Doctor Who_ The Algebra of Ice - Lloyd Rose [104]
‘Not without him.’
‘He stays here. He knows so much that we need.’
‘Then I’m staying too!’
‘Without food or water?’
‘ With him!’
‘If you wish, then. Everything is over anyway.’
‘What d’you mean?’
‘We are in the TARDIS.’
‘Liar!’ she spat.
‘It is the truth. I hope there is no one there about whom you care.’
Ace actually hissed, like a cat, and would have leaped at it, if it hadn’t pix-elled and reformed several feet away. ‘Bloody coward,’ she snarled. ‘If I got at you –’
‘You couldn’t harm me in the least. Any more than you can help him. He’s lost to you, little girl.’
Chapter Twenty-six
213
She jammed a hand in her pocket. ‘ You’re lost, you –’ But whatever else she said was lost under the Nitro Nine’s explosion.
Crouched with her arms over her head, ice pelting her back, Ace wondered if that had been the right move. She expected the Doctor to fall on her any minute – what if she’d hurt him? Glancing up cautiously, she saw that he was still perched unconcernedly, polishing something, oblivious to any disturbance.
Ace looked around the room. The thing was gone, but she had no idea whether she’d destroyed it or simply driven it away.
‘Professor?’ she called softly. She started to climb again. Her jaw hurt like hell; the git had a punch on him. She’d never let him forget this. And if he didn’t even know it had happened, she’d tell him and then never let him forget it. Under her bravado, a child’s voice was wailing, ‘He hit me, he hit me!’ She wiped her tears on her sleeve. ‘Surprised you’ve got any friends,’ she mumbled.
‘More trouble than you’re bloody worth, you are.’
When she came level with him, he smiled at her as though she’d just arrived.
‘Hello, Ace. How’ve you been?’
‘Not so good, really.’ She wedged herself into a space between two cogs and watched him. He was polishing and cutting and polishing again. She remembered a pet mouse she’d had that would pile all its cage shavings in one corner and, when finished, immediately shift them all to another corner, and so on, back and forth. It had always looked so purposeful. Her voice cracked:
‘Professor. . . ’
‘Yes?’ he said pleasantly.
‘What’ve they done to you?’
‘I beg your pardon?’ He smiled at her brightly. Her stomach clenched.
‘Er, look,’ she said carefully, ‘I’m just going to touch your arm now, all right?’
‘Of course. Why shouldn’t it be?’
No reason, she thought, fingering her bruised jaw. ‘Right, then.’ She reached over and laid a hand on his busy wrist. He smiled indulgently. His skin was shockingly cold. She took a deep breath. ‘You know, there’s bits broken down below. You might want to have a look at them.’
‘In good time,’ he said comfortably.
His skin was so cold she couldn’t continue to touch it. It was stiff too. ‘They’re freezing you,’ she said miserably.
‘Hm?’
‘What’s wrong? There was something wrong back in the TARDIS too. Ethan knew what it was.’ He had no reaction. ‘Can’t you tell me? Don’t you know any more?’
214
The Algebra of Ice
He began to hum. Ace put her face in her hands and cried, her tears scalding on her cold palms. ‘Oh, Professor. . . ’ He didn’t look round. ‘Professor. . . Oh God, Doctor. . . ’ She leaned forward and hugged him. He shifted, smiling in embarrassment, but didn’t push her away. She was sobbing loudly now.
‘Now really Ace,’ he said, kindly but firmly. ‘This is a bit much. I have work to do, and you’re in the way.’
‘No. . . ’ She buried her face in the side of his neck, bawling and sniffling. In a remote area of her mind, she hoped she wasn’t dripping snot on him. Her tears burned. ‘Professor. . . no. . . ’
‘Ace, you’re getting –’
‘No. . . please. This can’t. . . you can’t. . . ’
‘Can’t what? Really, you’re being. . . ’ He faltered. ‘Being. . . ’ She cried helplessly against him. ‘Ace, I. . . ’
She pulled back, eyes streaming. He looked at her dazedly, touched her face, put his palm against her face. ‘You’re so hot. Are you all right? Are you feverish?’
Ace sniffed loudly. His eyes were dark with concern. ‘What is it? Why are you –’ He looked down,