Doctor Who_ Storm Harvest - Mike Tucker [20]
because sometimes people die.’
He looked at her now. ‘I nearly got you killed, you know. I nearly killed you...’
‘Stop!’ Ace held her hand up. ‘Professor. The last three years have been... well, I still can’t believe what they’ve been like. You’ve taken me to my past and my future, you’ve shown me planets that I couldn’t have begun to dream about. I’ve met monsters and criminals, I’ve held Excalibur... I’ve travelled in time! Do you really think that if someone had given me some warning, that if someone had sat me down and told me a strange man was going to turn up in a police box, and he was going to take me travelling in time and space, I would have said no?’
She squeezed his arm. ‘Yes, there are dangers, but... for God’s sake, people die crossing the road. Life’s too short to live like that. I stay on my own terms, Professor. If ever I’ve got a problem with it, I’ll let you know.’
She reached for her glass and held it up, the delicate green wine sparkling in the ringlight. To us, Professor. Champions of Time and Space.’
The crystal glasses clinked and the Doctor smiled.
They chatted on, about adventures and people, about friends, and the atmosphere that had dogged their relationship since they had left Whitechapel finally dispersed. At last, Ace rose from her seat and 36
stretched. The food, wine and atmosphere of Coralee had finally caught up with her. ‘I think I’m going to call it a night, Professor’
She leant down and gave him a peck on the cheek. ‘Thank you, for a fabulous holiday. This place is absolutely perfect.’
The Doctor watched her make her way through the restaurant, an elegant young woman far removed from the fiery teenager he had first met. He placed his glass on the table and crossed to the railing of the terrace. He stared down at the sea, watching the patterns in the waves.
The head waiter appeared at his shoulder.
‘Was everything satisfactory, sir?’
The Doctor nodded. ‘Oh yes, very nice, thank you.’
The Frenchman joined him at the railing. ‘Good weather tomorrow’
‘Really, how can you tell?’
The head waiter pointed up at the rings. ‘When they’re that colour, we always have weeks of good weather. It’s a sure sign: The Doctor turned and stared him full in the face, his eyes a steely silver-blue like the rings.
‘Oh no. You’re wrong,’ he said. ‘There’s a storm coming.’
37
Chapter Five
Ace awoke early. The sun streamed in through the window, seagulls screeched from the harbour. She lay in the huge bed for a while listening to the sounds of the colony drift into her room, enjoying the opportunity to lie in.
Yawning, she slid from the bed and padded over to the bathroom. A note had been slid under her door. She reached down and unfolded it.
Gone for a wander. I expect we’ve got different itineraries.
See you for dinner tonight.
The Doctor.
Ace grinned. That was the Doctor’s way of saying that he had things to do and didn’t want her in the way. Still, it suited her. She fancied exploring on her own.
She showered quickly and wandered down to the restaurant in search of breakfast. Once again the Doctor’s scarab credit card seemed to have worked wonders and waiters scurried around her as if she was royalty.
Draining the last of her coffee she strolled out into the suns. The island was abuzz with traders and tourists, the beach already full of holidaymakers. With a grumbling roar the yellow shape of the coastguard flyer swooped low over the colony and out to sea. Ace frowned. They obviously had a problem somewhere. It was difficult to imagine tragedy in this vibrant place.
Pulling her sunglasses from the top of her head, she meandered down to the waterfront, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. The harbour was awash with boats of different shapes and sizes – trawlers, tugs, pleasure cruisers. A huge salt processor drifted out on the horizon.
There was a crowd at the end of one of the jetties, and with nothing better to do Ace wandered over.
The crowd was gathered