Doctor Who_ Earthworld - Jacqueline Rayner [22]
The black car – ground-car, the boys called it, as if there were things to drive a car on other than the ground – was still outside the palace. Unguarded.
Unlocked. Anji kept checking for ambushes or secret cameras, but had to finally concede that it really was a gift. Under these circumstances, she felt rather embarrassed to have been captured at all in the first place. And these boys must have done something pretty damn stupid for all three of them to have got nicked. She considered asking them how it had come about – but she did want them on side, so maybe now wasn’t a good moment. Save it for later.
With Zequathon behind the wheel (he insisted and she didn’t argue, though she was convinced in her mind that she’d be perfectly capable of driving a future-car), Beezee beside him and Anji and Xernic in the back seat, they sped off towards EarthWorld.
At a gesture from Asia the hooded man had raised his axe, but the Doctor had just shaken his head. ‘You really wouldn’t want to execute me,’ he told the three girls.
Killing Queens
43
‘Yes, we would,’ Africa insisted. ‘We really, really like executions. There’s lots of blood and they plead for their lives and sometimes there’s screaming.’ Her eyes were alight. ‘I like the screaming best of all.’
‘I never scream,’ the Doctor said.
‘Oh, you would,’ said Africa, inching forward involuntarily on her throne.
‘You would. After you’ve pleaded for your life.’
‘Really?’ said the Doctor. ‘What, like this?’ He sank to his knees, arms stretched towards the girls imploringly. ‘Spare my life! I beg you to spare my life! I know that I am only a humble subject and you are great and important, but I beg you to show your mercy and let me live. If you do this, it will prove how powerful you are – how mighty. Let me live, let me live!’ His voice raised into an anguished cry, and he clasped a hand to his chest as he gazed pleadingly into Africa’s eyes.
She was on the edge of her seat by now, transfixed. ‘Yes!’ she cried. ‘Oh yes, yes!’
‘Sorry, no,’ said the Doctor, picking himself up off the floor and dusting himself down. ‘You’ll never get me to do that, I’m afraid. Not if you’re threatening to execute me, anyway. If, however, you agree to stop threatening me. . . well, let’s just say that the only way you’ll get me to plead for my life is by promising not to kill me. Is that a bargain?’
Africa’s look of exultation had faded, but she shrugged unenthusiastically when Asia turned an enquiring eye to her. ‘All right.’
‘Mmm,’ agreed Antarctica.
‘OK, we won’t kill you, then,’ said Asia. ‘Well, not yet. So, what did you want to talk to us about, anyway?’
‘Oh,’ said the Doctor, casually, ‘I’d just like to ask you a few questions about androids, if you’d be so good.’
‘We don’t know anything about androids!’ yelped Antarctica.
The Doctor looked pointedly at the severed head of Mary, Queen of Scots.
‘What my sister means –’ Asia glared at her – ‘is, why should we tell you anything about androids?’
The Doctor began pacing the room. ‘Because I’m interested? Because I understand from everyone that you are the planet’s experts? Because –’ he swung round to face them – ‘people are dying and I think you can help.’
Africa’s face lit up. ‘Oh yes! We can help people to die! Just tell us what you want!’
It was as the ground-car drew to a halt that it suddenly hit home for the first 44
EarthWorld
time. Really hit home.
Anji was alone.
The Doctor had left her alone. Yes, all right, she wasn’t literally alone, but. . .
She was on another planet, in the future, and the Doctor had sent her off with three. . . children that she’d known for a few brief hours! What if she didn’t find Fitz? What if, in the meantime, the Doctor disappeared? She had no one here she could turn to. She was also, to all intents and purposes, an escaped criminal; she couldn’t enlist any official help. Her only links to her home – to her whole life – were the Doctor, Fitz and the TARDIS.
What if they left