Doctor Who_ Lungbarrow - Marc Platt [95]
'Satthralope? End this charade now, or I'll tell the House about Quences!'
Her hands gripped the finger arms of her chair in fury. The arrogance of it! How dare he?
She was about to send a Drudge, when she saw, through the mirror, the figure who was standing behind the Doctor.
It was Glospin.
***
Chris nearly tripped over Jobiska. He thought she was dead, but the old lady eased herself out of the deep fireplace and handed him her telescope.
'Have a look, dear. Looks like rain.'
Chris lay on his back and squinted up the chimney at a distant punch-hole of light far above. 'These candledays you can only see up the West chimney,' Jobiska said sadly. 'Cousin Luton thought he could climb up the East chimney, but he got stuck. We could hear him regenerating for eleven candledays. That was five hundred and six years ago and he's still there.' She pawed Chris's arm. 'I'm two hundred and ninety-nine, you know. And no one will take me home.'
Chris sat up. 'Who would you like to take you home?'
Jobiska's eyes filled with tears again. 'Arkhew, dear. We used to play Sepulchasm together. Where's he gone?'
'He's gone away,' said Chris gently.
She moaned a little. 'No, dear. He always said he couldn't afford to go away.'
'What?'
'He owed too much. He tried to clear the debt, but the wagers got bigger.'
Chris felt that little tug inside his head that always said, you're on to something. It felt like a hug from Roz. 'What can you bet down here? Who was screwing him? I bet it was Glospin.'
She choked back her tears. 'Arkhew said there was nothing else to bet. Glospin already owned him.'
Chris would have hugged the tiny old woman, but he feared she might snap in two. So he leant in and gently touched her spindly arm.
Something sliced past his head, nicking his ear.
A knife clattered across the floor.
The sharp pain brought everything into focus. Chris was surrounded by people. All the Cousins in the portrait, all calling him.
They seemed to think he was the Doctor.
'There he is!'
The Cousins had gone. Jobiska was pointing at someone trying to hide behind a sofa.
145
'Glospin!'
Chris lunged down, and yanked out the figure by the collar. It was Owis. 'I didn't do it!' he squealed.
'Nice try anyway,' said Chris. 'Did you kill Arkhew too?'
'Why should I?' He was damp with sweat.
'They used to look for the missing will together,' said Jobiska.
'What was it worth?' Chris growled. 'Did you ever have a bet with Glospin?'
Owis swallowed hard. 'Sometimes.'
'Nothing much exciting to bet with down here though.'
'There's enough.'
'Yes?'
'Arkhew was my friend. And we never found the will.'
'Arkhew hated Owis,' added Jobiska.
'Shut up,' said Owis. 'Shut up!' He raised a hand to hit the old woman. Chris knocked him to the floor.
Somewhere near, something struggled in a tight space.
'Arkhew had a pet scrubbler,' continued Jobiska. 'It fell in through a window one day. Al silvery grey and blind, with a twinkly nose and big digger claws. Arkhew kept it in a box, fed it on worms. It was his best friend. Then Owis ate it.'
'Did not!' protested Owis. 'It's all the Doctor's fault. He wants to kill everyone!'
Innocet walked in through the door. Rynde was with her. She glared accusingly at Chris. 'Why has the Doctor come back? He should have left us buried in peace.'
'While you wager your lives away in idiot games?' said Chris.
Owis affected disinterest. 'He could afford a life or two.'
At that moment, something fell out of the chimney and slapped on to the hearth.
It was a fish. A big glassy fish with finny claws. A barrage of hailstones clattered around it. It struggled for a moment, off the hearth, onto the filthy rug, and then lay still, mouth gasping.
The Cousins stood in silence as three more fish tumbled down among the hailstones.
'Is it a sign?' said Owis excitedly. 'Or a miracle?'
Innocet clasped her hand to her throat. 'Perhaps,' she said slowly. 'The Doctor always attracted strangeness.'
'Chris!' hissed a voice.
Chris turned and saw Dorothée and another woman standing in the doorway.
The others stared.