Doctor Who_ The Algebra of Ice - Lloyd Rose [67]
Molecross sulked, but didn’t correct her.
‘Balls to this,’ said Ace, and went off to change back into clothes.
For a minute or so, neither Ethan nor Molecross said anything. Molecross broke the silence.
‘You look better. I mean, than when I last saw you.’
‘I’d hope so,’ Ethan snapped.
Again, a few minutes in which no one spoke.
‘What did they want? Those men who took you.’
138
The Algebra of Ice
‘I’m not going to talk about that.’
There was just no safe place, Ethan
thought disconsolately. People charged into his apartment, they charged into the TARDIS. Was he never to have any privacy?
‘Where are we?’
‘Switzerland.’
‘Really?’ Molecross was excited. ‘I’ve always wanted to see the Alps. Is there a window?’
‘No.’
Piqued, Molecross went to the console and began to examine the layout.
Good luck, thought Ethan. As if anyone but the Doctor could make sense of it.
‘I think you might want t– don’t touch that! ’
Molecross jumped. ‘I was just seeing what it was made of.’
‘Alien stuff, all right? Just write that down: “A source said it was made of alien stuff”.’
Molecross looked curiously at a lever. ‘That’s odd. Bit old-fashioned, isn’t it?
Everything else is buttons and switches. Now don’t get upset. I’m just going to feel if it’s made of different –’
Ethan rushed him, but too late. At Molecross’s touch, the lever automatically moved, and the TARDIS doors slid open. Molecross stepped out, gaping at the landscape. Ethan was about to shut the doors and be rid of him, when a nasty thought hit him: Molecross might go wandering down to the town and bump into Brett. Brett had never seen him, of course, but Molecross would recognise Brett. And almost certainly panic and give himself away. And the rest of them.
Plus get himself killed.
‘Come back in,’ he called. ‘I’m freezing with the door open.’
‘There should be more snow.’ Molecross sounded deeply disappointed.
‘Well, there isn’t. Will you please come in?’
‘There’s a town down there. Do you know the name?’
The Doctor had mentioned it in passing, but Ethan couldn’t remember. ‘It’s just a bloody Swiss town, Molecross. Old churches. Pastry shops. Cute buildings.’
‘Local colour,’ said Molecross. ‘Not to mention something to eat.’ He started off.
‘Hell,’ Ethan said, and lunged out the door. He tackled Molecross and brought him down flat. ‘Hey!’ Molecross gasped. Ethan clung to him as he rolled back and forth; it was like riding a small whale. ‘Shut up,’ Ethan panted. ‘Stay still.
Brett’s down there.’
Chapter Sixteen
139
Molecross froze. ‘Oh my God,’ he said in a small voice. Ethan slipped off him and sat catching his breath. Molecross lumbered up. He found his safari hat and crammed it back on his head.
‘Sorry,’ Ethan said. ‘I hope I didn’t hurt your arm.’
‘He’s down there?’
‘More or less. He’s in the vicinity. Probably. Or soon will be. Anyway, I’d stay here.’ Ethan got to his feet. ‘Let’s go back inside.’
Back in the console room. Molecross sagged in the armchair. ‘I could use a real drink.’
‘I don’t believe there is anything.’
‘Brett’s really here somewhere?’
‘Looks likely.’
‘This is frightening.’
Ethan sighed deeply. ‘Molecross, what are you doing here? What do you think is going on? Haven’t you worked out that it’s dangerous and ugly?’
‘I don’t know what’s going on,’ Molecross said sadly. ‘But I want to. Don’t you understand? Sitting in this room, we’re on the edge of the transcendent.
The Doctor is immortal and lives among the stars. Haven’t you worked out how that’s wonderful and miraculous?’
‘Okay,’ said Ethan after a moment. ‘But don’t touch anything.’
They didn’t speak for a while. Molecross ate all the biscuits. Ethan fetched some more and also found a small wedge of cheese, which Molecross took care of in three bites.
‘You’re all healed,’ he observed.
‘Yeah.’
‘That was horrible when I found you,’ Molecross said in a small voice. ‘I mean, of course it was more horrible for you. Obviously it was. But it was awful. I’d never seen. . . And I heard you, on the answering machine.