Doctor Who_ Nightshade - Mark Gatiss [20]
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DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
Vijay Degun ran his fingers through his soaking hair and
‘I need some time to myself. To do some thinking. I was grinned at Mrs Crithin behind the counter. ‘Could I use wondering - well...’
your phone, Mrs Crithin? We had a bit of an emergency up Ace smiled. ‘Here’s two bob, get yourself to the pictures?
at the station last night and it blew all our phone lines. I Yeah, I understand, Doctor. I’ll occupy myself for a bit.
need to get through to Cambridge.’
Where will you be?’
Ace looked out of the window and noticed the big green The Doctor stood up and put on his hat. ‘I’m going to that Land Rover in which Vijay had arrived.
monastery over on the moor. Good places to think,
‘There’s a phone box down the road, you know, love,’
monasteries.’
said Mrs Crithin, ‘but you’re welcome to use mine.’
‘OK, Doctor.’
‘I tried that one but it’s out of order as well.’
‘I’ll see you in The Shepherd’s Cross this evening. Shall Mrs Crithin frowned and led Vijay into the back of the we say eight o’clock? Sorry to leave you in the lurch like café. Ace looked at the Doctor but he seemed disinterested this.’
and deep in thought. She crept up to the counter and leaned
‘Eight o’clock, in the pub. Got you. Are you buying?’
across. Vijay was just visible in a little alcove under the The Doctor grinned, gripped her arm affectionately and stairs, fiddling with the receiver of Mrs Crithin’s phone. He stepped out into the rain. Ace watched his little figure, frowned and tapped the instrument against his cupped blurred by the downpour, as he walked out of the village.
hand. Something was wrong. He talked to Mrs Crithin for a She sighed heavily.
few minutes and then ran back into the café.
Now what was she going to do? She had enough trouble
‘Thanks anyway,’ he called behind him. ‘All the lines keeping herself occupied in the middle of London, never must be down. Probably the weather!’
mind in this hole. And this might be 1968 but she doubted He almost ran into Ace as he barged towards the door.
whether Crook Marsham ever did much swinging. Still,
‘Oh sorry,’ he said, his eyes already looking beyond Ace there were compensations. That lad on the bike for one. She to the door. He paused on the threshold and the rain smiled.
buffeted him. Then, wrapping his overcoat around him, he There was a long-drawn-out grumbling noise and Ace dashed from the café towards The Shepherd’s Cross.
looked down at her stomach. Breakfast was a good place to
‘Did you hear that, Doctor?’ said Ace excitedly.
start. She went up to the counter and beamed at Mrs Crithin.
‘Mmm?’
‘Three egg sandwiches and another cup of tea, please.’
‘All the phone lines are down. We’re cut off!’ Ace tried to sound bubbly in the hope of cheering the Doctor up.
‘Betty?’
‘Er... Ace,’ he said in a quiet voice, ‘I was wondering
‘Mm?’
whether I could ask you a favour.’
‘Customer, love.’
‘Yeah, of course. Anything.’
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DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
Lawrence Yeadon put down his tea towel and took his Betty slipped off her shoes and walked across the thickly wife’s hand.
carpeted hallway to the bathroom. She turned on the tap
‘Are you sure you’re all right?’
and gorgeously hot water thudded into the pink porcelain.
Betty smiled thinly at him. Her eyes were misting over. It A few drops of syrupy bath oil completed the process and was obvious she hadn’t yet recovered from the night’s tears.
Betty felt a thrill of happy anticipation at the prospect of a
‘I’m all right. Honestly, Lol.’
restful soak. She stayed to watch the bubble bath froth from Lawrence shook his head and moved to serve the old man under the taps and then returned to the bedroom.
who was impatiently tapping his ring finger against his empty beer glass.
A mile away, at the tracking station, Dr Hawthorne stood
‘I’ll serve Mr Medcalfe. You go and lie down.’
up sharply as a fresh burst of data stormed through the Betty protested but Lawrence held up his hand. ‘Quite room,