Doctor Who_ The Hollow Men - Keith Topping [49]
„Any fool can quote Keats,‟ said Trevor, turning away from the Doctor. „What do you expect me to do? Trot out some Shelley, or some Shakespeare? Why should I play by your rules?‟
„You fascinate me,‟ said the Doctor gently. „Most of those in Hexen Bridge have been stunted by the limitation of the genetic pool. It‟s like society running in reverse. But you, you‟re different.‟
„No,‟ said Trevor quickly. „No, I am not. I‟m just the same as all the rest.‟
Suddenly the Doctor felt he was getting somewhere. „Have you ever wondered why Hexen Bridge is so isolated?‟ he asked.
„Nobody likes us. We‟re different.‟
„Yes, but...‟ Once again the Doctor heard the elevator coming up, and he knew that the moment had gone. The doors opened and Shanks stepped out, accompanied by the woman in the white dress.
„Get me a drink, Maria, love,‟ he said. „Make it a double. I need it after that palaver. All right, Trev,‟ he continued, clapping his hands together. „You‟ve got the stuff?‟
„Behind you,‟ said Winstone, nodding towards the boxes.
„Great,‟ said Shanks enthusiastically. „The rocket launcher an‟ all?‟
„It‟s in the top crate.‟
„And it can bring down a chopper from a range of three thousand metres?‟
„It could bring down Concorde from that distance,‟ replied Trevor coldly.
„Excellent!‟ said a delighted Shanks. „That I‟ve got to see.‟
„Won‟t the Chief Constable be a little upset about that?‟
asked the Doctor.
Shanks laughed. He sat beside the Doctor and placed an arm around his shoulders. The Doctor noticed a fleck of blood on the man‟s face, and a few stray spots on his cream jacket.
„I‟d get that dry-cleaned, if I were you,‟ said the Doctor.
„Blood‟s difficult to remove. Cut yourself shaving?‟
„Do you know what?‟ said Shanks, with a sickly grin on his face. „I think it‟s about time I put you to good use.‟
„I don‟t believe I‟m doing this,‟ moaned Steven Chen, not for the first time. His face was like the skull of the moon against the blackness of the graveyard.
„Oh, don‟t be so yellow,’ snapped Ace. A look of horror crossed her face as she realised what she had said. Steven seemed hurt and bewildered, but made no comment.
Ace paused, not sure if an apology would make things worse. Angry with herself, she clambered over the low wall that ran around the back of the churchyard, the torch beam flashing in random directions. She looked back at Steven regretfully.
„You‟re weird,‟ said Steven, pulling himself over. The moment had gone.
„Listen, sunshine, compared to the locals, I‟m flippin‟ well normal,‟ said Ace. She strolled up to the side entrance, a small door of oak studded with iron. „This should be impressive.‟ She pulled what looked like a small lump of putty from her rucksack, and pushed it gently into the lock.
„Please tell me that isn‟t what I think it is,‟ said Steven, nervously glancing around him, although the church grounds were deserted but for the trailing shadows of the yew trees.
„It isn‟t,‟ said Ace. „It‟s much better.‟ She placed a flat metal disc, no bigger than a watch battery, on the end of her finger, and showed it to Steven. „Miniaturised timer and detonator.‟
Steven paled.
„And this,‟ said Ace, holding up what seemed to be a thick patch of fabric, „will make sure we don‟t wake up the whole village.‟
„Oh, good,‟ said Steven. „I‟m glad. I‟m standing here, in the middle of the night, about to break into a church, and I‟m thinking to myself: Steven, we mustn‟t wake up the whole village. Oh no. We -‟
„Steven?‟
„Yes?‟
„Shut up. You‟re getting hysterical.‟ And with that Ace slammed the pad and timer on to the explosive, and pulled Steven to one side. A moment later the church shook slightly, but there was no noise. It was as if the entire building had just suppressed a sneeze.
„I don‟t believe it,‟ said Steven, through clenched teeth.
Ace returned to the door. „Oh, smart!’ she exclaimed. The blackened pad had fallen to the ground, its job done. A wisp of smoke issued from the keyhole. „Poor Mr Baber‟ll have to buy a new lock, but it‟s better than blowing the door to bits.