Doctor Who_ The Roundheads - Mark Gatiss [111]
Some time later, Thurloe and Cromwell were standing in the general’s chamber, looking with great interest at the tall blue box that had been deposited there.
The Doctor had asked that it be retrieved from the alley near to Kemp’s inn, but as to its function or how it came to be there, they had no idea.
Cromwell walked around it several times, examining the panels and the little frosted windows. Pressing his palm against the double doors, he jumped back in shock. The box seemed to be humming. Almost as though it were alive...
He looked over at Thurloe, who bent down to examine the thing more closely. There was some kind of notice fixed to it.
‘Free... for the use of the public,’ he read, bemused.
‘Officers and... cars... respond to urgent calls.’
He straightened up just as the Doctor, Jamie, and Polly came marching in.
‘Ah, there she is,’ cried the Doctor, rubbing his hands together. ‘How thoughtful of you to fetch her.’
Cromwell walked up to him. ‘What is this cabinet?’
Jamie laughed. ‘Och, don’t you know? It is the source of the McCrimmon’s power!’
Thurloe ignored him and took the Doctor to one side. ‘I gather we have much to thank you for, Doctor.’
Cromwell nodded. ‘The assassination is foiled and the Dutch fellow in custody.’
Thurloe looked about. ‘And your friend Master Jackson?’
‘Oh. Well he asked that he might be in on the last act, as it were. I gather he has one or two scores to settle with Captain Stanislaus.’
Cromwell looked agitated. ‘But, Doctor. The King is still at large. We have not completed our task.’
The Doctor stepped away from the TARDIS and walked over to Polly, who was sitting disconsolately on a big, cushioned chair.
‘Polly?’ he said, holding out his hand.
She looked up at him, her big eyes wet with tears. Then she took a small slip of paper from her dress and gave it to him.
‘Thank you,’ said the Doctor simply. He strode back to Cromwell and gave the general the paper, which he examined quickly.
His expression was immediately transformed into one of unalloyed joy.
‘Thank ‘ee, Doctor!’ he beamed. He began to move off but turned. ‘Stay a while, please. We have much to discuss.’
The Doctor shook his head. ‘No, no. You must find your own way now.’
Cromwell stopped in his tracks and seemed about to ask the Doctor another question. Instead, he bowed politely and swept from the room.
Thurloe began to fuss agitatedly. ‘What is it? What was that note?’
The Doctor was already at the TARDIS doors, slipping the key into the lock.
‘I think you’d better follow your general, Mr Thurloe,’
Thurloe nodded then turned. ‘What have you got inside there?’
The Doctor smiled and tapped the side of his nose. Then he opened the door just wide enough for Jamie and Polly to slip though.
‘You aren’t... going anywhere, are you, Doctor?’
The Doctor’s head popped around the door. ‘I’m waiting for Ben,’ he said and disappeared inside.
The warehouse was stormed with minimal fuss, Roundhead troopers streaming through its twisted corridors and dank rooms. Cromwell was at their head with Ben close behind.
They found Sir John Copper and Christopher Whyte in a small room adjacent to the King’s chambers.
‘Rupert is fled,’ said Copper with a smirk of satisfaction as the troopers led him away.
‘But I have you,’ said Cromwell. ‘Take them away.’
Whyte put up no protest, simply staring into space as he was hustled outside.
They found the King alone, sitting by the meagre fire, his sad face looking pale and resigned. He looked up as Cromwell stormed into the room, and gave a small smile. ‘Sir, I am glad to see you looking so well. For I believed you dead.’
Cromwell’s face twisted into a sneer of satisfaction. ‘By your leave, sir, that state will shortly belong to you.’
He jerked his head to one side and the troopers lifted Charles from his chair. He did not look back.
Ben looked around. ‘What about Stanislaus?’
Cromwell shook his head. ‘He is fled. Gone the way of Rupert, may his bones rot –’
‘Sir!’
A trooper came darting into the room, his face flushed.
‘What is it, soldier?’