Doctor Who_ The Hollow Men - Keith Topping [11]
The Doctor seemed distracted by something in the distance, like a dog when it hears a high-pitched whistle.
„The children I‟ve met in Hexen Bridge seem very bright, academically speaking,‟ he said, dragging his attention back to the old man.
„Ah, that‟s what they want you to think,‟ the man said. And with that, he turned into the library, leaving the Doctor and Ace staring after him.
They had just enough change left to pay for a taxi into Hexen Bridge. The driver said he would drop them off outside the village. In fact, when they turned the first corner, expecting to see the cluster of cottages, they saw only the lane twisting into the distance.
It meant another walk in the broiling sunshine. If Ace had been surly when they left the town, she was positively fuming by the time they passed the field where the TARDIS had landed.
„Two hundred yards, you said,‟ she moaned.
„Indeed,‟ said the Doctor. „As the crow flies.‟
„I‟m not a crow.‟
„No,‟ said the Doctor. At length they rounded a corner, and Hexen Bridge lay before them.
The village seemed less sinister than Ace had expected.
There was a certain picture-postcard quality about the place, little thatched cottages jockeying for position around the green. The people who sat at wooden tables outside the pub looked normal enough. Ace had expected extra limbs and Elephant Man deformities, at the very least.
„You sure this is the right place?‟ she queried.
The Doctor nodded. „Relax, just for a moment. What do you feel?‟
Ace paused. „I feel hungry and sunburnt,‟ she exploded.
„Isn‟t there anywhere to eat in this hole?‟
„As I promised,‟ said the Doctor.
He turned Ace around, and there, on the left-hand side of the lane, was a Chinese restaurant. A large sign proclaimed it to be A TASTE OF THE ORIENT. Its facade resembled that of a Buddhist temple and, in the context of the village, it was almost an eyesore. Ace rather liked it.
„Wicked!‟ she exclaimed. Two massive carved lions the colour of green jade stood on either side of the door, and Ace couldn‟t resist patting one on the head. Its eyes were coloured glass, cut to resemble precious gems. „Purpose?‟ she asked with a hint of mocking humour in her voice, parodying the Doctor‟s usual inquisitorial style. She had been in many Chinese restaurants, but had never seen anything like these giant statues before.
„Other than the purely decorative?‟ replied the Doctor with a wry grin. „I‟d say they were to ward off evil spirits.‟
„Guess what?‟ said Ace. „I just knew you were going to say that!‟
They stepped into the restaurant. Fans in the ceiling and shutters over most the windows kept the interior cool and dark, a welcome relief after the sun. Golden dragon murals trailed along walls; brightly coloured paper lanterns hung from the ceiling. It was an absolutely unremarkable Chinese restaurant. What Ace couldn‟t work out was what it was doing in a place like Hexen Bridge, and how it managed to stay open.
She gestured towards the few diners seated at the tables.
„It‟s not exactly seething, is it?‟ she queried.
„It is one thirty,‟ responded the Doctor. „And, before you ask, you‟ll find the people of Hexen a strangely cosmopolitan bunch. They‟re quite happy for this place to stay here - on their terms.‟
„You come here often?‟
„I‟ve met Mr Chen and his family on several occasions.‟
As if on cue, a middle-aged Chinese man emerged from the shadows, bowing politely. „Good afternoon,‟ he said. „How pleasant it is to meet one of the family of Dr Smiths again.‟
„I‟ve not broached the subject of regenerations with him,‟
whispered the Doctor. „Hello, my friend,‟ he continued, more loudly. „Sorry to turn up unannounced, but -‟
Chen looked puzzled. „You rang last Monday, Dr Smith,‟ he said.
„Of course I did,‟ bluffed the Doctor. He quickly withdrew a notepad from a pocket, and used a piece of pencil lead under his thumbnail to scribble a note. Ace saw that the page was headed „To Do List‟ and, under items 25 („Leave settee