Doctor Who_ Lungbarrow - Marc Platt [122]
'But it is you. I know it is.' She looked so hurt.
'Indeed?'
'Yes.'
'And what makes you imagine that?'
'I know, Grandfather. After the fires, you sent us away to Tersurus, but the spacedrome was closed and there was an explosion. I went back home, but you'd gone.'
'Home?'
'But I couldn't stay there.' She tugged at a pile of rags and pulled out several books. 'I've had to live on the streets.
I sold books for food. I've waited a whole year for you, Grandfather. A year today.'
He put his hand gently on her shoulder. 'I don't know, child. I really don't know.'
Her eyes implored him. 'You've changed. You look different, but I'd know your thoughts anywhere. Don't you remember me?'
The old man shook his head. 'No, young lady. I do not know you.' He studied her hard, squinted as if he'd had a sudden thought. 'But your name is... Susan?'
'Yes, Grandfather.'
There were shouts from nearby.
He stood. 'We can't stay here. I must go back to the TARDIS.'
'Time and Relative Dimensions in Space,' she laughed. 'I gave you that idea.'
He was incredulous. 'Which way?' he said, shaking his head again.
She gathered a bag of books together and led him along the deserted cloisters, talking incessantly of her life since he left her. Her nurse had disappeared and she slept in the ruins of the temple where no one went. Today, the first ever festival of freedom, had been disrupted by strange alarms and now a curfew had been declared.
Eventually they reached the deserted parapet where the pyramid stood. The alarms were stil jangling.
He looked at her fondly. 'Susan, I think you mistake me for someone else. Someone you'd like to see...'
'No,' she protested.
He held up a finger. 'Let me finish, child. I cannot leave you here. I am an exile from my own time, but with this old ship, I plan to do a little sightseeing before I try to settle. Now will you join me, hmm? I think I'd like the company.'
She hugged him tight. Startled, he lifted his arms, and then gently embraced her as well.
'Yes, I think this wil work out rather well,' he said, ushering her into the pyramid. 'But a little less of that
"Grandfather" business, if you don't mind.'
196
As the door began to close, the watchers glimpsed the ghost of a long black box that shot from the shadows and in through the narrowing gap.
They heard the strained trumpeting of elephantine engines as the pyramid dissolved out of existence.
***
The Doctor had already gone. The others felt themselves being drawn after him as the astral reality dissolved in darkness around them.
Glospin was moving off too. 'Let's see Wormhole extricate himself from this,' he called to them.
'You still have no substantial evidence,' retorted Innocet.
'No? I have here enough expert witnesses to have him vaporized.'
Leela angrily wrenched free from the group. 'You'l pay for that!' She floundered in the air, ignoring their calls.
They were already sliding into the void beyond her reach.
Somehow, anger drove her at Glospin. He turned to escape and leave her stranded, but she clutched at his ankle.
The others heard her voice clearly in the dark.
'Travel home, snake tongue. I cannot kill your soul, but I shall hunt you down until you howl for mercy!'
The darkness consumed them al .
***
They awoke in the circle. Innocet and Romana and Dorothée and Leela with them.
A circle of guns was trained down on them.
The Doctor sat up sharply. His hand went to his face. 'What do I look like? Have I been dead?'
Chris groaned and put his hand up to the veins that stood out on his temples.
197
A figure in black stepped between the guards. 'Welcome back, both Presidents,' he said with a smile.
'And my two escaped guests as well. Thank you for leading us here.'
'Do I know you?' said the Doctor. 'Didn't we meet in the trenches of Skaro?'
'Ferain,' said Romana. 'Director of Allegiance at the CIA.'
'You put a trace on us,' scowled Dorothée. 'We were allowed to escape from the Capitol.'
'Indeed,' said the old man. 'And you are all under House arrest.'
198
Chapter Thirty-two
No Trespassers