Doctor Who_ The Algebra of Ice - Lloyd Rose [47]
– Ah. The phone machine was sitting on a little table, atop a pile of journals.
Hadn’t it been next to the computer? The Doctor crossed to it curiously.
When Ace came by a few minutes later with coffee, she found the Doctor in the armchair, head leaning on fist, humming tonelessly under his breath. He looked grim.
‘Where’s Ethan then? In the loo?’
‘No. He’s not here.’
‘The hermit is out?’ Ace set down the coffee. ‘Well unbelievable. Where’s he gone, then?’
‘He wasn’t here when I arrived.’
Something in his tone caught at her. ‘What’s happened to him?’ she said in a small voice.
The Doctor looked up, mouth tight. ‘I’m not sure, but I don’t like what I know.
Someone erased his last message. Fortunately, on some of these machines, erasure just stores messages for a final delete. So I found it. These are the last words.’ He pressed a button and a nervous voice said, ‘Oh, ah, yes, I haven’t said who I am, have I? This is Patrick Unwin. I’ll try you again, then, in –’ The machine clicked off as Ethan picked up.
‘Unwin?’ said Ace, confused. ‘He’s gone to meet Unwin?’
‘The message is from last night. He might have gone this morning. Only it’s an early breakfast.’
‘Perhaps they’re only talking naff maths talk.
You know, two nerds together. . . ’ She trailed off. She didn’t believe it herself. ‘What are we going to do, Professor?’
‘I think we had better find him as quickly as possible.’
CHAPTER TWELVE
Carrying a glass of orange juice, Brett descended the steps. Daylight now filled the hall above, and the cellar was much easier to see. Ethan was still in the chair; as he hadn’t slumped forward, Brett presumed he was conscious. After much urging and talk of hypothermia from Unwin, Brett had allowed his part-ner to come down and wrap a blanket around their prisoner. He shoved this to the floor and pulled the gag from Ethan’s mouth, then held the orange juice to his lips. ‘Drink this.’ Ethan drank. Juice spilled over his chin and ran down his neck.
Brett removed the cuffs and blindfold and untied the strips of upholstery. He gave Ethan a small push, and he slid to the floor, gasping. Brett poked him lightly with his foot. ‘You’re still with us, aren’t you? Haven’t done a mental slide? I know you’re unstable.’
Ethan didn’t say anything. He lay sprawled as he had fallen, eyes blankly open. Brett sat and leaned forward, elbows on knees.
‘Now, listen. I tied you fairly loosely last night, and after an hour or so you’ll be able to walk normally. But if I tie you up tonight, I’ll make it tight, and probably you’ll be crippled.’
Ethan swallowed. ‘Why tie me at all?’ he whispered hoarsely. ‘I can’t. . . can’t get. . . ’ He gave up.
‘Well, if this conversation goes well, perhaps I won’t. Perhaps you’ll get a meal and a bath and a bed and won’t have to sit all night in your cooling piss.
You’ve only to help me a bit.’ He waited, but Ethan didn’t try to speak. ‘Just clear up a few matters.’
‘Answer. . . questions?’ Ethan almost snickered. He coughed, then swallowed again several times.
‘Good point,’ Brett conceded, and fetched a pitcher of water. He held Ethan’s head up and helped him drink. ‘Better?’ Ethan nodded. ‘There’s more where that came from. Not just yet, though.’ Brett returned to the chair. ‘Tell me about the Doctor.’
Ethan looked bewildered. ‘The Doctor?’ he rasped.
Chapter Twelve
99
‘Yes, the chap who was in the field with you that night. The mysterious scientific adviser for UNIT. Who is he?’
‘I don’t know his name.’
‘That’s all right. Neither do UNIT. How did you meet him?’
‘He came to see me.’
‘Why?’
‘He’s. . . ’ Ethan’s head rolled, as if he were about to pass out. Brett nudged him with his toe.
‘Come along, now. He’s what?’
‘Interested in entropy.’
Brett had expected that. And there was really only one reason this elusive Doctor would show up at just this time investigating entropy.
‘Did he make the circle?’
‘Circle. . . ?’
‘In the field.’
‘Yes.’
Again, not a surprise.
‘Where can I find him?’
‘I don’t know. He always came to me.’
‘To your flat?’ Ethan nodded.