Doctor Who_ The Taint - Michael Collier [21]
'When I was young,' she said, 'my father told me the night ate the moon when it was hungry, just a little at a time.'
'I suppose the night spat it out again when it was full, did it?' said Watson, drily.
'Of course. That's why they call it "full moon".' She giggled. 'My father regretted telling me stories like that. My imagination ran away with me.'
Watson looked at Lucy. She brightened this place up, even dressed in her endless black - a summer breeze around all this stuffiness. There'd been something about her that drew him in, right from the start. Suffering, he thought. A kindred spirit. Her wide face was porcelain in the moonlight and quite beautiful.
'Shadows are the same as the night, aren't they?' she said, watching him closely. 'You know, the way they swallow up things. All the comforting, familiar things, I mean.'
Watson looked moodily around the gloomy landing. 'Will you meet me here later?' he said to Lucy. 'Please?'
She arched an eyebrow. 'When?'
'Later. 'Watson walked away. The darkness devoured him too.
***
'Fitz, darling, you're going?'
'The night is young and so are we.' Fitz smiled sympathetically at the forlorn Chubby and raised his hat to Molly. 'See you soon, Moll.'
'Oh, sweetheart,' sighed Molly. 'Each time you go through that door I fret I'll never see you again. You simply don't visit me often enough.'
As they walked out, Sam heard Chubby pipe up, 'He can't afford to with your prices!'
Thirty seconds after Sam and Fitz had walked into the hazy night, Chubby made a less dignified exit, rebounding painfully off the railings outside at speed. They heard the fuss he made as he picked himself up, protesting.
'A million stories in the naked city,' said Fitz. He pulled at Sam's hand -
apparently anticipating her going to check that the man was OK as he staggered off - and drew back. 'And this one's just getting going.'
Sam gently pulled her hand away. 'Speaking of which, I should be getting going myself.'
The disappointment on Fitz's face was almost comical to behold. 'Why?'
'Well... The Doctor will be getting worried.'
'Call him up. I've got Roley's number.'
'I already have. Left a message. So he'll be expecting me.'
'And how are you going to afford a cab?'
'With stuff called money. I've got loads, look.' She waved some notes at him.
'And you let me buy the drinks?'
'Didn't want to upset your male ego.'
'So why start now?'
'Look, Fitz, it's been fun but -'
He lunged at her then, mouth open. Sam was so surprised that she was about to gasp, but Fitz's lips met hers before she could make a sound.
Suddenly his tongue was in her mouth. It tasted like an alcoholic's ashtray, and she wondered how long they'd actually been snogging before she pushed him away, spluttering.
'You kissed me!' she managed to say.
'Glad you noticed,' said Fitz, in a passable Sean Connery.
'You arrogant... tosser!' Her mind was thick with the booze and with annoyance at herself. She turned and stalked off down the quiet street. 'I'm going home. I'm going to bed.'
'The Doctor's bed, I suppose,' Fitz called after her.
She thought about letting it go, but she couldn't. 'No. Not the Doctor's bed, actually. My bed.' She paused, swaying slightly. 'Not some grotty old lice-ridden mattress on the floor!'
Fitz seemed unabashed. 'Hey, that's cool! I don't mind going to your place!'
Sam set off again in what she hoped was a straight line, back past Molly's and round the corner into what she hoped would be a busy street, but which turned out to be little more than an alleyway. She wavered for a moment before going on. She couldn't go back past Fitz: he'd laugh at her.
She wasn't even sure why she was in such a strop with him. He was a cocky sod all right, but -
Five or six strides into the alley she stopped as something moved ahead of her in the gloom.
'Is that you, Chubby?' she