Doctor Who_ Empire of Death - BBC Worldwide [72]
Dead flesh sloughed from old bones. Sins and hopes, eaten like carrion. Deeper and deeper, back and back, the past becoming the present and then the future. No memories any more, just blackness in the light, death in place of life, all torn asunder. Then the angel turns to you and smiles, but its teeth are like fangs and the hand reaches for you and you hear yourself begging, pleading, just as the old man did. You're going to die in this place and there is -
Nyssa opened her eyes and gasped in air. She was in her room in the TARDIS, she was safe. It had been another nightmare, another murder witnessed. But was it from the past, the present or the future? She had to find the Doctor and see what light he could shed on it. After dressing she hurried to the control room, leaving her journal behind in her haste. The Doctor was by the TARDIS doors, which stood slightly ajar. He motioned Nyssa to silence.
She could hear voices from outside, two men whispering. Ì'm telling you, Thorny, something's up! Half the men have been sent upstream with Clark. Most of the others are marching to New Lanark with orders to evacuate the place. And now this - it ain't right,' Johnson hissed, his words punctuated with the sound of metal clinking together. Ì ain't putting no woman in shackles. If Doulton wants to see her and the Doctor chained, he can do it himself! I didn't join the army to turn women into prisoners.
À statement that does you credit,' the Doctor interjected as he stepped from the TARDIS. The startled soldiers scrambled to their feet, cursing at being caught unawares.
`You surprised us!' Johnson stammered.
The Doctor smiled as Nyssa emerged from the blue box. 'I understand there is much afoot this morning. Perhaps you gentlemen would be kind enough to deliver us to General Doulton. We have to speak with him as a matter of urgency.'
Hawthorne stepped aside and pointed down to the river below.
'He is waiting for both of you down by the water's edge, Doctor
- this way.'
The Doctor smiled insincerely. 'You're too kind. Nyssa?'
She joined him and they walked down the steep hillside together, followed by the two guards. Both soldiers were carrying heavy chains and manacles. `Doctor, I had another one of these dreams last night,' Nyssa whispered.
Ì rather thought you might. An angelic creature torturing and killing an old man?'
`Yes! How did you -'
Ì had the same vision. Probably a side effect of the rift widening, accentuating the psychic capacity of those nearby with latent abilities. I think I know who our angel is:
`James?'
The Doctor nodded. 'He was probably responsible for the deaths of those officers.'
`How did he get here before us?'
`How indeed? And why has he become a murderer?'
`Don't you mean the creature from beyond the rift that possesses him?' Nyssa asked. 'Surely that is the killer, not James.'
Ì'm not so certain of that any more...’
Nyssa wanted to ask him more but they had reached the bottom of the slope. A less than gentle nudge from Hawthorne's rifle butt propelled the Doctor towards the general, who was standing out on the pontoon. Doulton was surveying the river, hands resting on his hips, his head tilted to one side, listening intently. `Do you hear that, Doctor?'
`The water flowing by or the dull thud of someone making a terrible mistake?'
`Neither. If anyone has made a terrible mistake here, it is you' The general turned to regard his captives. Ì
thought I ordered this man and his accomplice to be shackled?'
`Well, you can't always get what you want,' the Doctor said, a benign smile playing across his lips. 'Who said that first, I wonder?'
`You, sir, are a traitor and an impostor!' the general shouted.
Ì'm not certain I can be both at the same time'
`You told me you were sent by Scotland Yard. But that distinguished establishment denies all knowledge of you and your accomplice'
`No, you asked if I had been sent by Scotland Yard. "You could say that", was my reply. I never claimed to be anything I am not, so it is less than accurate to call me an impostor. As for being a traitor