Doctor Who_ Set Piece - Kate Orman [70]
meant that was probably where they stored stuff.
She gestured to Vivant. He was half-hidden behind a boulder at the edge of the camp, watching nervously as she tiptoed towards the tent. He worried about her so much, the sweet thing. If she really were stuck here – accept it, Summerfield, why can’t you just accept it – she could think of far worse people to be stuck to.
She raised her hands above her head and brought them down sharply. He nodded and moved towards the animals.
Bernice peeked into the tent. No-one home. She slipped inside, amongst pots and pans, blankets and boxes, and drew herself into a small shape that wouldn’t be visible from outside.
It wasn’t long before an irritated whinny broke through the night air, and then suddenly three shots, crisp as ice.
The camp erupted into shouting, scrambling life. Through a frayed rip Benny watched the Egyptians running to catch up with their bolting animals.
A few more shots – Vivant encouraging them on their way?
Benny saw men, young boys, but no women. She wondered if the Setites were like the Thuggee, passing the religion on from father to son.
No-one thought to check the supplies tent. She heard more shots and held her breath, hoping that Vivant and his men were alright. It wouldn’t do for Denon to survive the Terror and then get shot at random in Egypt. If nothing else it’d put archaeology back a century or so. God, how did the Doctor handle this kind of responsibility?
She slipped out her flashlight, turned the beam down low, shone it around the tent. There were a few boxes, none of them locked. Her diary wasn’t anywhere to be found.
She slipped out of the tent. The camp was empty. Not too bright, these Set worshippers – falling for such an obvious distraction. Even the snoring guard had woken up and joined in the chase.
She nipped over to the largest of the six tents. It had to be the tall man’s.
God knew what he’d made of her diary. Hopefully he just thought she was insane.
She pulled out her pistol and went inside. There was a low table, a cot bed, a rug on the floor, a couple of scimitars – a table.
Benny threw back the tablecloth. It was a chest. She shot the lock off and pulled it open.
Her diary was inside, sitting on top of a pile of neatly folded silk. Probably stolen goods. She reached for the book.
‘Stand up slowly,’ said a voice behind her, ‘and drop your gun.’
Benny stood up slowly and dropped her gun. ‘Do you want me to put my hands above my head?’
133
‘Why not? Turn around.’
Benny turned around, lacing her fingers on top of her head. The tall man looked her up and down. He had a large, rather unstable looking pistol in his hand.
‘You are a most interesting woman,’ he said. ‘A woman from the future, looking for the treasures of the past.’
‘Oh dear,’ said Benny. ‘You didn’t actually believe all of that, did you?’
‘Why else would you write about it in such detail, if it weren’t true?’
‘Would you believe I’m trying to beat Shelley to the invention of science fiction?’ The tall man looked at her blankly. ‘No?’
‘The sacred writings contain different passages regarding the way in which Sutekh will return,’ said her captor. ‘One passage speaks of a hole in the air, through which a man might step into the time of the ancients, or forwards into the unseen centuries to come.’ He gestured with his weapon. ‘I want you to show me where that hole is. Or better still, show me the ship of time.’
‘You must be joking,’ said Benny. ‘I’m not letting a loon like you loose in history. It was bad enough with the three of us running around.’
‘Then this time I’ll make sure I don’t miss.’ He pointed the pistol at her heart.
Benny dropped to her knees. ‘Oh please, please don’t shoot me!’ she begged, her voice turning into a terrified squeak. The tall man looked down at her, bemused. ‘I’ll do whatever you want, just please don’t –’
She reached down and jerked the rug out from under his feet. He fell backwards with a curse. Benny had already snatched up a scimitar and swung desperately at his hand, cutting into his palm and knocking the gun