Doctor Who_ Lungbarrow - Marc Platt [110]
He sat down beside her and tried to take her hand. 'Innocet, listen. We can put an end to it at last. You must tell me where they are.'
'Take away your hand,' she said.
'Please, Cousin. No more secrets. You can let go now.'
She tried not to listen. Water slapped on the steps.
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He sighed. 'You know, on other worlds there are people dedicated to clearing up the mess I leave behind. It's always been actions and reactions with me, and I tend to forget the consequences.'
She watched something moving under the water.
He continued, 'But now I have to make amends for the suffering I've caused you all. It's my responsibility. So stop hoarding all the misery for yourself and tell me where the others are hidden!'
She closed her eyes.
'Then do it for Chris's sake,' he said.
She bowed her head. The soaking hair pressed her down. She slowly edged her hand towards his.
The lagoon erupted at their feet. Something huge began to emerge, climbing the sunken stairs. Water cascaded down its bedraggled fur.
The Doctor pulled Innocet back.
'Badger! Why are you always pestering me!'
'I am required to protect you,' boomed the machine. 'I destroyed the amphibian orcholotl.'
'I don't need a bodyguard. I've managed for centuries on my own.'
Innocet edged to the top of the stairs. She turned and ran, down through old neglected corridors where the whitewood trees were overgrown and tangling through the furniture.
'Innocet!' He was coming after her. Her wet dress caught and tore on a branch.
And in her head, they were cal ing her too. Cal ing her to join them in hiding.
But there was nowhere to hide any more.
'Innocet!' He was behind her. This little man, this serpent had destroyed the Family, the House that she would never now pledge to serve might and main, drudge and droil.
Innocet, they called in her head.
'Cousin!' he said at her shoulder.
She grabbed at a rusty sword that hung on the wal and levelled it at his chest. 'Stay back!'
'Put that down, please.'
'Leave us alone!'
The shape of Badger came crunching through the branches.
'Innocet, put the sword down,' said the Doctor.
'No!'
'Badger wil attack anyone who threatens me. Even you. That's how Quences programmed him.'
The huge machine dwarfed him as it advanced.
'Stay back!' she yel ed above the voices in her head.
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'Badger,' he ordered. 'You will not harm Innocet. She's not attacking me. Now, stand back!'
The avatroid swayed where it stood.
After a moment, the Doctor edged towards her. 'Now, give me the sword.'
'I cannot,' she said.
'Please.' He reached gently for the blade.
A sudden outburst from the voices in her head. She swung the sword against his outstretched hand. He made no sound, but blood trickled between his fingers.
Badger roared in fury. The Doctor was knocked aside. The machine reached for Innocet, lifted her and threw her against a tree.
The voices went quiet.
She was lying on her side at the foot of the tree. Its branches spread above her. Her hair would not let her lie flat.
And he was there, looking down at her with extraordinary tenderness.
'Don't move. I'll go for help.'
'I had to protect our Cousins,' she whispered, every word an effort. 'It's my fault.'
'Of course it isn't.'
'They couldn't stand the dark. There had to be somewhere for them to go. Somewhere the House couldn't see.'
'And you helped hide them?'
'Yes.'
He stroked her hair. 'But the House knew. It must have known.'
'Of course it knew.' She started to cough. 'But it loves them. That's why it let them go.'
'But it wouldn't let them leave completely, would it?' There was anger in his voice. 'They're just hiding somewhere to get away from Satthralope.'
'It was al I could do.'
He leant down to kiss her forehead. 'How could one person endure so much alone?'
Blood tasted in her mouth. 'They're waiting for you, Snail. They've waited a long time.'
'In my room? Is that where they are?'
Her body ached. 'So weary. Had enough now. Can't do any more.' She felt him reaching gently into her mind.
Please understand, she thought. Please finish it for me.