace to a halt. He pointed into the trees.
'Look, a light.'
Between the trunks a bright white light was shining. It had a soft quality, like moonlight in a lover's eyes, and it ebbed and flowed as they watched.
'Do you think we should go and see who it is?' Ace asked. ‘They might be able to point us in the direction of the road. '
'I'm a little wary, , the Doctor said, 'because in a land which has yielded up centaurs I can quite conceive of a will o' the wisp existing. Bats, have you heard of such a thing? A light which lures travellers to their doom?'
Bathsheba looked frightened at the idea but admitted that she had never been warned about anything like that.
'Well, then, shall we see?'
They dismounted and led their horses amongst the trees. The light grew no brighter but nor did it recede, enticing them into the depths of the forest. A strange whispering noise drifted towards them at first, and just as they were nearing its source, a mighty voice cried out, 'Done it! Amazing, quite amazing. Come, Doctor, come and see what I've done.'
The Doctor turned to Ace in surprise, but then shrugged his shoulders and went on, emerging into a clearing filled with light. At the centre of the clearing sat a figure, human in shape, but sitting he was taller than the Doctor and an aureole, a nimbus of moonlight, surrounded him.
'If I can just orient myself to you properly,' the figure said. Ace wondered what he could mean, after all he was facing the Doctor head on.
'It is Herne,' Bathsheba whispered with awe in her voice.
Suddenly the figure reached down and from between his hands a shoot leapt from the ground, became a sapling and then shot up until, clenched between his hands, he held a young oak tree. He stood up and ran his fingers over the wrinkled bark and stepped back, a look of puzzlement on his face. He smiled at the Doctor.
'I think I may talk now,' he said. 'Sit, sit and eat.'
'Yes, we have been riding since morning,' the Doctor agreed. 'Maybe we should eat.'
They sat facing the strange being. Ace took some food from her pack and passed it round.
'I am Herne,' the creature said.
'It is Herne,’ Bathsheba said again. 'I have heard of him, never thought that I should see him. If only Siân could be here.’
'I think