Doctor Who_ Lungbarrow - Marc Platt [19]
The tendrils gradual y settled again. Arkhew clung to the edge with his fingertips.
There was another light. It was down below, moving along the edge of the Hall. A lantern carried by a stiff figure whose angular, varnished features threw back its baleful glow.
The House Drudge stopped directly below Arkhew. He dared not breathe; tried not to think; prayed to the God of Pain that his hearts would stop pounding so loudly. His fingers were losing their grip.
Cousin Owis tripped and fell, landing heavily on the wooden floor in a heap of expletives. He fumbled around in the dark until he found the object he had collided with. As he had hoped, it was a shrew-trap and something was scrabbling inside.
'Got you, you little. . . No, don't squeal. Don't squeal.' He reached inside and crushed the tiny creature in his podgy hands.
'Always after something to eat, aren't you?' said a voice.
Owis gulped and looked round for its owner.
32
A lamp lit itself, il uminating the tall figure who carried it. He was peering down at Owis from the top of a tall table.
He wore a faded maroon-coloured tunic and looked younger than he appeared - a typical Gallifreyan conundrum.
His long, curling, brown hair was parted at the centre to frame his pale, aquiline features.
'Glospin, put out the lamp,' said Owis panicking. 'You'll have the Drudges down on us.' He tried to stuff the body of the little animal into his pocket for later.
Glospin smiled. 'Have you been in the kitchens again?'
'No,' protested Owis. 'I was just out for a walk.'
'And how's Cousin Innocet? Still nannying you?' he asked. Owis could feel the heat from the lamp.
'She's busy with her book, as usual. There's nothing going on.'
Glospin set aside the lamp, lowered himself over the side of the table and dropped to the floor. He grabbed his Cousin's arm, twisted it hard behind his back. Then he leant his head on Owis's shoulder and whispered,
'Remember the skinless skulls? The ones that live under the House? They want to know about you, Owis.'
Owis squealed. 'Don't hurt me! Please, please, I'll do anything!'
'How is it you're so fat, when the rest of us are thin as peat-roots?'
Owis spluttered as the grip tightened. 'Don't know. Don't know!'
'The skinless skulls say the tallow supply's getting low. That's why the lamps keep going out.'
'Please, let me go. Please!'
'I won't tell the skulls as long as you do as you're told.'
'Yes. Yes, I promise.'
'Don't forget. And don't talk.' Glospin gave Owis a push which landed him back on the floor. 'Now, hand over what you found in the kitchen.'
Owis reluctantly pulled a parcel out of his jacket and handed it over. He watched Glospin sift through the contents of dried fungi. His Cousin scooped up a handful and passed it back.
'Here. To go with your shrew. Now scuttle back to your room before the Drudges catch you.'
33
Owis scurried away intent on reaching safety, but as he turned into the next corridor, he heard a scuffle behind him. He glanced back and saw, in the pool of light from the lamp, Glospin pinned to a treetrunk arch by the tal , black shape of one of the Drudges.
'It wasn't me,' he choked at the implacable maid. 'It was Owis. He stole this stuff. I caught him! You can catch up with him if you hurry.'
The Drudge lifted Glospin off the floor and carried him, struggling, away for punishment.
Owis felt a shudder run through the House. Even the air seemed angry. He clutched at his takings and hurried for the sanctuary of Cousin Innocet's rooms.
***
Arkhew strained his neck to watch the twinkling light disappear into one of the Hall's side passages. His blood was racing fit to burst. He had thought the Drudge would never move from below him. He knew it was listening. His fingers were about to crack under their tight grip on the parapet, when the servant moved rapidly away as if summoned on some