Doctor Who_ Hope - Mark Clapham [83]
Fitz looked down at the crowds. The last stragglers were disappearing across the bridge, but their music and cries echoed between the buildings. Now everythings changing. The old rules dont apply.
No one knows where they fit in, said Miraso wistfully. You, me, Silver. Everythings up for grabs.
The question is, said Fitz. On which side do we all land?
Miraso didnt answer.
Wow! said Richard, circling Anji intently. Another human being, one who has lived outside the bunker. Its amazing.
Can you stop looking at me like that? said Anji, discomfited. Its rude.
Sorry, said Richard, stepping back and addressing her in a more normal manner. As you can imagine, its been a long time since weve had another of our own kind down here.
Like Im your kind, thought Anji spitefully. She wasnt too impressed by this first example of the surviving humans. Although he was a young man, his frame was spindly and underdeveloped. His skin looked distinctly unhealthy, and although he was wearing some kind of automatic contact lenses Anji could see glowing irises adjusting in his eyes, the thick rim of the lens on his eyeball Richard seemed to be constantly squinting. Presumably this was partially the result of his environment: the bunker was sterile and slightly dank. Endless bare light bulbs burned in the ceiling, while the air tasted overconditioned, devoid of any texture. Anji was a city girl at heart, she liked to breathe something with a bit more body.
How many of you sorry, us are there down here? she asked. As Silvers guest, she thought she had better make polite conversation while waiting for the cyborg to emerge from the airlock. Hed sent Anji on ahead to meet Richard, a gesture for which Anji would be eternally ungrateful.
There are only a few of us active, said Richard. Less of late.
Anji caught the young scientist glancing nervously at something over Anjis shoulder. She turned to see a couple of bullet holes in the smooth white surface of the wall.
However, continued Richard, not allowing her time to ask any awkward questions. There are many more of us still in storage, awaiting a suitable time to resume our place in the universe.
And what place is that? asked Anji.
Richard frowned. Im not really sure. Somewhere important, I think.
Thats good to know, said Anji. It would be depressing to think we were just another group of people, the same as any other.
Richard didnt seem to notice the sarcasm. Anji was about to lay it on thicker concerning the evils of equality when Silver arrived, cutting short an increasingly torturous conversation.
Shall we proceed? he asked, not even bothering to greet Richard.
Powlin returned to his office to find the Doctor sitting behind his desk, reading through one of the recent case files. There was a frown creasing his forehead, as if the Doctor was finding it difficult to concentrate on the words in front of him.
Im going to have to close that, said Powlin, by way of greeting. Thanks to you, we have our killer. Case closed, and we couldnt have done it without you.
The compliment seemed to slip past the Doctor unnoticed. Where are you keeping Stephens? he asked.
There are holding cells on the ground floor, replied Powlin. One of the men will open it for you if you want to see him.
Yes, yes, Ill do that, said the Doctor, agitated. But not quite yet. Now this case has been resolved, Mr Powlin, what next? Youve been working on this case for a long time, where do you go from here?
Thats a big question, Doctor, replied Powlin, sitting opposite him on a pile of case files. The huge stack of paper wobbled slightly, but stayed upright. Thanks to Silver and yourself, we now have a chance to establish law and order here in Hope. The criminals and scum have hidden in the fog and the shadows