Doctor Who_ Nightshade - Mark Gatiss [80]
He glanced around at the eerie emptiness, straining to What was before him now was not Susan. He knew that.
hear any sign of life. With a heavy sigh, he pushed open the But seeing her there, just as he remembered her, was almost door of the pub and stepped inside.
too much to bear. He could feel himself moving towards her.
The taproom was silent and deserted, discarded glasses
‘Susan,’ he whispered.
and plates littering the tables. Lawrence walked listlessly She smiled, and in that moment, the Doctor caught a tiny around the room, his face drawn and haggard. He glanced flicker in her expression. The eyes seemed suddenly colder, at the tinsel which hung across the bar and shuddered as a harsher.
sob caught in his throat. Betty.
‘No,’ he said flatly.
She was gone. The woman who had brought meaning to Susan reared up, her body elongating like an uncoiled his life. Gone.
snake. For an instant, her smiling face remained. Then it fell It had been hell after the death of his first wife. He had away, leaving only a terrible darkness around which her struggled to bring up Robin as best he could. No one, hair whispered.
Lawrence included, ever really expected him to get over it.
She held out her hands in an embrace and began to giggle, But Betty’s love had helped him, healed the wounds, an awful, sick sound that made the Doctor’s hair stand on restored the joy to his existence.
end.
He could see her now, just as she had been that summer’s Susan’s body was expanding now into trails of light, her afternoon in York, the sun beating down on her hair, her mocking laughter echoing around the deserted hall.
laugh echoing through the hot, still streets.
The Doctor cried out in anguish and grief, looking around Now she was gone. Claimed by some force he couldn’t frantically for an exit. He spotted the well of the spiral stairs even begin to comprehend.
and bolted across the room, running for his life.
Lawrence slid into a chair. He had to pull himself together.
The fog from the moor poured down the empty streets of George Lowcock had called at Mrs Bass’s place late the Crook Marsham, blanketing the peal of the distant bells of previous night, talking about Jill Mason having some York Minster, six miles away. It was a rousing, jubilant terrible fright over at the monastery and how important it sound, greeting the festive morning effusively.
was to get everyone together for their own safety.
Yet in the village no one stirred.
Lawrence had suggested the church and said he’d meet An icy wind whipped through the main street, setting the them all there at eight on Christmas morning. He checked butcher’s sign swinging.
his watch. Nearly time.
Somewhere, there was a soft, soft rustling sound.
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DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
First, though, he had needed to see the pub again, needed Holly lay asleep next to him, a few filthy blankets thrown to put himself in touch with Betty by seeing the things she’d over her.
seen.
They had hidden themselves in the security guard’s hut He got to his feet and forced himself up the stairs. The after a petrified dash through the station.
police had taken away what was left of her and the Luckily for them, but unluckily for Trevithick, the bedroom door had been nailed shut.
creatures seemed intent on pursuing the old man, racing Lawrence paused by the door and pressed his cheek after him into the interior of the building.
against the panels, sobbing.
Holly had been keen to make for the village but Vijay He checked his watch again through tear-misted eyes.
thought this might expose them to still more danger. Better Get a grip.
to hide till they could get their bearings.
He would talk to George. Everything would be fine.
Sometime during the night, there had been a tremendous, Everything could be explained. Then he had to find Robin.
muffled explosion from somewhere inside the station and Say sorry. Make sure he was safe.
Vijay had uttered a silent prayer for Trevithick. If the old Lawrence turned from the door. There was a sudden, man had gone