Doctor Who_ Hope - Mark Clapham [56]
The cold, the fear, a night exposed to the foul air of Hope it was all too much for Anji, and as they descended into darkness she began to feel detached and disorientated, unsure of where she was. Torchlight flashed around her, but not enough to make any sense of where she was. She simply followed the red glow coming from Silver, and tried to keep her footing.
They left the staircase and entered an open area, heading for an orange glow ahead. A fire, burning in a pit of inflammable material, the rim of the area scorched and hardened. Anji saw a ragged, headless figure, blood pooling around the neck, and a brief burst of panic stuck in her throat. She broke into a run, but a few hasty steps later she realised the body didnt belong to either of her friends it was the wrong shape, too bulky and flabby, to be either the Doctor or Fitz.
One of Powlins men approached, seemingly uncertain of protocol but absolutely certain that Silver was to be deferred to nonetheless.
The head for this one is over there, said the nervous militiaman, and Anji rigidly avoided following his pointing finger. There were some things she didnt need to see.
We dont think the killer got any heads this time, said the militiaman. Its difficult to call, our only witness is out cold. He stepped out of their way, and with a gasp of relief Anji saw Fitz lying on the ground, unconscious and slightly damaged but with his head still attached to his shoulders. The lines on his face seemed stark in the flickering firelight, a cut on his cheek glistening with dark, wet blood. Anji was eager to run over there and examine him, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. Silver walked over to Fitz, dropping into a crouch. He swept his eyes back and forth over Fitz, and Anji realised Silvers robotic eye was performing some kind of scan.
No broken bones or serious internal damage, said Silver. We need him awake. Miraso.
Silver stepped back, and Miraso stepped forward, straddling Fitz and leaning over into his face.
Wake up, she shouted, slapping Fitzs face. Wake up, now. She slapped him again, and Fitzs head jerked to one side. Anji winced. This was too much, Miraso was hurting him.
Leave him alone, protested Anji, moving to pull Miraso away from Fitz. She felt herself jerk back, a rock solid grip around her arm.
We need to find the Doctor, said Silver, red eye flaring in the dark. Only Fitz can tell us what has happened to him. We need him awake.
Shes hurting him, protested Anji, but she couldnt slip out of Silvers hold.
Wake up, Miraso was still barking, slapping Fitzs face from side to side.
Suddenly Fitzs back arched, his eyes opening wide. His hands clawed at the ground, as if he was dragging himself out of some inner pit.
Ateen! he screamed incomprehensibly, panicking, not truly aware of where he was. She said, she said she wa
Miraso, still sitting on Fitzs chest, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.
Wheres the Doctor? she demanded. Fitzs eyes began to roll, so she slapped him again. Where did the Doctor go? Where is the man you were chasing?
There was a fight, said Fitz blearily. The Doctor fought the white man, but the white man shot me. I was shot. Fitz looked confused, and he tried to move his hands to check himself for bullet wounds. Thats all I remember.
Fitz slumped back to the ground, and this time Miraso left him there.
I think hes been tranquillised, said Miraso, brushing her hands on her trousers. Were unlikely to get any more out of him.
Silver nodded to a nearby militiaman. Have him stretchered to the Silver Palace at once. And dont damage him.
Fitz said he was shot, said Miraso. But he seems to have been tranquillised. If he was shot with some kind of tranquilliser, they could have done the same to the Doctor. Anji could see a theory developing in Mirasos mind as she spoke. The Doctor thought this killer might be gathering Kallisti from Endpointers, because its unique.