Doctor Who_ Companion Piece - Mike Tucker [36]
`All right — what if there's no hell. W hat if there's . . . just nothing. I think that would be worse. I mean . . . there was nothing before we were born, right?'
`So the Church holds — though some contend that our souls were with Jesus before we were born. W e burn these as heretics:
`Oh . . . '
The Patriarch smiled. 'You may speak freely to me, child. I'm not sure I would know what a heretic was any more.
`So . . . if there was nothing before, why should we believe there'll be anything after?'
`Because it is promised: the old man said, 'and that promise has been the foundation and guide to my hundred and forty-odd years on this plane. I would hate to think of them as wasted years.'
`I haven't been to church in years.'
`It doesn't matter,' said the old man. No amount of Hail Marys and unleavened bread can make up for a soul that is filled with hate. Our Lord taught that love opens the gates to paradise, nothing else.'
`Love of God.'
`And love of man.' The old man smiled. 'Believe it or not, I used to write love poetry in my youth. All theoretical, of course . . . or shall we say unrequited?'
`Do priests fall in love, Father?'
`Of course! W e feel anger and greed and envy — we are as prey to sin as any other man, child, and as prone to love. God can satisfy most of that love, but rarely all.'
`I've never been in love.' Cat shuffled uncomfortably. W as this the sort of conversation she should be having with a man of the cloth?
`There is no rush.' The old man was smiling at her. 'You are young
and pretty . . . There is plenty of time for you to meet the right person. Someone special . . . '
`I met a man today. In the hold. A priest. W e talked. He was . . . nice.'
The old Patriach gave a coughing laugh. 'A priest, indeed. I'm afraid your . . . attentions may have to be directed elsewhere. And I doubt the Grand Inquisitor would appreciate your straying too far. My dispensation on this ship has its limits, I'm afraid.'
`W e got on really well. And then later he just blanked me. Cat frowned, replaying their second encounter in her head. 'He pretended we'd never met. Might the Inquisitor have made him do that?'
`Quite possibly. People nowadays are used to believing what they are told, because to do otherwise would be to attract unwanted attention.'
They were interrupted by the sounds of running feet, and an urgent knocking on the door. A squad of guards stood outside.
`The ship is under attack, Father,' stated the guard leader. 'You must stay in your quarters until the all-clear is given: W ith that, the squad headed off along the corridor.
`W ait: called the Patriarch. 'W hat is going on?'
The captain of the guards glanced back without breaking step, but didn't answer.
`I must go: the Patriarch said. 'Something is wrong. You may remain in my quarters until I return.'
He hastened off after the guards. Cat watched the old man depart, then left his quarters and set off in the other direction, towards the hold. She wanted to find Paddy.
The Doctor was talking for his life, and he could tell that Guii del Toro was becoming impatient.
`You can claim all the ancient church privileges you wish, Doctor. W hatever involvement you might have had with our forebears hundreds of years ago is irrelevant. Here, my authority is absolute:
The ship suddenly lurched.
`W e seem to be under fire,' said the Doctor. 'Shouldn't you be somewhere else?'
`Indeed: said del Toro. Then, to a captain of the guards, 'Kill him.'
`No!'
Patriarch Julian was hurrying — as best he could — in their direction. The guards seemed to hesitate.
`Obey my order!' shouted del Toro. 'I am in command here. He has abjured the world! He's no one!'
Still the guards didn't move. The ship lurched again. Del Toro cursed.
`Bring them!' he barked and marched off.
`Thank you; the Doctor said to the Patriarch.
The Doctor and Father Julian were hustled after the Grand Inquisitor, onto the