Doctor Who_ St. Anthony's Fire - Mark Gatiss [15]
Now, though, as reality began to intrude unpleasantly into her mind, she called to the Doctor, her brow wrinkling into a concerned frown. He splashed out of the water, a delighted little‐boy’s smile on his pixie‐like features.
‘Where’s Ace?’ he said, wriggling his toes in the sunshine.
‘Here,’ said Ace, emerging from the forest.
‘Ah, good. Well, that was very pleasant wasn’t it? But we must be on our way. We’ve used up enough of these good people’s hospitality.’
Bernice rose, somewhat unsteadily, to her feet and the Doctor slipped the key into the lock of the TARDIS.
‘Erm…’ said Ace from behind them. ‘This is… erm…’
‘What is it?’ said Bernice.
Ace frowned, her long hair blowing into her eyes. ‘This is difficult but… I think I’d like to use up a bit more of their hospitality.’
The Doctor looked at her thoughtfully, cocking his head to one side. He laid a hand gently on her shoulder. ‘Alone?’
Ace nodded. ‘Just for a bit. It’s good here. It’s… simple.’
‘Are you all right?’ asked Bernice, concern rumpling her brow.
Ace smiled warmly. ‘Of course. I just…’ She flapped her hands helplessly. ‘I need time to think.’
The Doctor was silent. Ace cuffed him playfully under his pointed chin. ‘I did the same for you once, remember?’
He grunted understandingly and rested his hand against the TARDIS.
‘How about this, then?’ he said at last. ‘Bernice and I could pop off somewhere for a little while. Do a little sightseeing. Buy a few picture postcards. Then we’ll come back for you. What d’you say?’
Ace nodded happily. ‘I feel like you’re picking me up from the disco,’ she laughed.
The Doctor wagged his finger. ‘Well, don’t talk to any strange men, then, will you?’
‘Story of my life.’
Ace turned to go. The dark green forest was only a few feet away.
Are you sure?’ Bernice’s face set into a concerned frown.
‘I’ll be fine. Honestly. I just need a bit of a break. Nothing heavy.’ Ace grinned and propelled Bernice through the double doors of the TARDIS. ‘I’ll be fine.’
* * *
The sun was shining weakly through a curtain of fine rain, steam billowing in clouds over the thick vegetation.
The incessant chirruping of insects abruptly ceased as a strangulated, grating whine disturbed the peace of the jungle.
A carpet of dead leaves stirred itself up into a little vortex, a large rectangle of air turned dark blue and, with a shuddering thump, the TARDIS arrived on Betrushia.
Immediately, the Doctor poked his head around the doors, regarding the rain‐drenched landscape with an expression Bernice was rather afraid might be glee.
‘Ah yes,’ he exclaimed, breathing in lungfuls of the humid air. ‘This looks like the place. Off by a few hours though. The rings always look best at night.’
‘And even better when not totally obscured by clouds,’ added Bernice, stepping from the TARDIS and shrugging on a raincoat.
‘Don’t fuss. I promise you, the rings of Betrushia are worth a drenching any day.’
After leaving Massatoris, the Doctor had chosen Betrushia, a nearby planet legendary, so he assured Bernice, for its spectacular ring system.
She leant back against the TARDIS doors and frowned.
‘D’you think there’s something wrong with her, Doctor?’
‘Who?’
‘Ace, of course.’
The Doctor shook his head a little too vehemently. ‘Wrong? Oh, no, no, no. She’s been a bit quiet for a while now. Nothing to get alarmed about. I was like that for a hundred and fifty years once.’
He glanced about at the drenched jungle. ‘And we’re only next door, spatially and temporally speaking. 2148 AD plus two weeks into the future. Ace can put her feet up. Do her own thing. And we’ll be back to pick her up.’
‘Or pick up the pieces?’
The Doctor looked round. ‘What d’you mean?’
Bernice put a hand on her hip, her dark eyes narrowing. ‘I’ve noticed it too, Doctor. She seems so different these days.’
The Doctor looked down.
It won’t be long now.
He stroked the TARDIS distractedly. ‘Well,’ he drawled, ‘she’s been through a lot. Uprooted from her