Doctor Who_ Companion Piece - Mike Tucker [33]
`It's weird. He's also from Liverpool. His dad also worked for W irral Borough Council. W e have so much in common.'
`Separated only by eight hundred years, said the Doctor, teasing gently.
Cat didn't laugh. 'At first I thought it was fun, but now it's starting to scare me:
`Scare you?'
`Doctor — ' Cat put down her glass `— if you'd asked me a week ago what religion I was, I'd swear I couldn't have told you. There's stuff I still can't remember. Like when I was in London — what was I doing? It's all a blank!'
`I wonder why all this is coming to you now?' the Doctor mused to himself.
`I think I'm going mad! W as I on drugs? That's the only thing that would make any sense'
`No,' said the Doctor firmly. 'You weren't.'
He flashed a brief, sad smile at her. Cat tried to smile back.
W as she really losing it?
She was scared.
She wanted a hug, like her dad used to . . .
Her dad . . . Did she remember her dad? Yes. She did now.
She was really scared.
And yet still comforted by the memory. She wanted the Doctor to hug her like that.
She'd never hugged the Doctor.
`And yet now,' said the Doctor, 'if I asked, you would tell me with assurance that you're a good Roman Catholic girl — a bit lapsed perhaps. I think they might be projecting false memories into you:
There was no conviction in the Doctor's voice. Cat stared at him blankly. 'W hy?'
The Doctor shrugged 'Evangelism?'
Cat shook her head. The theory made no sense, and the Doctor knew it.
They were interrupted by a gentle knocking on the bulkhead. A priest was there.
`The Venerable Patriarch asks if you wish for anything else:
`No, thank you: said the Doctor.
Cat looked up briefly from examining her wine glass — as if the content might hold the clue. Her face lit up when she saw who the visitor was.
`Paddy!' exclaimed Cat.
`I'm sorry?'
`Paddy!'
`Have we met?'
`Of course we've met! Only a couple of hours ago! And before that in the cathedral!'
`I'm sorry, you must be mistaken. If there is nothing else . . . '
He turned and left.
`W hat was that about? That was Paddy! The priest I was telling you about!' Cat could hear the panic in her voice.
The Doctor was scowling. 'I don't know . . . ' he said pensively.
Mass came to an end, and the ship's complement of priests and soldiers and those crew and servants who were not on duty filed out of the main chapel. Soon only Grand Inquisitor del Toro, Patriarch Julian and Bishop Agatho were left.
`You look unwell: the Patriarch said to Agatho.
`His Grace doesn't like space travel, said del Toro with a malicious smile.
`You shouldn't have made me come: whined the Bishop. 'I have work to do back on Haven. The papal conclave means nothing to me. I am a humble servant of whoever holds Saint Peter's keys.'
`None of us enjoys such a luxury nowadays: retorted del Toro. 'W e all have to make difficult choices. The conclave has begun, and I have heard that Urban XII has left Earth. He feels strong enough to go to Rome and assert his claim in person. The Magellanic Tsar is bound to react. The choice that is made in Rome might cost us our lives.'
`I shouldn't be a part of this!' Agatho protested. 'I was brought here against my will! I had no choice!'
`You made your choice years ago, Agatho. You sell your loyalty to whoever offers you the greatest advantage for it. You will love Rome:
Even after her meal, Cat could barely sleep. She felt hurt and confused, and angry with herself for it. The Doctor was so distant sometimes. He'd sort it out, she had no doubt, but that didn't make it any easier for her to cope with what was happening in her mind. A word of comfort was what she needed, not an assessment of their situation. And then Paddy . . . Just a glimmer of recognition would have been something.
Perhaps he wasn't allowed to talk to prisoners. Perhaps he had already been reprimanded for talking to her. But