Doctor Who_ Hope - Mark Clapham [14]
The only thing were looking for is information, said the Doctor, eyes narrowed, unimpressed by Pazons flippant attitude towards what had just occurred.
Information, I can do information, said Pazon. But my main business is culinary. Perhaps I can interest you in some food and drink, and then we can talk about this information youre after. Pazon leaned back into a classic negotiating posture, waiting for the Doctor to make him an offer.
Sounds good, said the Doctor through gritted teeth. What have you got?
On the food side weve got carbos and protes, vitcliks and some fresh stimulikes, listed Pazon breathlessly.
And drinks? asked Fitz. The food hardly sounded exotic, more a list of mineral supplements. He hoped the beverages were more enticing.
Depends on your budget, said Pazon. I have sulphshakes and caffy for those early morning cravings, and for the healthconscious, simple full and semi.
Skimmed? asked Anji, clearly thinking that Pazon was referring to milk. Fitz had a horrible feeling that wasnt the case.
The stall owner seemed baffled. Recycled, he said, as if to an exceptionally dumb child.
Ah, said Anji, clearly none the wiser. Then it sank in. Ah, she repeated, a slight look of disgust on her face before she quickly repressed it. Fitz repressed a smirk in response.
Dont have semi and full recyc where you come from? said Pazon, his tiny eyes narrowing even further. You must be from way out. Salvation is it? Not from one of those church yachts that usually go around the poles, are you? Only you wont find many up for conversion around here.
No, no, said the Doctor quickly. Nothing like that.
The man slumped. Either way, youre not likely to be able to pay for anything, are you?
Depends, said Anji. What system of exchange do you use here?
Pazon pulled a grubby disk from a pocket, and showed it to Anji as if it were a magical item.
This is a coin, he said patiently. And you exchange it for goods and services. And, if theres any difference in value, they give you back some little coins in return.
Yes, thank you, said the Doctor impatiently. We get the idea. Perhaps you could tell us where we can get some local currency. We have a particularly large job that needs doing, and well need funds.
Large job? asked the man.
We want to retrieve something of ours, said the Doctor. It fell into the sea.
Pazon blinked. That is a big job. He whistled. Only one place youll find the clout to get a job like that done. Same place youll be able to hoc your exotic foreign goods for a line of credit. The Silver Palace.
Palace? asked Fitz. You have royalty here? Probably a King Rat, he thought to himself.
Pazon laughed, an unpleasantly low but reedy chuckle. Something like that. Follow the path to the right, youll know when you get there. Its hard to miss.
Thank you, said the Doctor. He nodded to Fitz and Anji, and they began to make their way in the direction indicated.
Oh, and come back when youve got some money sorted, shouted Pazon as they left.
Cheeky little sod, Fitz heard Anji mutter.
Forget about it, snapped the Doctor, and Fitz felt himself recoil, and saw Anji do the same. They exchanged glances; the Doctor had never seemed this brutal before.
We find this Silver Palace, we get the TARDIS back, we leave, said the Doctor. Everything else is a distraction.
Fitz and Anji exchanged further glances as the Doctor strode off ahead of them, not even waiting to see them follow.
It isnt good for him, this place, said Anji. It isnt good for any of us. We need to get out while we can.
The acolyte tries not to scream as one of the Brotherhoods surgeons works on him, burning into his arm to upgrade crude flesh with advanced weaponry. Screaming is an organic impulse, and all that is