Doctor Who_ The Devil Goblins From Neptune - Keith Topping [79]
They were very different people, but they shared one thing. An overwhelming hatred of 'Kumbyar'.
Now the cold of early morning had given way to a beautiful, cloudless day, the sky painted a blue that seemed possible only in the Technicolor musicals of the 1940s.
'Nice day for the end of the world,' said Scouse laconically. 'Maybe tomorrow!' countered Saddest Moon.
They laughed, but Starchild looked astonished that they could find levity in such a serious event.
'I don't dig this.' she said quickly. It's a serious happening, all right?'
'Cool your boots, babe.' replied Scouse. 'No need to act like a mong. We're just getting into the scene.' He kissed her, savagely, on the lips, and her frown melted away.
'What is it with you two?' asked Saddest Moon.
It's a love thing, la,' replied Scouse simply.
Starchild stood up, easing the cramp from her legs, and walked to the edge of the ridge.
'It's like the top of the world,' she said. And turned around quickly. 'Hey, wouldn't it be like, amazing, if they came now?'
'The Saucer People you mean?'
'Right.'
Saddest Moon nodded sagely. 'We've got to wait. This is the gathering of the tribes. The global village. Cats have got to get here from, like, everywhere.'
Scouse snorted. 'Are you gonna be there for the love-in?'
he asked cynically. I'll tell you what, though, it's all rubbish, isn't it?'
'No. It's psychedelic,' replied Starchild, sad and hurt that her friends couldn't understand her enthusiasm. 'You ought to clean your head, babe. The ancient writings, the prophecies, it's all coming down. Arlo says so.'
'Yeah?' asked Scouse with a sarcastic grin. But even he had felt the power of Arlo. He had answered the call when the Venus People marched down Lime Street to taunts and ridicule from a motley crew of Everton fans. He'd joined the People there and then, ignoring the prickling embarrassment.
'You are chosen,' Arlo had said, and he was.
'The signs have been witnessed,' added Saddest Moon, a young farmer's boy from the Fens who had met the group on the road near his home, and gone with them after leaving his mother a note to say that 'Jesus has called me'.
'Exactly,' added Starchild, who came from the North but never talked about her past life. 'The symbols. The sky bled at the festival, false religion is being cast down into the bottomless pit, Babylon is falling. The Four Horsemen - it's the Beatles, it has to be.'
Scouse grinned. 'There's five of 'em now, doll.'
'George is God,' she said dismissively. 'Everybody knows that.'
The sound of a car coming up the bridle path caused her to stop. She turned towards the oncoming Mercedes, crawling along the dirt road. It slowed to a stop beside them and the driver's window opened, revealing a man in his early forties with dark, stylish hair and a drooping moustache.
'Where might I find Arlo?' asked the driver.
Starchild felt the hatred he had for them, felt it burn her skin. She sat on her haunches and said nothing.
'Over there, in the van, man,' replied Saddest Moon, before adding 'Peace' and raising his hand.
'Yes. Of course,' said the driver. The car swished past them. 'Nice motor,' said Scouse, following the progress of the car. 'That was Lord Rose, or whatever his name is.'
'Names is for tombstones, baby,' said Scouse.
Rose was getting out of the car next to Arlo's caravan. In his immaculate Savile Row suit and leather driving gloves, he looked completely out of place in this environment.
don't trust that cat.' said Starchild as Rose entered the van. 'You what?' asked Scouse.
don't know what his game is, babe, but his vibes are all wrong.'
'Don't be so suspicious.' countered Scouse. 'He's all right is old Hippie Pete. He's no breadhead.'
'That's