Doctor Who_ The Hollow Men - Keith Topping [13]
„I wanted a few hours of you to myself, Trevor Winstone,‟
she said. Her eyes were wide, and sparkled in the dull light of the bar. Trevor realised, as he had done three months ago when they had met for the first time in ten years, that she was no longer the most beautiful girl in the world, and his.
She was the most beautiful woman in the world, but she didn‟t belong to him any more. Or to anyone. He had learnt that hard, cruel lesson outside a grubby Iranian bed-and-breakfast in Victoria, and it hurt him badly. „I love you,‟ he had told her. „Grow up,‟ she had replied, and he‟d spent the last few weeks trying.
Rebecca‟s voice, rich with laughter, brought him back to the present. „This reunion, Trev. Is it business or pleasure?‟
„Both,‟ he smiled. „You know, the usual. Deals to be done...‟
„Keep greasing those wheels,‟ advised Rebecca.
„Matt Hatch told me he‟s keen to get away from that wife of his,‟ said Trevor. „I‟ve heard she‟s desperate for kids, but Matt‟s not. I reckon he‟s got a bit on the side.‟
Rebecca started making pointless small talk about who was married to whom, or divorced from whom, or shagging whom, in Hexen Bridge. You mistake me for someone who‟s interested, thought Trevor as he cleared his throat, waiting for her litany of „hatched, matched and dispatched‟ to end.
„Rebecca, we really need to talk.‟
He had been looking at the table when he said this, and when he raised his eyes to meet hers he found that she was staring out of the window at the street outside. A boy and a girl, no older than sixteen, were holding hands and skipping across the road, high on love. It was a magical sight. After a moment she looked back at him, smiling.
„I‟m sorry, I wasn‟t listening.‟
Trevor shook his head. „It doesn‟t matter. Small talk.‟
Just then „There is a Light that Never Goes Out‟ came on the CD jukebox, and they grinned at each other.
„Remember when this was our song?‟ she asked, as if he could ever forget. They waited until the song finished, without saying anything, just looking at each other and mouthing the words. When it ended, Rebecca stood up and straightened her dress. „Come on,‟ she said, simply. „Let‟s go home.‟
„London‟s my home,‟ said Trevor with a wicked grin. „Hexen Bridge‟ll always be thy home, boy,‟ she replied, mocking the local accent. „Till Jack i‟ the Green lets „ee go.‟
Ace scooped the last of the Beef Szechwan into her mouth and belched contentedly. „You‟re right, Professor, this is serious nosh.‟
The Doctor smiled warmly. „You make it sound like I‟m in the habit of not telling you the truth.‟
„You have your moments,‟ said Ace. „And this is one of the better ones. Even if you didn’t let me have that lager.‟
„You should treasure your youth, Ace, not fight against it all the time.‟
„That‟s easy for you to say.‟
The Doctor poked at his food. By his own standards, he had eaten heartily, but Ace couldn‟t help but notice that most of his food remained untouched. It probably hadn‟t helped that he seemed to have chosen his food by the quality of the name alone: Seven Stars Around the Moon, Wandering Dragon, Happy Family...
„Shall I help you with some of yours, Professor?‟ Ace asked.
„By all means,‟ said the Doctor, sliding his bowl away from him.
Steven Chen returned to their table. „Everything is OK?‟
„It‟s fine, Steven,‟ said the Doctor.
„More than fine,‟ agreed Ace.
„My father has told you what we have to put up with?‟
Steven asked while clearing away the empty bowls.
„Indeed. I‟m very sorry,‟ said the Doctor.
„The attacks have become more frequent.‟ Steven stopped and checked that no one else in the restaurant was looking at them. He leaned forward, conspiratorially, and dropped a piece of paper on to the table. „My father considers you a friend, Doctor. May I ask a favour of you?‟
„Certainly.‟
„You will be staying at the Green Man, I take it?‟
„The Green Man?‟
Steven smiled. „The pub on the green. It changed its name recently.‟
„I have stayed there in the past,‟ confirmed the Doctor.
„Then