Doctor Who_ Empire of Death - BBC Worldwide [94]
'Where is he? Where is the general?'
Nobody spoke.
'If you do not tell me I shall kill you one by one until none arc left or somebody speaks. Well? What shall be your fate?'
Before he realised what he was doing, Hawthorne had stepped forward to face this murderous fury. 'Somebody unlocked the door and the general escaped. He wanted all of us to go as well but we volunteered to stay behind, so he would have a better chance. He should have found the gateway by now and gone back through to warn the others.'
The private sensed a flash of movement and felt a heavy punch crush his neck. He tried to cough but the breath wouldn't come. Something warm and wet was gushing from his throat, coating his fingers in crimson. Hawthorne's legs went numb and folded underneath him, his torso falling sideways to the cold stone floor. He looked up to see the other soldiers staring down at him in horror, cowering away against the wall. I must be a right mess, Hawthorne realised. He heard Lady Nyssa sobbing nearby but couldn't seem to focus on her features.
`You're not my father, you can't be,' she said. `What are you?'
Hawthorne closed his eyes and tried to remember a prayer, but none stirred from his memory. He wondered what happened to anyone who died in the afterlife...
Vollmer had his rifle ready to fire as a lone figure emerged from the water, facing the opposite side of the river. Where am I?' the bedraggled man asked before turning around. It was the general, but he looked haggard, bruises mottling his face like marble. His eyes widened in surprise at seeing the Queen looking down at him from the pontoon. 'Your Majesty!' Doulton snapped into a salute. ‘If I may be so bold, what are you doing here?'
`We travelled here at your request, General,' Victoria replied tersely.
`But I sent no such despatch. I would never...' Doulton's voice trailed away, his hands shivering as cold water dripped from them.
The Queen took command of the situation, telling Vollmer to have fresh clothes laid out for the general. She invited Doulton to take his leave of the river and dry himself off.
'Might we suggest a nip of whisky to calm your nerves? Once you are ready, we would hear all you have to say. We suspect the truth is yet to emerge.'
Nyssa sobbed, trying to ignore the gurgling sounds as another soldier died at her feet.
Tremas spun round, his features contorted with malevolent fury. 'Where is the boy? He brought you here, he discovered this place. He must have helped the general escape. Where is he?'
Nyssa shook her head, unable to answer.
Tremas marched out of the cell, dragging her behind him.
James had disappeared while they were inside with the prisoners. 'He'll be trying to escape through the gateway.'
Tremas's face sneered at Nyssa but it spoke with an unearthly voice, its breath rank with sweet, sickly odours. `You will help us bring him back.'
`Your Majesty, I must ask you to leave this place immediately, It is not safe for you here.' Doulton was now standing before the Queen in the tent prepared for her. Victoria was flanked by her trio of household guards, with the Doctor, Vollmer and Clark to one side.
`You keep saying this but you do not tell us why. We require a reason'
The general swallowed hard before responding. 'Ma'am, I believe the gateway is, indeed, the portal to another world.
But I do not think it can be considered any sort of paradise.
Beyond this gateway is a purgatory of suffering and torment.
Perhaps within that realm there is another portal leading to the true life ever after, but I did not find any evidence of that. All I experienced was horror and suffering, ma'am.'
The Queen appeared crestfal en at this news. And you are certain of this?'
`Yes, ma'am. Upon my honour.'
`Very well. You have told us it