Doctor Who_ The Hollow Men - Keith Topping [111]
„Isn‟t that a bit cynical?‟
„Maybe. In a way, not much has changed. The people of Hexen Bridge have always been good at keeping secrets.‟ The Doctor paused, and then began walking away from the village towards the TARDIS. Ace hurried after him, slinging her backpack on to her shoulders as she did so.
„I‟m glad the rain‟s stopped,‟ she said, remembering the thunder storm a few nights before, and her desperate attempt to find the Doctor‟s craft.
„Oh, a little rain never hurt anyone,‟ said the Doctor. „It washes away the madness.‟ There was a dip in his voice as they passed A Taste of the Orient, and he removed his hat as a mark of respect. „It seems so long ago,‟ he whispered.
„What, the meal?‟ said Ace. „Yeah. Ages.‟
„I meant when I first came here,‟ said the Doctor. „It‟s been a shadow at the back of my mind for so long. I can‟t believe it‟s gone.‟ He sighed. „Still, plenty more where that came from.‟
„I‟ve been thinking,‟ said Ace. „How much of the violence was Jack‟s influence, and how much was what was normal for these people anyway?‟
„I can‟t answer that,‟ said the Doctor. „Only each individual can. They‟ll notice a change in each other. But they‟ll be just as imperfect as any other group of people. At least Jack won‟t be there, making them worse.‟ He pushed his hands into his pockets. „I said I‟d take Denman back to Liverpool - he‟s waiting for us at the TARDIS. Anyway, I want to see for myself what‟s happened up there.‟
„You said Hatch released something into the water supply.‟
„Yes. Jack was beginning to travel to Merseyside, you see.
Like a bee to a psychic honeypot. Of course, he‟d have overwhelmed the entire country in time. Maybe the world...‟
„What‟ll happen to the people in Liverpool?‟
„They‟ll recover,‟ said the Doctor. „I managed to minimise the damage to the water supply. There‟ll be something of a crime epidemic - but then, that‟s not unusual in the summer.
The sad thing is, I‟m not sure anyone will notice.‟
„Sad?‟
„None of us need much encouragement to do evil,‟ said the Doctor. „Even so, it was difficult to leave the city behind. I knew I had to confront Hatch in London, and Jack in Hexen Bridge. But I can‟t help but feel guilty at what‟s happened in my absence.‟
„So that‟s why we‟re going up there?‟ asked Ace, but the Doctor did not answer.
„Say goodbye, Ace,‟ he said as they passed the little sign that said HEXEN BRIDGE: PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY
THROUGH OUR VILLAGE. „I don‟t expect you‟ll ever come here again.‟
„Oh, I dunno,‟ said Ace. „Looks like the perfect place for a holiday. Not.‟ She helped the Doctor over a stile, and they set off across the fields, the grass glossy with rain. „I would like to have said a proper goodbye to everyone, though. Especially Rebecca.‟
„Grief and departures do not sit well together,‟ said the Doctor. He pointed to an indistinct hillside in the gloom.
„Look, nearly there.‟
„You said I wouldn‟t come back,‟ said Ace. „What about you?‟
The Doctor came to a sudden halt. There were droplets of water on his face, but Ace guessed that it must have been splashes of rain falling from the trees that edged the field. „I always have unfinished business, Ace,‟ he said.
Some hours later, Steven Chen and Rebecca Baber were sitting side by side on the wall overlooking the graveyard. In the circumstances it was a morbid place to be, but it seemed just about the only part of the village that wasn‟t swarming with policemen and soldiers.
Neither knew the other especially well, but their shared grief was beyond words and understanding. Weak with crying, they had lapsed into hushed silence, thinking only of their dead parents, and wondering if life could ever be the same again.
„I‟m sorry we didn‟t tell you about your father in the restaurant,‟ said Steven suddenly, making Rebecca jump. „It‟s just... Well, you know.‟
„I understand,‟ said Rebecca, her voice a hoarse whisper.