Doctor Who_ The Algebra of Ice - Lloyd Rose [34]
‘You’re not green.’
‘The Edreki are. And many, many other races. You humans are so homocen-tric.’
‘I thought you only appeared to Americans. In the desert.’
‘That’s a silly thing to say. I’m afraid you’ve had too much to drink.’
Ethan was afraid he hadn’t had enough: the conversation was still making sense to him. On the other hand, he didn’t seem to be able to focus enough to ask for another whiskey. He stared glassily at the Doctor, who waited politely, a helpful expression on his face. ‘Look,’ he said, enunciating carefully, ‘if you’re from outer space, or wherever –’
‘I prefer to say from another galaxy. It’s more precise.’
‘Whatever. If you’re from there, then to get here you had to have a very advanced. . . a very advanced. . . A thing that could travel between galaxies.
72
The Algebra of Ice
Right?’
‘That’s right.’
‘So your culture would be very sophisticated in terms of physics. And stuff.’
The Doctor nodded gravely. ‘Stuff as well, yes.’
‘So why the hell would you need help from a. . . an earthl– from me? You’re bound to be mathematically so far ahead of us I couldn’t begin to comprehend it.’
‘An excellent question.’ The Doctor looked very pleased. Ethan half expected him to add ‘Top marks.’ ‘It’s exactly your limitations that I need. I want to know how far a brilliant human mathematician could get working on certain equations.’
‘What equations?’
‘Your friend U’s.’
‘Oh no, no, no.’ Ethan shook his head and then regretted it. ‘We’ve been through this. That’s all rot. You said so yourself.’
‘I think I should take another look.’
‘It’s crap I tell you. Anyway, I think I’ve erased it.’
‘Oh that won’t be a problem.’
‘No, of course not. I forgot for a minute. You’re from outer bloody space.’
The Doctor pursed his lips. ‘There’s no reason to be impolite.’
‘Want to bet? You know what I think? I think you’re as nuts as I am. I think you’re a chap who thinks he’s an alien. You’re barmy. Around the twist.
Barking.’
‘You know barking as a synonym for crazy hasn’t anything to do with dogs.
It was the name of a nineteenth-century insane asylum.’
‘You’ve slipped your leash and gone out for a stroll.’
‘No,’ the Doctor said mildly.
‘The furniture in your head is all nailed to the ceiling.’
‘Now that may be true.’
Ethan leaned his elbow on the table, head in hand, and gaped stupidly at his beer mat. The Doctor waited.
‘Can you prove you’re really a spaceman?’
‘I prefer the term “alien”.’
‘You’re not green.’
‘We’ve been through this, Mr Amberglass.’
‘Aliens are green. Or grey.’
‘Shall we compromise on “extraterrestrial”?’
Chapter Eight
73
‘I’ve made you up,’ Ethan whispered. ‘I’ve made up the whole last few days.
Please tell me I have.’
His face was suddenly so raw with pain that the Doctor glanced away.
‘But I don’t want to be mad again either,’ Ethan went on, his voice quiet and flat. ‘It’s not good, you know. It’s like being dragged over gravel for a long, long time. Every now and then you knock your head hard and go unconscious.
Then you’re just being dragged again. Do you know what I mean?’
‘No,’ said the Doctor gently. ‘And it’s a good thing for the universe I don’t.
Here,’ he extended his arm across the table, ‘feel my pulse.’ Ethan stared at the arm uncomprehendingly. ‘My pulse. Feel it.’
Ethan clumsily took his wrist. For a minute he sat completely still, head down, as if listening as well as feeling. Then he let go. ‘Does Ace know?’
‘Of course,’ said the Doctor, surprised by the question. ‘She travels with me.’
‘In your spaceship?’
‘TARDIS. Short for Time And Relative –’
‘So she’s your daughter?’
‘Ace? Goodness no.’
‘Are the two of you. . . ?’
The Doctor blinked, confused, then said quickly, ‘No, no. We’re friends.’
‘She cares a lot for you, you know.’
‘I know,’ the Doctor said quietly.
‘You should have seen her in that field. Nearly out of her mind with worry.’
The Doctor said nothing. Sobering, Ethan studied him. ‘So, you know, I think she doesn’t know about you. Not really.’ The Doctor remained silent. ‘Because she loves you, she doesn