Doctor Who_ Match of the Day - Chris Boucher [41]
In the background the little crowd of curious onlookers had been growing steadily and the waiting area was beginning to get slightly congested. Where had all these people come from, the Doctor wondered? One or two of them actually seemed to be interested in him, judging from the way they smiled and waved if he caught their eye. „Leela,‟ he said, quietly drawing her attention to them, „I think Fanson may have been onto something.‟
„What do they want?‟ she asked as she ran her eye over the group and most of them waved and smiled.
„Try waving back,‟ the Doctor suggested.
„What for?‟ Leela was puzzled and more than a little suspicious.
„Just a small wave,‟ the Doctor said. „Think of it as testing a theory.‟
Leela raised her hand a little and gave a very slight and grudging gesture, not much more than a twitch. Everyone beamed delightedly and some ragged applause broke out.
„Yes,‟ the Doctor said. „I do believe we‟re famous.‟
Behind them the security doors soughed open and a tall woman strode out. „All right, people,‟ she said loudly. „What‟s going on here? Everybody back to work. Last time I checked this was not a public holiday. It‟s not even a scheduled meal break. Come on, come on, we‟ve got a lock-up to run so let‟s get on with it shall we.‟ The crowd broke up and people quickly disappeared into the corridors and back through the security doors. „You too Bazzy,‟ the woman said to the skinny young man. „How long does it take to deliver a download sheet?‟
„There were supplementary questions, ma‟am,‟ he said defensively.
„That was my fault I‟m afraid,‟ the Doctor said. „I was taking advantage of Bazzy‟s good manners to delay him and get his opinion on one or two matters of concern to me...‟ he waved vaguely in Leela‟s direction, „...us.‟
„And I‟m sure he was very flattered, Doctor,‟ the woman said, „but he has work to do.‟ She dismissed the young man with a nod towards the security doors.
The Doctor smiled benignly. „Thank you for your help, Bazzy.‟
„It was an honour to meet you, sir,‟ the skinny young man said, leaving reluctantly but not so slowly as to be insubordinate. As he passed Leela he said, „I can‟t tell you what a thrill it was...‟
Leela favoured him with a puzzled frown. „What was?‟ she asked.
He smiled with pure delight. „Thank you,‟ he said and disappeared through the automatic doors.
„I have to be honest,‟ the woman remarked, „I‟ve never understood the appeal of duelling. Not as a spectacle. Why would you want to watch the killing?‟
„I wouldn‟t,‟ the Doctor said. „I‟ve never been a big fan of death myself.‟
„You and Leela are probably in the wrong business then.‟
The Doctor smiled his most charming smile. „The wrong place certainly,‟ he said, and wondered what she would think if she knew he was referring to this whole bit of this whole universe.
„Speaking of which; the woman said, „there‟s press out front. A lot of press. It‟s somewhere between a melee and a riot out there. Did you want me to arrange for a runner at the side door?‟
When in doubt, the Doctor thought, repeat the question in a vague sort of way, and said, „A runner?‟
„I can arrange for a good reliable driver,‟ she glanced at Leela, careful to include her in any decision, „who‟ll get you there in one piece.‟
Obviously a vehicle, the Doctor thought, presumably like the one they were brought here in, only this time with added choice perhaps. „If you think it would be advisable. We‟ll be guided by you,‟ he said and saw she was immediately pleased and a little flattered. She might not be a fan of duelling but she wasn‟t unaffected by the fame of the duellists.
„I‟ll set it up,‟ she said, bustling away. „I won‟t be long.‟
„Get us where in one piece?‟ Leela asked.
„Have you some further objection to going back to the TARDIS?‟ the Doctor asked, knowing quite well that she would have.
Leela nodded thoughtfully. „How do we find out where this Keefer might be hiding?‟
The giant Hakai Corporation lost money on the Orbital Transfer Station but they continued