Doctor Who_ Father Time - Lance Parkin [15]
‘Tell me about Miranda,’ he said.
‘She’s bright.’
‘Right. Good at maths? A lot of chess players are.’
‘Not quite top of her class, not far off. She’s one of the candidates for extra tuition.’
The Doctor tapped his lips with his fingers.
‘And –’ Mrs Castle hesitated – ‘she’s got two hearts.’
The Doctor stared at her.
‘Really,’ Mrs Castle insisted. ‘A birth defect. Well, not a defect at all, really. Both hearts are fully developed, one on each side. It means she’s never out of breath, she’s –’
‘How do you know?’ the Doctor asked levelly.
‘Her parents have known since she was born. They didn’t tell the school, but Miranda bruised a rib last year in PE and we had to take her to St Kitt’s for an X-ray. They didn’t give their consent to any other tests, which annoyed the doctors. The parents said they didn’t want anyone to know she was different. That’s fair enough: you know what kids are like. It doesn’t bother Miranda, though.’
The Doctor was barely listening. ‘Do her parents have –?’
Mrs Castle laughed. ‘I’ve never asked. Why, do you think it runs in the family?’ The Doctor didn’t answer. He went back over to continue the games, more distracted than Mrs Castle would have thought.
Two more of his opponents fell, one of them resigning.
Daniel, Stacey, Rachel, Miranda and Paul were left. Stacey and Rachel were beaten quite quickly. Paul asked if he could have Stephen’s help, which the Doctor allowed. The two boys conferred, but quickly agreed they were in a hopeless position. So the Doctor literally turned the tables and made a move. The two boys looked equally perplexed now they had command of the Doctor’s old pieces.
Daniel almost beat him, then almost forced a draw, but the Doctor got him in the end.
Only Miranda was left now. The Doctor sat down opposite her – looking very silly in a chair designed for a ten-year‐old – and began concentrating. The other children drew up their chairs, and Mrs Castle stood behind them, watching the game.
‘Do you think that man was really chased by a space monster?’ Miranda asked.
‘Miranda,’ Mrs Castle warned.
‘What do you mean?’ the Doctor asked.
‘The UFO man.’
The Doctor looked up, stared at the girl.
‘It’s in the paper. A man ended up in hospital on Saturday night. He says he was chased by a monster.’
‘St Kitt’s?’ the Doctor asked. Greyfrith had its own hospital in those days.
Mrs Castle shifted uncomfortably ‘That’s right. We shouldn’t talk about it, and we shouldn’t let it worry us,’ she told Miranda, and the rest of the class.
Miranda grinned, showing a row of teeth that would have been perfect if one of the front ones hadn’t been missing.
The Doctor leaned forward. ‘Where was this?’ He was talking to Miranda like an adult, and Miranda was happy to be treated that way.
‘Cooper’s Hill.’
‘On Cooper’s Farm?’
‘Yeah,’ said Stephen.
‘Gosh.’ The Doctor looked over at Mrs Castle. She nodded.
‘There’s no need to scare anyone,’ Mrs Castle warned.
The Doctor nodded – thankfully understanding that there are some things you shouldn’t say in front of children.
‘So how long have you played chess?’ the Doctor asked Miranda. ‘Ages,’ she said, suddenly a little shy.
‘You’re very good.’
‘She’s not,’ Daniel snorted. ‘I don’t see why it’s taking so long for you to beat her.’
Miranda looked over to the Doctor and they shared a smile. Daniel’s jealousy was transparent.
The Doctor moved his queen into danger. Stephen and Mrs Castle exchanged a look – they’d noticed... but Miranda hadn’t. She was at the other side of the board, faffing with her pawn structure.
The Doctor hesitated. ‘You’re letting me win,’ he concluded. Miranda looked up.
‘I am,’ she apologised.
‘But why?’
She couldn’t make eye contact with him. ‘Well, if you lose, it’s not as big an achievement, is it? If you win ten games, but lose one, it’s not as good.’
Mrs Castle gasped