Doctor Who_ Rags - Mick Lewis [62]
but he ignored all of this. He was looking for Jo, but not in an obvious way. It was becoming increasingly apparent that if she was still with the convoy she must be deeply undercover by now, and it could be very compromising for her - let alone dangerous -
should he approach her too openly. Mike Yates was obviously unconcerned about any danger to himself: after the Doctor had made his way through several groups of travellers sitting round burnt-out fires and enjoying the first beers and joints of the day, his attention was drawn to a gesticulating figure dressed in a ridiculous attempt at hipness standing beneath some trees quite apart from anyone else.
The Doctor still hadn’t spotted Jo, but no doubt the undercover captain would be able to give him the lowdown on her wellbeing.
And then, of course, there was the main reason for his return to the convoy: the cattle truck and whatever awaited him inside it.
He looked over his shoulder, not wishing to blow the captain’s cover. None of the travellers seemed to be paying them any overt attention, so he strolled beneath the trees and around some headstones to where Yates was lurking beside a weather-gnawed obelisk.
The Doctor looked the captain up and down quizzically. ‘Yee-es,’
he said after a pause, with a smirk most unbecoming to a Time Lord. ‘Well, I must say you don’t look out of place at all, Mike.
149
Peace and love, man, is I believe the appropriate greeting.’
‘Anarchy and chaos seems to be more the order of the day, Doctor. And you can spare me the witticisms.’ Yates looked strained and uncomfortable. The Doctor lost his smile immediately.
‘Jo?’
Yates glanced away momentarily, then his usual earnestness forced him to meet the Doctor’s gaze.’She’s been acting strangely.’
The Doctor frowned. ‘What do you mean, strangely?’
Yates sighed. ‘I’m convinced she’s under some influence. she’s displaying a rather disturbing herd mentality.’
‘Are you sure she’s not just acting in case someone should overhear you talking to her?’
Yates paused, then his jaw tightened. ‘No, it’s more serious than that, I’m afraid. She’s definitely not herself. She seems to have swallowed the whole convoy idea hook, line and sinker.’
‘Then you’re going to have to watch over her very carefully indeed, Mike,’ the Doctor said gravely. ‘And make sure you keep her away from the cattle truck.’ He turned away as rain began to patter on the leaves.
‘So where are you going?’
To the cattle truck of course. And this time I’m not going to let anyone stop me.’
He left the captain lurking under the trees in his ‘disguise’ and made his way along the paved lane past the crematorium to the collection of vehicles that surrounded the truck like a bunch of disciples hovering round their guru. Some hippies glanced curiously at him as he slipped around a double-decker bus with the roof torn off, but nobody challenged him.
If possible the truck was even filthier than it had been at the start of the tour, but this time there was no sign of the giant roadie, or any of his pals. Rain tapped on the metal roof and tickled the Doctor’s face as he stood with his back against the metal flank, making a last check that the coast was clear. Then he swung round to the double doors and, whipping out his sonic 150
screwdriver, positioned its nozzle directly over the padlock. There was a whine of power and the lock fell away sweetly, clumping to the ground.
The left-hand door eased open with a guttural croak, and the smell and the darkness rolled out at him. The Doctor didn’t hesitate, vaulting nimbly up to the step and easing the door softly shut behind him.
‘Pig.’
The word was spoken not as a shouted insult but as a quiet confirmation of suspicion. Yates turned and the Chinese girl was emerging from the shrubbery in front of him. She was followed by several punks and hippies, and Jo. Yates determined not to look at his friend, but faced the cold-eyed Chinese instead. As suddenly as it had started, the rain ceased to fall. The glade was quiet.
‘Why pig?’ he asked carefully, reaching for