Doctor Who_ The Roundheads - Mark Gatiss [88]
‘Aye,’ lamented Jamie. ‘But we’ve not much chance of putting things rights banged up in here!’
There was some activity outside the room and then boIts were drawn back. The door swung open and Thurloe stepped aside. He nodded to the jailer, who slammed and locked the door after him.
‘Aren’t you afraid we might try to eat you, Mr Thurloe?’
Thurloe permitted himself a tiny smile. ‘You do not seem the type, Doctor. Besides, I have come here to help you.’
‘If it’s in return for us trying to persuade the general against the kingship, I’m afraid we didn’t have much chance...’
Thurloe waved his hand. ‘Nay. I know you did what you could. Besides, we cannot have a new king until we have found the old one, eh?’
The Doctor smiled. ‘Quite.’
Thurloe moved across the room and let his hand trail over the damp, rotten stonework. ‘Not the most salubrious of places, Doctor?’
The Doctor looked about. ‘Oh, don’t you like it? Of course, when to buy is always such a difficult decision, but we were sick of renting, weren’t we?’
He turned to Jamie and Polly as if expecting an answer.
Thurloe ignored the Doctor’s comments. ‘I could arrange for somewhere rather more pleasant. In fact, I could arrange for the charges of treason against you all to be dropped altogether.’
‘That’s very good of you,’ said the Doctor blandly.
‘On certain conditions.’
Polly threw up her hands. ‘Why did I know he was going to say that?’
Thurloe put his hands behind his back and regarded the three of them steadily. ‘Tell me all you know about the plot to rescue the King.’
Polly groaned. ‘Look, I told that Captain Culpeper. We don’t –’
The Doctor held up his hand to silence her and Polly immediately stopped talking.
‘AlI we know about the plot? And then you’ll let us go?’
Thurloe nodded. ‘I’ll see you safely back to Parliament and you can make your way out of the city from there.’
He loomed closer, drawing his face right up to the Doctor’s. ‘I must find Charles, Doctor. You understand that?
AlI we have laboured for will come to naught if he escapes us.
Now, will you help me?’
The Doctor nodded. ‘I’ll tell you all I know.’
Thurloe smiled and sighed with relief. ‘Excellent! I shall see to the arrangements at once. You shan’t regret this, I promise you.’
He turned and marched to the door. A sharp rap brought the jailer inside and then Thurloe disappeared in a swirl of black cloak.
Jamie jumped off the bed, shaking his head. ‘But Doctor we don’t know anything!’
The Doctor gave a mischievous smile. ‘Exactly. And that’s what I’ve agreed to tell them.’
A full gale was blowing now and the sky was as black as an old coffin as the Demeter and the Teazer struggled through the foaming sea.
Winter’s ship just had the edge, rounding the coast at a brisk pace, with the damaged and bulky enemy lurching behind.
Ben stood on the fo’c’sle, soaked to the skin as he peered through the spray towards the Demeter. He gripped the sodden rigging with both hands to stop himself from falling as the ship lurched and groaned in the storm.
Winter was at the wheel. Illuminated occasionally by a stab of brilliant lightning, she looked like a child’s nightmare come to life. Her ham like hands were fast on the wheel, feeling her ship rock beneath her like a twisting dragon.
‘She’s gaining!’ shouted Ben above the roar of the wind.
Winter did not respond but kept her eye on the approaching coastline. Ben could see a vista of black mud stretching from the water’s edge to the glorious safety of the land. If they continued on their present course, they were bound to run aground.
‘You’ll kill us all, you mad woman. We’re heading for the marshes!’
Winter pushed Ben away. ‘I know our course, sir, and I know that we will shortly strike the marshes. But so will the Teazer and then the Pole will have to face me!’
Ben shook his head. ‘There’s more to this than your ruddy vendetta, you know. I thought we were trying to trap them in the marshes, not us!