Doctor Who_ Peacemaker - James Swallow [55]
When he found it, he buzz-communicated to Kutter, who stood testing his weight on the newly bonded leg. The others were below them, in a cavern.
Kutter nodded and drew his gun.
Tangleleg tore the rattlesnake in two and handed a piece to his comrade. They ate the raw meat in silence as they walked.
The Doctor folded his arms. From the corner of his eye he could see Martha’s chest rising and falling in shallow, panting breaths. Every moment that they wasted here, she was inching closer to death. He couldn’t help but think of the look her mother had given him in the 133
aftermath of that mad night with Professor Lazarus and his experiment. . . The sheer weight of blame in her eyes, putting it all on him.
He’d wanted to promise her that her daughter would not be hurt while she travelled with him, he’d really meant it – but that didn’t count for anything now. He’d failed Martha. She was at the edge of life, and it was because of him.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. No, he told himself, I’m not losing Martha, not like this. I’m going to take her home, whole and well.
He opened his eyes and saw Godlove watching him with a sly smirk.
‘Tell me what you want,’ said the Doctor.
Nathan gaped. ‘Doc, you’re not gonna make nice with this creep?’
‘Hush up, little boy,’ Godlove sneered, ‘the menfolk are talking now.’
He reached up and picked idly at some of the decaying skin on his face. ‘Well, well. What is it that I need, I wonder?’
‘Some deodorant?’ Martha forced out the words with a defiant grimace. ‘A nice exfoliating scrub?’
Godlove ignored the jibes. ‘What I require, in return for bringin’
that sarcastic little cat of yours to rude health, Doctor, is a change of attire, if you follow my meanin’.’
‘What the heck is he babblin’ about?’ demanded Nathan.
Godlove peeled a lump of pasty, crumbly flesh from his cheek and rolled it between his fingers, eyeing it with disgust. ‘Poor, poor Alvin.
Poor, weak human. His meagre frame just ain’t built to carry the weight of me, y’see.’ He gestured with the massive gun. ‘This body is riddled with imperfections, aches and illness. It won’t last me much longer. Why, I am almost embarrassed to be seen wearin’ it in good company.’
Nathan’s eyes widened as he caught the Clade’s meaning. ‘Lord have mercy, you ain’t comin’ anywhere near me!’ He backed away.
Godlove rolled his eyes. ‘Don’t flatter yourself, child. Youth and vigour you may have, yes, but you’re still human. At the end of the day, your race is still the sorry cousin, galactically speakin’.’ He grinned again. ‘What I require is a more. . . resilient host.’ The Clade waved the gun at the air. ‘How about it, Doctor? Your life for Missy 134
Martha’s?’ The weapon rotated in Godlove’s fingers, turning to offer him the grip of the huge pistol. ‘You’ll be certain to have a moment to save her, ’fore I get me a permanent residence in that happy head of yours. . . ’
‘Doctor, don’t!’ Martha called out, crying in pain as she moved.
‘Don’t touch it! You can’t let that thing take you over!’
Godlove licked his lips. ‘Tick tock, Time Lord. What’s it gonna be?’
‘Give me the gun,’ said the Doctor.
135
Nathan’s heart froze in his chest when he saw the Doctor reach for the Clade weapon. ‘You can’t do it, Doc!’ he shouted. ‘That thing is pure evil!’
His cries fell on deaf ears.
The Doctor’s slender fingers closed
around the pistol grip and there was an actinic flash of blue-green light that sparked across the walls of the cavern. As one, Godlove and the Doctor went stiff and trembled, sparks of power arcing between them where they both gripped the heavy shape of the gun.
Godlove gasped out a word. ‘Commencin’ –’
‘– Transfer!’ the Doctor continued, spitting it out from unwilling lips.
There was a noise like bones breaking, like tendons