Doctor Who_ Full Circle - Andrew Smith [17]
The metal panelling of the throughway under Nefred's feet reverberated with someone's approach. Looking up, he saw Garif making his way tentatively towards him, quite plainly intimidated by the altitude.
'Nefred?' he called. 'I have to talk with you. Login...' As he approached Nefred, he could see the man's blanched complexion and weary eyes. 'Nefred? Is anything wrong?'
Nefred straightened and walked past his friend. 'Garif... I have seen the System Files.'
'As is your right,' said Garif, following behind.
'The System Files.. Nefred rubbed at his eyelids. 'Garif, if you could but guess - '
'Only you are entitled to those secrets,' Garif put in quickly.
'Such secrets, though, Garif... such secrets.'
Nefred's tone worried Garif. It spoke of despair - so unlike Nefred.
They were now leaving the throughway by way of a double-sealed security passage. This took them out into a reassuringly more secure-looking passageway with two reassuring walls, a reassuring ceiling and a quite deliriously reassuring floor.
'Nefred,' Garif began, steeling himself. 'About Login...' 'Login is very probably the most respected citizen in the community,' Nefred suggested.
'After yourself,' Garif interjected subserviently.
Nefred stopped and gave his colleague a stern scowl. 'After
no one,' he affirmed. 'We need him with us, Garif.'
'And if he won't accept the post?'
'Then I shall be very afraid.'
At that moment, Login entered the passageway. The two Deciders exchanged a look, then Nefred moved to greet the man. 'Ah, Login...'
'I was told I'd find you both in this area,' Login explained.
'Have you made up your mind, then?' Garif inquired.
Login nodded. 'I have.'
'Do you accept the post?' Nefred asked, sounding deceptively calm.
Login looked at Nefred, then Garif, then back to Nefred. 'I do.'
The Deciders hid their elation with considerable finesse. 'Excellent,' was all Nefred had to say on the matter, in the quite false tone of an official obligation prosecuted.
Garif cleared his throat. 'And... your daughter?'
Login straightened, his hurt plain. He remembered Garif's words earlier. 'Keara... Keara was a disruptive element.'
'What is your first concern?'
'The welfare of the community. And the work towards the Embarkation.'
Nefred seemed distracted for a moment, then he came forward and shook Login's hand. 'Well done,' he said.
Garif offered his hand and Login took it. The Decider grinned and said, 'Welcome, Decider Login.'
K9 came to an abrupt halt at a white, bubbling stream which cut directly across his path, separating him from the Marshmen, whom he could detect ahead of him, moving further into the forest.
There was no way that K9 could traverse the stream, and so he quickly calculated that he would have to negotiate a way round it, to meet up with a projection of the route taken by the marsh creatures on the other side.
K9 was aware that statistically there was a good possibility that he would fail to achieve his objective - his vocabulary did not include the phrase 'taking a long shot'.
Tylos held Romana's arm halfway up her back, his knife still at her throat. Varsh and Keara watched her haughtily. Adric stood to one side, helpless and ignored.
'Where is this "Doctor"?' Varsh growled.
Romana remained staunchly silent.
'Tylos.'
At Varsh's command, Tylos lifted Romana's arm a little higher, pressed his blade that little bit harder against the flesh of her throat.
'Tylos, watch out!' Keara screamed.
The warning was too late. Adric had moved quickly, sprinting across the floor and grabbing Tylos from behind. Romana jumped free and the two youths struggled, Tylos trying to thrust the knife backwards towards Adric's face. Adric was able to hold the blade back mere centimetres from his right cheek.
Varsh hovered indecisively nearby, torn between two loyalties.
Adric determined on his strategy. He held Tylos's wrist firmly, then twisted his hand round. Tylos yelped at the resulting friction burn,