Doctor Who_ Remembrance of the Daleks - Ben Aaronovitch [3]
‘Not likely. It’s a repeated sequence,’ she said. ‘It must be artificial in origin.’
‘Yes.’
Reality began to creep in at the edges of Rachel’s perception and only then she realized how clouded her mind had become. ‘Excuse me?’
The man looked up. ‘Yes.’
‘Who are you?’
‘I’m the Doctor.’ He extended his hand and Rachel shook it; his palm was cool.
‘I’m Rachel, Professor Rachel Jensen.’
‘Pleased to meet you.’ There was a flash of recognition.
‘You know, I’m sure I’ve heard of you.’
There were questions Rachel knew she should be asking, but as they faced each other nose to nose, nothing came to mind.
The radio buzzed, breaking the silence. Rachel grabbed her headset desperately. It was Allison, the physicist seconded from Cambridge.
‘Red Four receiving.’
Allison’s voice came over the headphones, quavering in panic. ‘Red Six, we’re under attack...’
Walking back through the alley, Mike was trying to explain the intricacies of British currency to Ace.
‘Let me get this straight,’ said Ace, ‘twelve pennies to the shilling, eight shillings to the pound...’
‘No,’ said Mike, stepping around a police box that half blocked the alley. ‘Twenty shillings to the pound.’ He was sure that police box hadn’t been there before.
‘Stupid system,’ said Ace.
‘Where are you from?’
‘Perivale. Why?’
Mike considered her reply — wasn’t that up west somewhere, past Shepherd’s Bush? ‘Just wondered.’
‘If it’s twenty shillings to the pound, and that means two hundred and forty pence to the pound,’ she looked at Mike for confirmation, and he nodded, ‘then what’s half a crown?’
Before Mike could answer he heard someone calling him. He looked ahead for the van. Professor Jensen was beside it, waving. ‘Sergeant,’ she called on seeing him, ‘we have to get moving.’
Mike started towards her. ‘What is it?’
Professor Jensen shouted something about the group captain and something about Matthews. Mike closed the gap between himself and the van.
‘The group captain said he’s under attack. Matthews is hurt.’
Mike yanked back the sliding door and jumped into the driver’s seat. ‘Where are they?’ he asked as Rachel got in beside him.
‘At the secondary source, Foreman’s Yard. It’s just off Totters Lane — did you hear that?’
‘What?’ asked Mike as he turned the ignition key. The engine caught first time.
‘I thought I heard the back doors slamming.’
‘Hold on,’ said Mike and slammed his foot down hard on the accelerator.
In the back of the van, Ace looked at the Doctor. She had learnt that wherever they were, in whatever bizarre circumstances, the Doctor at least was consistent.
She had been walking up the alley with Mike before he had run off, and then the Doctor had appeared between the open back doors of the van and called to her.
Ace had jumped in without hesitating, the Doctor had slammed the doors, and the van had accelerated — Ace figured Mike was in the front. She had lost her grip on her food in the confusion.
‘What’s going on?’ she asked the Doctor.
‘Adventure,’ said the Doctor, holding up a packet of bacon sandwiches, ‘excitement, that sort of thing.’
2
Friday, 16:03
Mike swore as he pressed down on the brake pedal. A long greasy plume of smoke, its base hidden by a wall of civilians, rose above Totters Lane.
‘Foreman’s Yard,’ said Rachel, pointing. ‘There, the entrance is behind those people.’
Mike carefully nosed the van through the crowd, flashing his identity card at a policeman, who let them through the gates.
The yard was littered with rusty iron and industrial debris; the smoke was coming from a shabby lean-to at one end.
Mike stopped the van and got out. To his left Group Captain Gilmore draped a blanket over a body. Gilmore looked up as Mike and Rachel approached.
‘What’s the situation?’ said a voice behind them.
Mike turned and saw Ace with a strange little man.
‘Who the devil are you?’ demanded Gilmore.
‘I’m the Doctor,’ said the man, nodding at