Doctor Who_ Just War - Lance Parkin [81]
‘You changed history back.’ A statement, not question.
‘I changed history. Like I said, I made tiny changes, and ensured that the Allies won.’ The Doctor checked Chris’s reaction, watched him reach the next stage of the argument.
‘But if you can do that, why can’t you stop the war entirely? History’s been mucked about so much, who knows what’s true and what’s false? And who cares, anyway? Six years of war. Everything from the Holocaust to Hiroshima, with Dresden along the way. Stop the war now, before any of those things.’ Chris had that faraway look, that dangerous innocence.
‘Chris, I have been doing this sort of thing for a long time.
Believe it or not, I have occasionally considered my responsibilities. It has dawned on me that my actions have implications and ramifications. I am aware that I’m treading a slippery slope. I’m afraid that this isn’t a school debating society, this is a war, so you’ll have to take my word that there are certain standards of behaviour that we are expected to follow. All we are concerned with here is tracking down Hartung and finding out what he has built. We have to redress the balance, not tip it over. Trust me,’ the Doctor insisted.
‘Just follow your orders?’
‘Just fight for what’s just,’ the Doctor said, smiling sweetly. Chris nodded, thoughtfully. Steinmann was stepping back towards them.
The staff car arrived at Paddington at a quarter to eight, driving past the empty taxi rank to the small police hut. Roz noted with approval that the police presence here had been stepped up, two men on every door, watching the crowds.
They got out of the car, Reed identifying them to the constable who came out to greet them. The policeman led the pair downstairs, past the echoing ticket hall.
‘The male prisoner’s in the manager’s office, ma’am.
You’ll want to see him first, I take it?’ Roz found it gratifying that the constable accepted her authority without question, and confirmed that they were only interested in the man.
They walked over to the glass-panelled door, which opened as they arrived. A tall blond male stepped out, bursting into a run as he saw them approach. Reed moved to block him, but the larger man shouldered him out of the way and charged down the escalator, pushing passengers out of the way.
Reed recovered quickly, but seemed dazed.
‘After him, George! I’ll follow in a second,’ Roz yelled.
Reed nodded, drawing his revolver. The constable who had brought them down followed the lieutenant. There was screaming from passengers on the escalator. Roz was already checking her ammunition, confirming that her gun was fully loaded. When that was done, she poked her head around the office door. Three policemen were picking themselves off the floor. One of them had a broken nose.
‘I’m Captain Forrester, from the War Office. Who’s in command?’
‘I am, I’m Sergeant Hood. I’m in charge.’
Roz flashed her identity card. ‘Wrong, Sergeant: I’m in charge. I want all the exits sealed off, I want the trains stopped. I’m right that none of you is armed?’ They nodded, a little too bewildered for her liking. ‘Okay. He’s gone underground, not tried to get to the street. I want the police to evacuate the civilians from the station, and I want them to be damn sure that they don’t accidentally evacuate our target.
Check every single man, woman and child.’ One of the constables left to coordinate the evacuation.
‘Where’s the female prisoner?’
‘She’s with a couple of men from Five, sir... I mean ma’am,’ piped up the man with a broken nose.
‘Are you in a fit state to take a message?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘Good man. You get her out of here and into a locked cell.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ He scurried off.
The remaining policeman, Sergeant Hood, looked pained. ‘Ma’am, do we have to stop the trains?’
Roz glared at him. ‘No, Sergeant, we could let the target commute all over London. Do me a favour and stop them.