Doctor Who_ Lungbarrow - Marc Platt [132]
Chris pul ed an ivory lever and the door swung shut. 'Home again,' he said cheerful y. He picked his way through the debris that littered the floor and found a chair to sit on.
The overblown vaults of the reconfigured TARDIS dwarfed them. Wood and stone rose high in panels and buttresses, where once there had been the clean functionality of a white honeycomb.
'Home,' murmured the Doctor.
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And it was like the Doctor's home. As if his ship understood the loss of the House and had compensated to fill the emptiness. Shadowy corridors, alcoves and stairways, a secret at every turn. Like being in the Doctor's head. Like his life, for that matter, the details of which were strewn like flotsam across the floor.
Chris wasn't sure how long he sat, feeling the purr of the TARDIS engines as they tried to ease his own aching heart. His head had cleared of other people's thoughts, guilt and stresses. In comparison, his own were easy to put in order.
He thought of Roz, of how angry she used to get, her dark eyes flashing, her expression dour for days on end, and laughed at how much he missed her. He'd already fetched her towel from the bathroom and put it in his bag.
Click... click... click... The Doctor was turning his keys again, staring at a fixed point on the console... waiting.
'Where would you like to go?' Chris asked quietly.
The little man edged a sad smile across his face. 'Even more places than you, Chris.' He hefted himself out of the deckchair, took a few steps circling the console and sank backwards into an ancient armchair that creaked as it received him. 'Isn't it time you struck out on your own? Did your own thing? You'll have had enough of me by now.'
'No,' protested Chris.
'But...,' said the Doctor and waited.
'Well, I mean, yes. There are places I'd like to see.'
'I know there are.'
'Before I'm so old, they al laugh when I walk in the door.'
'Would they?' The Doctor sounded shocked. 'They never laugh at me.'
'Um...' Chris looked across and saw the Doctor's eyes twinkle with laughter in the depths of the armchair. He gave up. 'You're just trying to make it easy for me.'
'I do try,' the Doctor agreed.
Chris suddenly brimmed with love for this strange, all-powerful, irritating, little whoever, whatever he was person.
'What about you? It's even less easy for you. I should be there.'
The Doctor shook his head. 'Talk to Romana. She'l sort out the transport for you.'
'Yes, but...' Chris was flustered. 'Romana? You mean we're going back?'
'Three days here in paradise is quite enough, thank you. Besides...' His mouth twitched nervily. '...running away again? It won't do, will it?'
'Suppose not...'
'No. It never does.' He rose again, walked up to the newly antique console and briskly adjusted the ebony dials.
'Straight back to where we left them, I think.' But his eyes were full of tears.
'Doctor,' said Chris gently. 'You're crukking wonderful, you know.'
'I know, I know,' he said with a watery smile. 'And if I didn't exist, you'd have to invent me.'
***
The sun broke through the clouds, and the wind had softened. Birds were feeding on the fish.
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Innocet, walking on the springy turf of Mount Lung with Leela and Dorothée, suddenly stopped and took her shoes off.
'Of course, they got out,' Dorothée said for the umpteenth time. 'They always get out.'
They heard a call and saw Romana running up the slope towards them. Beyond her, the homeless Cousins resembled an animated jumble sale. People and guards were moving among them.
'Help has arrived from the Capitol,' she said. 'We've got provisions and medical aid. We'll soon get the Cousins moved to safety.'
Innocet nodded graciously and fumbled with her shoes.
'And I've been talking to Captain Redred. He seems resigned, but I doubt the poor man understands what happened.'
'His Family wil look after him,' said Leela.
'They're your Family too,' Romana reminded her.
'Andred's Family.' Leela looked in earnest at the President. 'What about you?'
Romana tossed her hair and smiled mischievously. 'Quite a