Doctor Who_ Lungbarrow - Marc Platt [79]
he yel ed and threw it down to the floor.
The Drudge rounded on the stranger, but Innocet moved between them with a sharp riposte. 'Stop this now!
Remember the laws of Housepitality! ' The servant ignored her.
Down below, the Doctor snatched up the brol y and began to parry the prowling tables. The rumbling House shuddered again, almost throwing him to the floor.
Somewhere a door slammed. Then another. There was a barrage of rage as doors al over the House slammed themselves over and over. The helpless watchers covered their ears.
Through the din, Innocet shouted, 'Stay there, Chris! Only Satthralope can stop this nonsense!' As she hurried away, Chris's hand went to his forehead and his knees buckled. He rested his chin on the balustrade and groaned weakly as he watched the fight.
116
The tables were circling the Doctor, narrowing his space. Rynde saw that they would soon slide themselves together and crush him. He nudged Owis. 'Three tafelshrews that he loses a leg.'
'Five, he loses both.' They crooked fingers.
The Doctor, his umbrella open as a shield, was spinning in a circle, trying to hold back all the tables at once.
One table made a vicious swipe and knocked the weapon out of his hand. As the mob closed in for the kill, the Doctor hop-toaded up on to one of the tabletops.
The table bucked and tried to throw him. It reversed and took a run across the Hal . The Doctor balanced on top, crouching, arms outstretched, shouting something like 'Surf's up!'
The table skidded to a halt and the Doctor tumbled clear.
Rynde whistled appreciatively. 'He never used to do that.'
Owis frowned. 'Have you met him before?'
The Drudge croaked another order. The slamming doors went suddenly quiet. The rumbling continued.
The Doctor waited for the other tables to advance, but they began to pul back.
Something snorted. Out of the gloom beyond the plinth slid the guardian of Quences's resting place. The massive black catafalque dwarfed the Doctor. It lashed its segmented tail. The ebony statues of beasts stacked up its ornamental sides rol ed their enamel eyes. Some beat their wings or stamped their hoofed feet.
The Doctor edged backward, but found his path blocked by the tables. He looked up to the galleries and whistled a two-note signal.
Chris tried to heave himself over the balustrade, but the Drudge dragged him roughly back.
The catafalque advanced, growling to itself. The ceremonial beasts carved on its flanks lowered their horns and tusks, ready for the charge.
The Doctor whistled again and this time there was a whistled response. He smiled to himself and the catafalque charged.
He dodged sideways. The funeral carriage lashed its tail round and caught him side-on. He stumbled and kept his balance, but his jacket was caught between the tail segments. Struggling to free himself, he was dragged steadily towards the affixed beasts as they writhed and champed from their places on the body of the bier.
Innocet stepped over the body of Arkhew dumped in the doorway.
Satthralope was in her chair, staring at the corpse, making little guttural noises in her throat. Her keys lay on the floor at her feet.
Innocet closed the door quietly. She took the old woman's trembling hands. 'Satthralope, listen. The House...'
'I told it,' whispered the old woman.
'Yes.'
'It knows he's here.'
The House shuddered again. A tarnished shield fell from the wal and clanged spinning to the floor.
'We must stop it,' Innocet said.
'No, no. It won't listen.'
117
'It must listen,' Innocet insisted. She felt fresh tremors shiver through the floor. 'You can't do it alone.' She picked up the heavy keyring and placed it in the Housekeeper's hands. Together they turned to the reflection in the mirrors.
To and fro thrashed the tail of the enraged catafalque. The Doctor, thrown about like a doll, was barely clinging on.
A sudden roar cut across the Hal . Rynde, in the midst of another wager with Owis, saw a shaggy figure emerge on to the arena.
'What's that?' Owis said.
'Badger!' shouted the Doctor, struggling to hold his grip. 'About