Doctor Who_ The Taint - Michael Collier [47]
'In a very limited sense,' said the Doctor, increasing his pacing to the annoyed glances of everyone in the room. 'I'm not sure it has any awareness as such, just a programmed set of responses.' He stopped short, as if something had just occurred to him. 'Programmed... of course...'
'You're barmy,' said Bulwell, flatly. 'All of this is barmy.'
Sam stood up. 'It's going to get a lot barmier when you try to explain it all to the police. 'The others all looked at her. "The longer you wait, the worse it's going to be.' Roley and Bulwell looked at each other, then at the Doctor. 'I mean, come on, you've got a dead body upstairs and the people who did it having a nap before lunch time. I'd have a bloody good story worked out if I were you.'
She realised the Doctor was looking a little sheepishly at her. 'What is it?'
she asked.
'I don't believe we should tell the police at this stage,' he said.
'What?'
He came over to her, did his usual thing of holding her shoulders and saying, 'Sam Sam Sam...'
She shrugged him off. 'No! What are you saying?'
He was putting on his sincere face, speaking levelly in a low voice, urging her to trust in him. 'Whatever's happening here the police will only hamper my own investigations. I need to run DNA tests and brain scans on the patients here and -'
'Patients? You've changed your tune, haven't you?' Sam glared at him.
"They were cured people a while ago, and now this pair have turned them into loony murderers!'
'How dare you?' stormed Bulwell.
Roley's voice, though quiet, caught all their attention. 'She does have a point.'
'Charles!'
'Oh, not you, Maria, no, I'm speaking for myself...' He smiled sadly, wiped his beaky nose with a hanky. 'You're quite right, Samantha. I'm really not sure how I'm going to explain away any of this to the authorities.'
'It's them, Charles, they're insane.' Maria placed a hand on his leg. 'What other explanation do you need to give?'
'But think of the publicity all this will attract. Think of my reputation.' He sighed. 'What will people think of me if my researches have caused such...
chaos?'
Sam shook her head in disbelief. 'They'll think you should've knocked all this on the head a long time ago, and they're right.'
The Doctor spoke up. 'Er, Dr Roley, I really do think all this has got a little beyond the confines of your typewriter.'
'Exactly,' said Sam, pleased. 'Doctor, what about what happened to me last night? They're still out there. There's something the police could help us with. Don't you think we should be -'
'Later, Sam, later. One thing at a time.' He started pacing the floor again.
'Before we tell anyone anything, there are things I need to do.'
'Taken charge, have you?' sniped Nurse Bulwell.
'I honestly believe I'm the best-qualified to do so,' said the Doctor, earnestly.
Sam looked at him, felt her face flush. 'I'll just leave you to it, then,' she said, and stormed out of the room.
***
The Doctor watched her go, and sighed.
'You don't think she'd go to the police, do you?' asked Roley in a timid voice.
The Doctor looked at him gravely. 'Sam has a finely attuned sense of right and wrong, Dr Roley... but no.' He rubbed his chin, thoughtfully. 'I think she knows this is a bit of a grey area for moral absolutes. Don't worry.'
'Know everything, don't you?' said Bulwell.
'Not quite,' sighed the Doctor. 'Still. Ignorance is bliss, so they say.' He roused himself from his reverie. 'Now, I'd like you, Nurse Bulwell, to take a blood sample from Lucy, Watson, Taylor, Mrs Kreiner, Waller and Austen.
'A thought occurred to him. 'And you two as well, while we're at it.'
'Why us?' said Maria, suspiciously.
'For comparison, I'd imagine,' said Roley. 'You can start with me, if you like, Maria.'
With a final glare at the Doctor, Nurse Bulwell left to get on with it.
The Doctor crossed to the window, and stared out, apparently lost in thought. Roley sipped his tea. A few birds could be heard cluttering outside, a reminder of the comfortingly normal world outside.