Doctor Who_ Rags - Mick Lewis [25]
He stood up. Was that it? Was he just going to leave her here with near strangers and no explanation? But instead of questioning him further, she merely nodded. She felt lonely and excited at the same time. Something was definitely... happening...
The Doctor smiled fondly at her. ‘Well goodbye, Jo. I’ll see you at the other side.’ And he was gone.
The other side?The other side of what? She realised Sin was staring at her intently, still smiling that fragile, offbeat smile. The other side of the tour of course, the eyes seemed to be telling her.
Come along, itsgonna be one hell of a time...
Jeremy Willis flicked the channel button on his remote and the news footage of the Oblong Box was immediately replaced by Terry Wogan hosting a game show. He hit the off-button angrily.
‘Can’t we watch Blankety-Blank?’ Celia whined, as he’d 64
expected her to. He ignored her and reached for the telephone beside the leather settee.
He was a tall thin man, impeccably dressed, even now while he was supposedly relaxing. The open top button and the absence of a tie were the only signs that marked him out as enjoying leisure time. He was even still wearing his jacket. His hair was sliced neatly by a conservative side-parting, his tidy moustache was only slightly touched with grey. His companion was big-breasted, brunette and eighteen years old. She looked well under half the age of the proud but haughty-looking woman in the photograph tilted next to the phone that Willis was now using.
Willis was decidedly not pleased with the man on the other end of the line. When Celia’s hand slipped suggestively on to his knee he transferred that ire to her. ‘Will you leave me alone for just a moment?’ he barked. She pulled away and moved across the settee, a dumb look of hurt on her callow features. ‘No, I mean really leave me alone. This is an important call. Go and talk to the neighbours for five minutes.’ He was slipping. He had become so inured to her lack of character that he’d almost forgotten she was there at all. He should be more careful, especially when talking to the man who was on the line right now.
‘We don’t have any neighbours,’ Celia whined. That was certainly true: the nearest house was half a mile down the road.
‘Well, go out and talk to the bloody squirrels then; they might enjoy your conversational skills.’
Celia got up, close to tears, and left the room. When he was sure she was out of earshot he returned his attention to the man on the phone.
‘Listen: if you want the princess then you’re going to have to work a lot harder for your money. Perhaps I should have some escaped lunatics on my payroll, they seem to be doing a better job than you at kicking up a stink.’
He listened for a moment, then cut in abruptly: ‘I don’t want to hear your excuses. I just want some results.’ He dropped the receiver in its cradle and picked up the remote thoughtfully.
65
‘Blankety-Blank’s on, darling,’ he called and hit the on-button.
Of course, when Jimmy heard the encampment was preparing to follow the cattle truck on the next leg of its tour, he was the first to suggest they should also follow it. Sin leapt at the idea eagerly.
Rod leant against Jimmy’s camper van, saying nothing. Nick looked at Jo, who had joined them an hour before.
‘What do you think?’
‘What are you asking her for?’ Sin blurted, jumping down from her seat on the camper’s step.
‘I’m asking everyone.’ Nick touched Sin’s shoulder placatingly.
She shook him off, still glaring at Jo.
Jo attempted a smile. ‘I really don’t mind,’ she stammered. ‘But I think it might be fun.’
Nick walked away