Doctor Who_ Earthworld - Jacqueline Rayner [99]
He put the pizza down on the table in front of her. Then produced a can of fizz out of each coat pocket, and let her choose which one she wanted. And he’d got a portion of coleslaw too, even though she was the only one who liked it.
They snuggled in front of the telly, teasing out strands of mozzarella from each other’s pizza slices. Dave picked the olives off of his half and left them in the box lid. They kissed, but didn’t hug because their hands were greasy. And then Dave ran her a bath with as many bubbles as in the TV commercials, and lit scented candles around the bathroom, and afterwards kissed her from head to toe and took her to bed. They were both laughing.
The door opened and Dave came in.
He’d been for an audition and they’d given him the part on the spot. Only a weekend’s work, but he opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate. They’d drunk it in about ten minutes flat, and she hadn’t stopped giggling for two hours. They’d played strip scrabble, even though neither of them could work out what the rules for that should be. Anji’d still won. When the programme had come on TV she’d videoed it and watched his two-and-a-half minutes eight times in a row while he was out. She’d never told him that.
The door opened and Dave came in. Same time every night, and the same routine. Old-married couple stuff. Spontaneity would be good. But there were bits of her that’d miss the routine if it went.
The door opened and Dave. . .
The door opened and. . .
The door opened. . .
The door didn’t open.
180
EarthWorld
The door was never going to open again.
And once she started crying, she was never going to stop.
The door opened, and the Doctor came in. He held out a hand, and helped her to her feet. Still holding her hand, he led her out of the room. ‘There’s something I found earlier,’ he said. ‘I think you should see it.’
They went down lots of corridors; Anji knew she’d never find her way back on her own. Finally the Doctor turned off into a room.
If it could be called a room. It was amazing.
It was just like being in the countryside. There was lush green grass instead of a floor, and blue skies where there should be a ceiling. The whole place exuded an aura of tranquillity and Anji breathed in deeply. The air smelled so fresh. She almost smiled.
The Doctor led her further in, and they sat down on a flowery slope under a tree, placing themselves carefully so as not to crush any daisies. Neither of them said anything for quite a while. Then Anji began to cry: a few sobs at first and then she was wailing her heart out. The Doctor put his arms round her and held her close. Eventually, the teats subsided. Embarrassed, Anji pulled away, looking anywhere but at the Doctor. It was then she noticed the chrysalides.
They were everywhere. By each daisy, on each twig. There must be thousands of them. ‘What are these?’ she asked the Doctor, without turning round.
‘What will they become?’
‘I don’t know,’ he said softly. ‘But it’s new life. Isn’t it wonderful?’
Anji took a deep breath. Then she laid her head back on the Doctor’s chest, and cried again.
About the Author
Aged fifteen, Jacqueline Rayner decided she had ‘grown out’ of Doctor Who.
Now, thirteen years later, she is writing, editing, audio-executively-producing and watching it for a living. Which only goes to show.
Her favourite companion is Sarah Jane Smith, and her favourite monsters are the Monoids.
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Document Outline
Cover
Contents
The Fluffy Frog in the Sky
History's What You Make It
Killing Queens
A Man is the Sum of His [False] Memories
Powerplay
Elvis Lives!
Several Singalongs
If You Prick Me, Do I Not Bleed?
Nights at the Round Table
Being Other People
Dear TARDIS...
About the Author
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven