Doctor Who_ The Roundheads - Mark Gatiss [98]
The Doctor chuckled. ‘You don’t think a little elementary hypnosis is beyond me, do you? I knew someone ages ago who taught me. Of course, he was an absolute master...’
Jamie peered at Richard. ‘He’s sound as a top.’
‘Good,’ said the Doctor softly. ‘Then I’ll begin.’
He bent down in front of Richard. ‘Richard, I want you to listen very carefully to me. Everything I have told you, everything you read in that strange little book, was all untrue.
A dream. You must forget it. Forget it for ever...’
Bruised and in a foul temper, Captain Stanislaus stood by the wheel of the Teazer as his ship finally slunk into London.
The night was fine and clear now, the rich black sky sparkling with stars, but Stanislaus did not waver from his contemplation of the port and scarcely moved as his ship manoeuvred through the ranks of silent vessels already moored there. He did not look over his shoulder but could sense the blackened ruin of his cabin lurking behind him like the bones of stranded whale. The air was still acrid from the smoke and tiny fragments of his precious documents crumbled beneath his boots as he stood in silence. It was a miracle he had managed to get Godley and the Dutchman out of the cabin in time, but then he had not survived this long by being a half-wit.
And now Sal Winter had paid dearly for the damage she had inflicted upon his beloved Teazer. Soon, all those who defied him would meet a similar fate.
Footsteps echoed below and Godley emerged on to the deck. He grinned at Stanislaus’s sullen features and looked out over the water.
‘Come, come, Captain,’ he said. ‘Not mourning over the fair Winter, are we?’
Stanislaus’s mouth tightened into a thin line. ‘She was mine. You should not have acted as you did.’
Godley’s smile vanished. ‘Had I not, then you would be face down in the mud now, sir, or have you forgotten that?’
Stanislaus whirled round. ‘I could have bettered her. I know it. ‘Twas but a matter of time.’
Godley shook his handsome head. ‘Time was what you did not have, Stanislaus. My musket ball saved your skin. That is what you cannot bear to admit.’
Stanislaus folded his arms and stood in sullen silence. At last he sighed and, without turning to Godley, said, ‘Is all prepared?’
Godley nodded. ‘As soon as we disembark I shall make contact with my men. They will furnish me with the latest intelligence and we will proceed from there.’
‘And van Leeuwenhoek?’
‘Is below,’ replied Godley. ‘Readying himself.’
Stanislaus nodded. Then he started as he saw something approaching through the black water. He extended one long arm and pointed. ‘What’s that?’
Godley moved to the rail.
A small rowing boat was slicing through the water towards them. Godley frowned and then, in the flaring light of the ship’s torches, he recognised the passenger.
‘’Tis Arkwright,’ he said to Stanislaus, swinging round.
‘The man I spoke of. If he is coming to greet us, there must be something afoot.’
The little boat moved rapidly to the side of the Teazer and the rower, Arkwright, a thin, nervy creature with sparse yellow hair, hastily tied it up before hauling himself up the rope ladder and on to the deck.
He ran to Godley’s side and bowed deeply. ‘Sir, I bring great news.’
‘Well?’ asked Godley impatiently.
‘The King, My Lord, has escaped!’
Stanislaus’s eyes widened. ‘What?’
‘Escaped? How?’ cried Godley.
Arkwright was wringing his hands in excited agitation. ‘It seems there were others at work for His Majesty’s welfare.
They sprung him from Hurst Castle on the Solent. He awaits your presence now.’
Godley gripped Arkwright by the arm and whooped with joy. ‘But this is marvellous! Marvellous! How much easier will our task be with His Majesty free! As a focus for resistance he will be matchless.’
Stanislaus moved swiftly across the deck and called for the bosun. ‘Come, man! Get us into port and anchored. There is not a moment to be lost!’
Ben and Scrope were concealed behind a line of barrels just by the jetty where the latter had spent his long, freezing