Doctor Who_ The Hollow Men - Keith Topping [112]
„We had to survive. At that point in time, that‟s all that mattered.‟ She wiped a hand across her face. „Look at me,‟
she said. „Snot everywhere. Have you got a tissue?‟
Steven passed her a handkerchief. „I suppose we should be grateful we made it,‟ he said, his voice weak with doubt.
Rebecca blew her nose. „My beliefs in a cause nearly killed me,‟ she said. „But it‟s no consolation, is it?‟
Steven shook his head. „No.‟ He paused, trying to control his emotions.
„That‟s what you get for sleeping with the enemy, I suppose.‟
„I can‟t believe they‟re dead,‟ Steven said at last, the tears prickling at his eyes again.
Rebecca shook her head. „I lost my mum years ago, and I still miss her.‟ She sighed. „You‟ll never get over that.‟
„But life goes on? Is that what you‟re going to tell me?‟
„Yes,‟ said Rebecca defiantly, despite the tears that coursed down her cheeks. „My father always used to say that life is more important than death.‟
The sun rose over Liverpool, forcing its heat through the thin covering of cloud. It was going to be another hot day in the city.
Denman turned to the Doctor. „Thanks for the trip,‟ he said. „It was certainly different.‟
„My pleasure.‟ The Doctor stood framed in the TARDIS
doorway. It had landed inside a subway, its battered shell not out of place against the graffiti. Perhaps he ought to move it before it, too, became daubed with spray paint. After all, it wouldn‟t be the first time.
„You think the village will be OK?‟ asked Denman.
„It‟ll be fine,‟ said the Doctor. „More than enough survivors to keep a place like that ticking over. Still, it won‟t be easy, but at least they won‟t have Jack to worry about.‟
Denman nodded. „Oh, they‟re tough enough, I think.‟ He looked around him, at the familiar streets, still wrapped in the cottonwood cocoon of early morning. „For all our faults,‟
he continued, „we know what‟s what. And I know when it‟s time to face the consequences of my actions.‟
The Doctor nodded. „Yes. We all must learn to do that.‟
Joanna Matson spent the next few days at Trevor Winstone‟s parents‟ house, as her own home was rubble at the bottom of a pit. The Winstones had always organised the pub skittles team, and were keen to offer Joanna shelter. Of Trevor himself, however, there had been no sign. Tony Winstone had not been unduly worried, as his son had a habit of disappearing whenever the police or armed forces were nearby. „I think it all goes back to when he was caught smoking dope in the school toilets,‟ Tony had said. „He‟s always considered himself persona non grata where the constabulary are concerned.‟
„Oh yes,‟ chimed in Christiana, with a false optimism that Joanna had found somewhat annoying. „I expect we‟ll get a postcard from him soon. It‟s usually Kenya or Indonesia or somewhere exotic like that.‟
A week passed, and still she had not heard from Bob.
Joanna was becoming increasingly worried, but the police had so many missing people to investigate that they couldn‟t give any one case special priority. It was only when she had given up all hope of ever seeing him again that he finally turned up.
Joanna was in the Winstones‟ garden, weeding their rose bed, when she heard the scrunch of feet on the gravel path.
Bob was trudging towards her, looking like - well, there was no other way of describing it, a tramp. „Someone told me I‟d find you here,‟ he said with a grin.
„Bob!‟ Joanna ran towards her husband, embracing him warmly. „Where the hell have you been?‟
„Staying out of trouble,‟ said Bob.
Joanna took an instinctive step backward. „Sorry, Bob, but... You stink!‟
„I‟ve been sleeping rough.‟ Bob sighed. „Living with bloody gypsies. You won‟t believe what I‟ve been through. I was...‟ He paused, searching for the right word. „I was expelled, I suppose.‟
„I said you‟d get in trouble if you carried on like that.‟
„I was lucky not to be killed. Jack deals harshly with those who draw attention to him.‟ Bob looked around him. The swifts were arcing overhead as if nothing had happened in the village. „Is it safe to come back?‟
„Oh yes,‟ said