Doctor Who_ Peacemaker - James Swallow [30]
‘I so often do,’ he agreed.
‘I don’t mean to seem inhospitable, but it’s my estimation you might be best off getting back in the saddle and riding on.’ The stableman frowned.
‘And why might that be?’
The man gestured around. ‘Ironhill’s shaking off a sickness. Town ain’t in no state for whatever kind of business you’ll have.’
‘We ain’t here for work,’ Nathan said curtly. ‘We’re here to find a –’
‘A friend.’ The Doctor quickly spoke over him. ‘Well, more of a passing acquaintance really. I suppose you could call him a fellow academic, if you used the term loosely.’
‘ Very loosely,’ murmured Martha.
‘You’re talking about the Professor?’ The stableman’s expression changed. ‘Why didn’t you say? The man’s brought a ray 0’ light to this 74
godforsaken place, and that’s a fact!’ He grinned. ‘Last I heard, he was doing his good works over at the Widow Weems’s place. He’s made a lot of folks better with that potion of his. We’re mighty grateful.’
‘No one’s had the nightmares yet, then?’ said the boy. ‘The bad dreams?’
‘The what?’ The bald man’s brow furrowed.
‘Nothing,’ said the Doctor. ‘You were saying?’
The stableman thought for a moment. ‘His wagon’s parked over yonder.’ He pointed. ‘In the street behind the bakery.’
‘But where’s Godlove?’ Nathan’s voice was almost a snarl, and his hands tightened into fists.
Martha shot the Doctor a warning look.
‘Can’t say for sure where he is now,’ answered the stableman.
The Doctor pushed back his hat with a finger. ‘Martha, why don’t you and Nathan have a look at Professor Godlove’s wagon, see if he’s about?’
She nodded, catching the unspoken addendum in the Doctor’s look that said And stay out of trouble! ‘Gotcha. What are you going to do?’
‘I think I’ll take a stroll down main street, see if I can’t look up our good pal Alvin.’
The music inside the saloon was feeble, but it was mildly entertaining.
The few patrons at the bar were largely quiet, leaving the tables to the man of the hour.
Three of them, a group of roughneck brothers and apparent ne’er-do-wells, hoisted their glasses in salute. ‘Here’s to you, sir,’ said the tallest of the trio. ‘Any thin’ we can do to repay you for all you did, you just say the word!’
Alvin Godlove saluted back. ‘Thank you, gentlemen.’ He smirked.
‘You see, my dear,’ he said, reaching around the bar girl sitting on his lap to pick up his glass, ‘it is the burden of intelligent men to do their best for their inferiors. That is the path of righteousness, to use one’s skills for the betterment of one’s fellow human beings.’ He knocked back the whiskey and gave her a squeeze. ‘Don’t you agree?’
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‘If you say so, Professor,’ she giggled. ‘I never was allowed to learn no reading or writing.’ She toyed with his thin necktie, dancing her fingers over his silk shirt and the elaborate brocade waistcoat he wore over it.
Alvin leered. ‘Ah, but you have other talents in such abundance.’
The girl gave him a playful tap. ‘You’re a gentleman to say that!’
The saloon doors opened with a creak of hinges and Godlove’s gaze snapped up, alert for trouble. He grimaced as Walking Crow stalked over to his table, his face bleak. ‘I must talk to you.’
‘So talk.’ Godlove looked away. His good mood was fading again.
The free drinks and the attention of the saloon girls – the ones not too sick to show their faces, that was – had made him feel better after arguing with the Pawnee, but now here he was again, a redskin storm cloud cluttering up Alvin’s otherwise lovely day.
‘ Alone.’
Alvin blew out an exasperated sigh and gave the girl a tight smile.
‘My dear, could you be so kind as to get me a refill, while I address my bothersome assistant here?’ She wandered away and as soon as she was out of earshot, Godlove snarled at Walking Crow. ‘What now?
‘Strangers have arrived,’ he told him. ‘A man, a boy and a girl.’
‘And this is my concern how?’ He sniffed.
‘I know the boy. He was the son of the lawman in the last town we visited. You used the cure-all to