Doctor Who_ Illegal Alien - Mike Tucker [8]
He did up the last buttons of his clean shirt and pulled a tie over his head. 'Come on, you two. You'd better get into the shelters.'
Ace, perched in the window with her camera, turned pleadingly to the Doctor. 'Oh, come on, Professor. I've not seen a single explosion yet.'
The Doctor picked his hat up from the desk and rolled it up his arm on to his head. 'There'll be plenty of time for photo opportunities, Ace.' He turned to McBride. 'Where would the nearest shelter be?'
'Chancery Lane tube is your best bet. It's only a few minutes' walk away.' He crossed to the window. 'I'll show you.'
'Aren't you coming with us?' Ace looked at him quizzically.
McBride shuffled uncomfortably. He had intended getting shot of the two of them and settling into his nightly routine.
He was aware of the Doctor's eyes burning into the back of his head. Without knowing why, he crossed to the hat stand and began to struggle into his trench coat.
'Come on, then. I'll walk with you over there.' He shut off the lights and opened the door for them. Ace grabbed her jacket and pushed the camera back into the pocket, grumbling as she made her way out on to the stairs. As she passed him, McBride tweaked his hat from her head. The Doctor followed, pulling his duffel coat on and, although the room was dark, McBride was sure that he was smiling.
The trio made good time towards Chancery Lane, carried along by the throng of people heading for safety. ARP
wardens kept the crowds orderly and, although there was an undercurrent of anxiety, there was no panic.
The Doctor seemed totally at ease. He kept pointing out landmarks to Ace, jabbing this way and that with the point of his umbrella. They attracted a few curious looks but most people were too concerned with the imminent air raid to be bothered by this eccentric little man.
McBride was still unsure quite why he was out in the street with them at all. Somehow, the Doctor had persuaded him to give up his dangerous nightly game without saying a word. That he had been so easily manipulated annoyed McBride, but he wasn't going to argue. Perhaps it was about time that he looked after himself a bit better. There was no way that he would go into the shelters, though. About that he was adamant.
They approached the entrance to the tube station and McBride reached into his pocket for his cigarettes. He cursed.
He'd smoked his last one. Suddenly he knew where he would sit out the air raid. Mama's Bar.
He caught the Doctor's arm. 'This is as far as I go, Doc.
I'm off to Mama's.'
The Doctor stared at him, his head cocked on one side.
'You're going to visit your mother?'
McBride grinned. 'Something like that.' He pulled the collar of his trench coat up, and sauntered off towards the river. The Doctor watched him go, tapping his umbrella handle against his lips. Ace appeared at his shoulder. 'Is he going to be OK, Professor?'
'Yes, I think so.' He linked arms with her and turned towards the tube station. 'Come on, Ace, let's find ourselves a space to spend the night.'
***
The night seemed to drag for Ace. The underground station had filled with people. The platform was overflowing, stairwells and even the space between the tracks crammed with Londoners sheltering from the onslaught.
Ace looked over to a young mother, desperately trying to get her baby off to sleep. An older woman, probably the baby's grandmother, was waving a small knitted teddy bear in the air in front of them. Ace smiled. Her own grandmother would have joined the WRNS by now Sometime this year she would meet Frank William Dudman, of the merchant navy, and they would get married. Ace's smile faded. In three years Frank Dudman would be dead, his ship struck by enemy torpedoes. Kathleen Dudman would have to bring up a baby daughter on her