Doctor Who_ The Forgotten Army - Brian Minchin [29]
Amy wanted to stop everyone walking past and shepherd them inside. This wasn't a temporary fault or an excuse for a short-lived party in the dark. The Vykoid Army was behind this and, unless Amy could find the Doctor and stop them, light wasn't going to return to New York.
She was baffled by how powerful the pint-sized aliens were. They were a strange and terrifying kind of army. They operated anonymously under the shadow of darkness, and with a motive so clear and so brutal it was difficult to do anything but plunge into conflict with them. A battle Amy desperately wanted to avoid.
If only she could find the Doctor.
111
Chapter
11
Oscar had already raced back to his car and pulled out his radio to call in to the station. Amy hurried over, leant in and switched it off.
'Hey!' Oscar protested.
Amy simply smiled at him. 'You don't need that thing any more. I'll give you all the commands you'll need. So - down to business. I've lost my friend, and I need you to help me find him. So get Fido over here, and let's go!'
'Lady are you seriously telling me that in the middle of the biggest blackout since 1922, you expect me to help you?'
Amy smiled. 'Don't take it so hard. You may have won the War of Independence, but right now you can consider yourself my colonial conquest...'
113
DOCTOR WHO
Oscar considered for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
Amy beamed at him 'Good! Let's go to work then, partner.'
She cheerily took the car keys out of the ignition and called to the dog. 'Over here, Fido!'
Oscar's sniffer dog leapt up at her, excited to be on a case after hours dozing on the station floor. Amy pulled a bow tie from her pocket and dangled it in front of the dog. 'This is one of his most colourful,' she confided. 'I've confiscated it, in case he ever decides to wear it...'
The dog was acting strangely, not used to the smell of a Time Lord.
'Come on.’ Amy went on. "There's a good dog. Eurgh, this actually has one of his hairs on it,' Amy pulled away a long strand of hair, adding, 'He is such a girl.'
Oscar was watching Amy with a weary look on his face.
He clapped his hands, and the dog ran to his feet. 'His name is Bismarck. And he'll do as I say...' Another clap of his hands had Bismarck tracing the ground for a scent, dashing to and fro in ten-metre bursts, covering the area methodically.
'My friend was on the pavement there.' Amy pointed, but Oscar looked confused. 'Oh, OK, if it makes you happy, on the sidewalk. Honestly, it's not like you've got a mainwalk, is it?'
Oscar opened his mouth to answer, but then Bismarck gave a businesslike bark and started to 114
THE FORGOTTEN ARMY
hare along the sidewalk towards downtown New York.
Amy turned to Oscar, surprised. 'I thought he might have been taken to Central Park or something. Wouldn't someone have noticed a man being dragged along the street?'
This was something Oscar did understand. 'You see all sorts in New York, ma'am. Takes a lot to stop traffic.'
As they followed Bismarck, Oscar asked: 'So, tell me about this guy we're trying to find.'
'The Doctor?' Amy paused. There was something about Oscar that made her want to tell him everything. 'He's the most amazing man you'll ever meet, Oscar. So wonderful, and so kind, and able to do the most incredible things. He's shown me places I didn't know existed, and made me realise I can do things I never expected. But most of all, he'll walk across the galaxies to stop a single innocent life being lost.
He's the man I've been waiting for almost my whole life, and now I've found him, it's even better than I expected.'
From his expression, Oscar clearly thought Amy was in love with the Doctor. She quickly decided to tone down the limitless appreciation.
'He's also a complete buffoon, with a silly fringe, and bandy legs, and the most bizarre way of talking. But if he was here, Oscar, he'd have the lights back on again in a second.'
115
DOCTOR WHO
Amy realised Oscar was now trying to work out exactly how mad she was. She smiled at her tame New York cop.
'Don't