Doctor Who_ Father Time - Lance Parkin [58]
Ferran smiled, leaning up on his elbows. He was gaining strength fast.
‘We cannot spare the resources,’ he said. ‘Things have changed since your time.’
‘Civil war?’ Sallak asked.
‘Not yet.’ Ferran took a deep breath. ‘The Factions observe an uneasy truce. There have been a few atrocities, but no one wants a return to the Imperial system. Most feel it is only a matter of time before the truce collapses and one of the Factions makes a play for dominance.’
‘And are we ready? We have ships?’
‘We are as ready as anyone else. But we need men like you there, Sallak. Leaders. Soldiers. We need an advantage.’
‘You have grown to become a fine leader, Prefect. You have a lot of your brother about you.’
Ferran shook his head. ‘You are not the only reason we came here: I have another mission.’
‘The blood feud.’
‘The feud. You have located the Last One?’
‘I was captured by the humans. They were aided by the Doctor.’ Ferran’s eyes were wide open at that news. ‘Your brother was killed by a man called Barry Castle.’
Joel was hanging on every word. ‘You’re time-travellers, yeah? So how come they didn’t send a rescue party straightaway? I mean, like to ten minutes ago? Or before you were arrested?’
Ferran smiled at him, the sort of smile a teacher gave a bright pupil. ‘We have only recently acquired time travel. We still have much to learn about its mysteries.’ He turned back to Sallak. ‘Deputy, three people must die: Barry Castle, the Doctor and the Last One.’ Kirst was a little shocked how easily those words came to the young man’s lips. He was already plotting how he’d do it.
‘We will start as soon as you are strong enough,’ the Deputy vowed.
* * *
Chapter Twelve
Voices from the Past
Dinah sat in Miranda’s huge back garden, looking back at her huge house. Miranda’s dad had brought them a jug of lemonade, which Dinah steadfastly refused to believe he had made himself. Then he disappeared back into the house, claiming he had some work to do in his laboratory.
Dinah was always impressed by Miranda’s house, and had no doubt at all that there was a laboratory in it somewhere – it seemed bigger on the inside than the outside. That in itself was quite an achievement – it was a large house, which had probably once been a vicarage, maybe even a schoolhouse.
The gardens were beautifully tended. Roses, old statues, even a couple of beehives. ‘Any idea why you’ve got a police box in your garden yet?’ she asked.
‘None whatsoever,’ Miranda admitted cheerfully.
‘Your dad’s gorgeous,’ Dinah said, once he’d gone.
‘Dinah!’ Miranda said, genuinely shocked.
‘Oh, I’m not going to ask him out or anything.’
Miranda was shaking her head. ‘I take that for granted.’
Dinah grinned. ‘Who are you bringing to my party, then?’
‘Everyone I know is invited anyway,’ Miranda replied. She hadn’t got all that many friends. She wasn’t shy, but she was hardly a social animal, either.
‘Bob likes you,’ Dinah said, trying to provoke a response.
‘No, he doesn’t.’
‘Oh come on, Rand, don’t do this again: I’m fed up of blokes coming over to me and looking lovestruck, then me getting my hopes up and then it turning out that they want to know if you’ve got a boyfriend. Just get one, so I can tell them you have and they can go away?’
Miranda gave her a withering look. ‘That’s not what happens. Besides, you’ve got Alex.’
‘And he spends half his time looking at you.’
‘He doesn’t. He thinks I’m a bit strange.’
‘Let’s go through the list: you’re tall, long legs, blonde hair, great tits, athletic, a bit strange. Yes, I can see why he’s ignoring you.’
Miranda was blushing. ‘I’m not into all that, you know that.’
‘Into what? Boys?’
‘Sex,’ Miranda said, clearly shocking herself by saying the word.
Dinah grinned. ‘You don’t smoke, swear, drink, sweat or belch. You ought to do something, Rand. Even the law says you’re old enough.’
‘I do lots of things,’ she said, not taking the slightest offence. ‘I just don’t feel that way.’
‘You’re missing out,’ Dinah said.
‘I’m not,’ Miranda insisted. ‘You know I’m not. I spend every summer abroad,