Doctor Who_ Halflife - Mark Michalowski [25]
He reached out and traced the outline of a trumpet-shaped carmine flower.
‘You see this?’ he said. ‘It’s native.’ He touched another – a bougainvillea.
‘And this is from Earth, an expensive import that I bought a few years ago.
They live happily side by side, new and old.’ He looked back at the Doctor, his eyes sad. ‘If I had one dream for the future of Espero, that would be it: new and old, past, present and future, all side by side.’
‘It’s a nice dream,’ agreed the Doctor.
Roberto fell silent; the Doctor didn’t know what to say. He caught Calamee’s eye. She looked awkward and uncomfortable, a sixteen-year-old girl caught up in the middle of an adults’ conversation about religion and politics.
‘So why are you on the run, then?’ Roberto said suddenly, breaking out of his reverie. ‘What have you done to offend the Imperial Family?’
‘I wish I knew, Father. I really wish I knew. I can only assume it’s something to do with why I came here, or with whatever I did when I first arrived. Or perhaps they just didn’t like my face.’
‘And – forgive my bluntness – how will hiding out here in a backstreet church help you find out the truth? If you only take one thing away from here, shouldn’t it be that hiding your head in the sand doesn’t get you anywhere?’
The Doctor considered, turning his teacup around and around in his hands.
He had a vague, itching sense of time running away with itself, as if a clock had been set ticking. He hadn’t a clue what it all meant, but Roberto was right: he might be safe enough from the Palace Guard here, at least for a 45
while. But sooner or later he had to go and find out what he’d done, and why he was here.
‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘But I don’t know where to start. Other than at the Palace, and you’ll understand my reluctance to go back there until I’ve remembered a little more about what I’m doing on Espero.’
Roberto nodded, and something suddenly seemed to occur to him. He told them to wait there and he scurried away – and came back a few minutes later with a puzzled look on his face.
‘I’ve just checked with the city police to see if there’s any sort of alert out for you. And there isn’t. Strange, eh? The Palace Guard rarely come outside the Palace, apart from for ceremonial events. If the Imperator really was after you, the police would be the ones to continue the search. It might just be that the Palace are being particularly slow in reporting you, but it still seems rather odd.’ He raised a hand. ‘And I’ve just thought of someone that might be able to help you with your memory.’
‘Really?’
Roberto nodded. ‘We don’t have many offworlders here – certainly not on a permanent basis. But there’s one, here in Saiarossa, that might be able to help. Her name’s Madame Xing – well, that’s what everyone calls her. I’ve heard that her real name is unpronounceable. No one really knows why she’s here – but she keeps herself to herself. I suspect that there are people in the government who’d rather she wasn’t here, but they don’t like to ask her to leave: they’re not sure what the repercussions would be. She’s. . . erm, a little weird, if you take my meaning.’
‘Wonderful!’ said the Doctor, leaping to his feet. At last! They were getting somewhere. ‘I love weird. How do I find her?’
‘That’s the problem. I haven’t a clue. I’m sure there are people who know more about where she lives than me. She may not even still be on Espero.’
The Doctor sighed. Easy come. . .
‘I’ll make a few calls,’ Roberto said. ‘Come back in an hour or two. I might have more to tell you then.’
‘Thank you, Father,’ said the Doctor and held out his hand to the priest. This time it was accepted, and they shook. ‘Maybe this is the break I need.’
As they’d made their way from the church through the city, the Doctor thoughtful but possessed of a determination that she hadn’t seen in him before, Calamee had told him about Saiarossa: about how its name allegedly derived from ‘red sea’ in some ancient Earth tongue,