Doctor Who_ The Hollow Men - Keith Topping [70]
„Maybe,‟ said Joanna. „But I‟d miss you. It‟s people like you that keep this place sane.‟
„My family are the only outsiders left.‟ Steven Chen glanced around. Something flickered on one of the hillsides overlooking the village, the sun catching glass or metal.
„You‟d better go back to the pub,‟ he said.
Joanna nodded, and got to her feet, giving Steven an impulsive kiss on the cheek before returning to the Green Man.
Bob Matson put down the binoculars. He couldn‟t believe it.
That shameless bitch was at it again, and in full view of the whole village.
He began the descent back down to the village. His hand was clamped so hard around the binoculars that his knuckles were white.
He fingered the Molotov cocktail lovingly. He‟d give those slant-eyes something to think about.
CHAPTER 10
THE ST ANTHONY’S ESTATE CHINESE TAKEAWAY MASSACRE
The vintage Triumph Stag pulled on to the hard shoulder and the Doctor smiled, squatting down at the passenger window.
„Are you going anywhere near London?‟
The driver, a man in his sixties, shook his head.
„Redborough,‟ he said. His weather-beaten face creased into a smile. „But we can drop you near the M25, if that‟s any good?‟
„It is. Thank you so much,‟ said the Doctor, climbing into the back with some difficulty.
„We don‟t normally pick up hitchhikers,‟ explained the woman. „But I said to Robert, “This man looks respectable enough.” „
„It‟s very good of you,‟ said the Doctor, relieved to be out of the choking fumes of the M6.
„We‟ve been to the Lake District. It‟s our fortieth wedding anniversary.‟ The woman‟s smile became more tender as she glanced across at the man. He took a hand from the wheel and touched her arm gently. It was a warm and private moment, one that spoke of years of uncomplicated intimacy.
The Doctor thought suddenly of Hexen Bridge, and Bob and Joanna Matson‟s sullen anger.
„It‟s lovely up there,‟ said the woman. „Do you know the Lakes at all?‟
„I spent a short time in Grasmere many years ago,‟ said the Doctor, remembering a holiday with Jamie and Victoria. „It rained and rained and rained.‟
„We‟ve been going there for years. I‟m Julia, by the way.‟
„How do you do? I‟m the Doctor.‟
„A medical doctor?‟ she queried. „Where did you train?‟
„Glasgow,‟ answered the Doctor. „Many, many years ago...‟
„Oh yes,‟ smiled the woman. „The accent‟s a giveaway.‟
The still countryside passed slowly, the smooth growl of the Stag‟s engine blurring with the couple‟s discussion of Mrs Pearce‟s varicose veins and John Tomasson‟s rumoured affair with his secretary. Soon the Doctor fell into a deep sleep.
He awoke with a start just as the car pulled into a service station.
„This is where we‟ll have to drop you off,‟ said the man as the Doctor stretched and yawned.
„Thank you so much,‟ said the Doctor with genuine gratitude. He stepped down on to the tarmac, taking in his new surroundings before turning back to the couple. „It‟s reassuring to know that there are still good people in the world,‟ he said.
Denman approached the research centre cautiously, guiding the car on to a patch of broken concrete edged by pale-looking buddleia. He switched off the engine, and breathed deeply to steady his chaotic thoughts.
Moments after he left the Doctor, Denman called an old friend who worked in the West Midlands. A final favour. The man had told him exactly where the laboratories were, and warned him about „doing anything stupid‟. Denman had ended the conversation with an impatient stab of his thumb.
There had been too much talking.
There wasn‟t much left of the buildings, the main one a splintered mass of blackened brick and metal. The sun made myriad patterns on the shards of glass that littered the ground around the lab. Some of the outlying Portakabins had survived, though all the doors and windows were now held shut with metal bars and padlocks. The area was still cordoned off by long yellow and black ribbons of hazard tape that warned of toxic contamination.
Denman stepped from the car. The research centre was right on the