Doctor Who_ Return of the Living Dad - Kate Orman [97]
The van rolled up to Greenham Common. Joel threw open the door and jumped down. ‘The anoraks have landed!’ he announced. ‘We’re here to save the world!’
Jason looked around at the Doctor’s team. ‘Oh, great,’ he muttered.
‘I’ll find Bridget,’ said Isaac. He hefted his backpack and headed into the growing crowd at a run.
‘How many women did you say would be here?’ Benny asked the Doctor, as they piled out of the van.
‘About thirty thousand.’
There were women planting trees, women attaching banners and pictures to the wire. They were singing folk songs, voices and guitars drifting along the curve of the fence. Later they’d be shaking the concrete pillars loose and snipping through the chicken wire with bolt-cutters.
No wonder Albinex had chosen today to make his move.
But if the Navarino could use them as cover, the cynical bastard, so could the Doctor’s team.
Isaac came racing back, holding Bridget’s hand. The young woman looked bewildered. ‘She’s going to get us in,’
said the Admiral. ‘I’ve explained about our crazy pacifist friend who’s going to try to get himself shot.’
‘Right,’ said the Doctor. ‘Thank you, Ms Evans!’
‘We’ll have to nip around the fence,’ said the peace woman. ‘Come on!’
Roz took Chris, Ms Randrianasolo, two aliens and the ghost-detector with her. The Doctor reckoned that the ghost would still be with Albinex; the Navarino might be able to mask the drive of his ship from their scanners’ but he couldn’t hide her.
The Kapteynian had donated a small computer screen, grumbling, and the Doctor had attached it to the ghost-detector. Roz held the hybrid thing in her lap.
They’d let Chris drive. He was haring it down the A339.
The Ra’ashet was taking up two seats in the back. He didn’t need a hologram projector; he’d done something telepathic, and suddenly he looked a whole lot like a little girl. It made Roz’s stomach clench — if she squinted, she could just make out the scales and the scent of fish — but it was a bloody brilliant disguise.
The thing in the boot was too bizarre for words.
Ms R was sitting stock-still beside the alien, her eyes closed, her brow furrowed. ‘Got him!’ she and Roz said at the same moment.
Roz tapped a fingernail on the screen of her handscan.
‘He’s just come into range. At that speed, he’ll be over the USAF base in minutes.’ ‘He’s very proud of himself,’ said Ms R. ‘Very confident.
He’s... leaving guards on the ship.’ ‘Those will be the Ogrons,’ said Roz. ‘No problem,’ said Chris. ‘We’ll be there in a minute ourselves.’
Alekto
It was surprisingly quiet inside the base. Bridget led them across a wide, empty field of grass. They could still hear the chanting and singing, distantly, and the growling sound of engines.
The Doctor was holding the divining rod, firmly, watching its every twitch. ‘We have to keep heading for the silo,’ he muttered. ‘Albinex must be close by, but if we can beat him there —!’ He stopped stock-still. Benny almost walked into him.
He yelped and dropped the stick. It burst into flames as it fell.
The ghost unfolded.
A vast wind blew across the grass, hammering them back. She was a great cloud of light, pale as an orange rose, her face and blank eyes hovering above them.
Tony fell to his knees. Bridget didn’t scream, shielding her astonished eyes with one hand.
The Doctor forced his way through the raging wind, holding his hands out for her. Benny wanted to grab him, pull him away from the monster’ but she couldn’t wade through the wind fast enough.
The ghost grabbed his wrists, and they both cried out with the shock. ‘Stay with me!’ he shouted into the storm.
‘Stay here! I can anchor you!’
But the nameless ghost was wailing. HE TOLD ME TO
STOP YOU!
Tony stuck his hands over his ears. ‘She’s here!’ he wailed.
‘You know he’s using you!’ cried the Doctor. ‘Stop fighting! Just relax! We can still —’
But she let him go, writhing in the air, her desperate eyes seeking.