Doctor Who_ St. Anthony's Fire - Mark Gatiss [80]
Chapterman Jones eyed them wearily. ‘Oh, Saint Anthony. More of the locals.’ He swung round. ‘Martino!’
The smaller man emerged from behind the bulkheads. ‘Yes, Jones?’
‘Get these lot inside, would you? The Magna will want to know if they’re suitable for conversion.’
Martino advanced towards the party of unlikely pilgrims and prodded Grek in the side with his boot. ‘Up! Come on!’
He gestured with his hands and then, threateningly, with the nozzle of his flame‐jet. ‘Inside! Understand? Get in!’ He waved his hands in the direction of the ship and the pilgrims dutifully got to their feet.
Grek, Liso and Imalgahite disappeared inside through the bulkheads but Martino laid a hand on Bernice’s arm as she made to pass.
‘You. You’re not one of them. What’re you doing here?’
Bernice’s mind raced. She had been amongst the Ismetch and the Cutch so long she had almost forgotten how different she was.
‘I serve you, master,’ she stammered, licking her lips nervously. ‘True, I am not of their race. They… er found me in the jungle and raised me as one of their own.’
A story spilled from her lips with just enough conviction. She must have read something similar somewhere.
‘All right,’ said Martino at last. Sighing, Bernice slipped past him into the ship and the custody of the Chapter.
Martino turned away. In the darkness, he failed to see the other bulkhead open and the Doctor, Ace and Thoss slip out into the night.
* * *
Yong had returned to his quarters and was reclining on his bed when the eyes of a stuffed gorilla at his side began to flash. Wearily, he stretched out a long digit and pressed the gorilla’s shiny nose.
‘Yes?’
A crackly, static‐filled voice came through from the bridge: ‘Chapterman Jones reports some more heathens have been taken aboard, Magna.’
‘Really?’ drawled Yong with a yawn. He frowned, conscious for the first time of the ship’s trembling. ‘What is that dreadful motion?’
‘Seems to be some sort of earth tremor, my Lord.’
Yong fell back against his silk pillows. ‘Oh. I hope you haven’t landed us anywhere nasty.’ He examined his fingernails thoughtfully. ‘Still, it doesn’t matter. Soon this place will be nothing but dust.’
‘It is the will of Saint Anthony,’ intoned the voice.
‘Mmm,’ said Yong. ‘Where is Parva De Hooch?’
‘Here,’ said a little voice.
Yong turned his head and switched off the communicator with a jab at the gorilla’s nose. He couldn’t suppress a giggle at the second’s dishevelled appearance.
‘De Hooch,’ he said, biting his lip, ‘she hasn’t got the better of you again?’
The dwarf caressed his bruised face with a pudgy hand. ‘She was not alone. That Doctor, whom you have allowed to run riot, aided her escape.’
Yong’s eyes narrowed. ‘Do I detect a note of rebuke, Parva?’
De Hooch’s face darkened as he struggled to keep his emotions under control. His scowl magically transformed into a concerned frown.
‘My only fear is for you, my Lord. And how this treacherous Doctor might upset our… your plans.’
‘I’ve told you, De Hooch, it pleases me to have some competition now and again. Remember the old days when we actually had to struggle to do our work? All those bleeding‐heart liberals with their arcane views. They were troublesome, yes. But don’t you miss the cut and thrust?’
De Hooch shrugged. ‘I suppose so.’
‘There you are, then. Let this Doctor do as he pleases. Allow him to think he’s got the upper hand. It’ll be all the more satisfying when we triumph.’ He licked the ends of his elegant fingers excitedly. ‘Saint Anthony will not be cheated, De Hooch.’
‘Of course not, Magna.’
‘Now,’ said Yong, sitting up and plumping his pillows, ‘can I trust you to attend to the little matter of some newly arrived locals?’
De Hooch looked hurt. ‘Yes, Magna.’
‘You have let me down recently.’
De Hooch bowed low. ‘Then I humbly beg forgiveness, my Lord. I seek only the true path of righteousness.’
Yong smiled sweetly. ‘Good for you.’
He sank back onto his bed and rang for some tea. ‘The new arrivals