Doctor Who_ Empire of Death - BBC Worldwide [41]
`Doctor, there's something I have to ask you. Last night, when the apparition first appeared - how did you know to say I should imagine it was my father?'
The Doctor stopped his packing. 'Yes, I was wondering when you were going to question that' He looked at Nyssa and then sat in a chair. 'It was a hunch'
À hunch?'
À guess. An educated one, born of experience and knowledge, but still a guess'
`That's not what I was asking. How did you know I would be safe if I imagined the ghost was that of my father? What was that thing last night?'
When Vollmer, Johnson and Hawthorne reached the railway station on the outskirts of Lanark, there was a telegram, two heavy wooden crates and a Royal Navy officer waiting for them. Immaculate in his naval uniform, he appeared less than impressed with his first sighting of the three soldiers.
`Not much of a welcoming committee!' he said. 'Who's in charge?'
The sergeant stepped forward, feeling his hackles already starting to rise. 'If you mean of us three, I am. If you mean of the contingent, that's Lieutenant Reginald Ashe. Who the hell are you?'
`Lieutenant Peter Kempshall. Judging by the expression on your face, I'd say you weren't expecting me.' The new arrival pointed at the two crates. 'We'll need more than just you three to shift this lot'
`Thank you for that insight, sir,' Vollmer replied.
`Lieutenant Ashe had already directed us to obtain a horse and cart for that purpose'
`Jolly good,' Kempshall said cheerfully.
A small, apologetic man approached, doffing his black peaked cap and clutching an envelope. 'Excuse me, but there's a telegram here for the soldiers camped above Corra Linn. Arrived yesterday from Windsor but I haven't had a chance to forward it on'
The sergeant grabbed the envelope and ripped it open to read the contents. 'REQUEST LATEST REGARDING
CORRA LINN ENCAMPMENT STOP SEND DESPATCH
SOONEST STOP GENERAL GORDON DOULTON,
WINDSOR CASTLE. Vollmer was furious at the delay in receiving it and gave the stationmaster an earful. After that the browbeaten man was eager to loan his horse and cart to the soldiers without charge. Vollmer bullied the meek man into helping them load the crates on to the cart. The sergeant then dictated a return telegram to the general, informing him the contingent had made camp.
The large wooden boxes filled the back of the cart, leaving no room for passengers. The lieutenant stowed his kit bag between the crates and took one of the places on the front of the cart. 'So, how far is it to Corra Linn?' he asked.
The Doctor leaned forward in the tall chair, elbows resting on the polished wooden arms, his fingers forming a steeple shape in front of his face. 'I believe there is a creature hiding inside James. It seems able to reach into people's minds and find the one thing about which they feel the strongest emotions. Usually, those feelings are memories associated with grief and loss. Last night, when that apparition was approaching you, I realised your strongest emotion was fear.
I was trying to help you overcome that fear and remember your father, so the spirit would take on his form instead'
`What about Adric? He died far more recently than my father - why not tell me to think of Adric? Or Tegan?'
The Doctor sighed heavily. `Nyssa, you're missing the point. Last night was last night. There is something far more important we have to face'
Nyssa leaned against the end of the wrought-iron bed frame, her face betraying her uncertainty. 'I don't understand what you're talking about, Doctor.'
Rather than look at her, he concentrated on studying his fingers. `Nyssa, the death of a parent, that's a terrible thing for anyone to face. But to have that parent murdered and then see