Doctor Who_ The Taint - Michael Collier [64]
'Is it to help you find Sam?' asked Roley.
The Doctor nodded. 'Indeed. I'm hoping it can lead me straight to the lion's den.'
'But they could be anywhere.'
'Sam recognised them from last night in town. Fitz saw one of them from his bus. I'd say they were local boys.'
Roley nodded, gloomily, and went to fetch his keys. 'Don't you have your own transport?'
The Doctor thought for a moment, then shook his head. 'I'm going to be nipping about all over the place by the looks of things. Ill need something more conventional - I don't want to be too conspicuous.'
'And you want to take a Rolls-Royce?'
'Trust me.'
Roley handed over a set of keys on a leather fob. 'But what if something happens?'
'You're insured, aren't you?'
Roley pinched the bridge of his nose. 'I mean, while you're away!' He sighed. 'I've brought this down on all of us, haven't I? You warned me but I wouldn't listen, I kept -'
'Lessons like that can only be learned the hard way,' said the Doctor, sympathetic for once.
'But what happens now?' Roley knew he must sound pathetic, he couldn't help it. 'Where do I go from here?'
'Back to the drawing room for tea and scones?' Roley didn't smile, and the Doctor became more serious. 'You must act normally, Dr Roley. Make sure everyone stays calm, until I get back.' He thought for a moment.
‘Remember: Watson, the others - none of them have done anything wrong deliberately.'
'Watson, yes... You've singled him out, and you're right,' wittered Roley. 'It's as if he's become their spokesman or something.'
'Like I say. Keep everyone calm,' said the Doctor. I'll find Sam, where they're holding Taylor, and hopefully discover what they're doing here in the first place.'
With that, he climbed through the splintered door and left Roley alone again in the hall, wondering what he'd do if the Doctor didn't come back.
***
Lucy watched herself in the mirror, her eyes darting about over the image of her face. Every time she blinked, for a split second, she fancied she could see Davydd standing behind her, watching her.
She'd been right, she knew it. He would be the last. He wanted her, and she would give herself to him, take the evil into herself one last time. She'd been taught it wasn't right, that she should stop. That she could stop. She remembered the doctor who had told her all that, the one who'd shopped her, who'd said enough was enough and got her the Help. And it had helped, for a little while, helped the loneliness she'd always felt. Since coming here, since knowing Davydd and wondering about him, the loneliness had become almost more than she could bear.
But it could never be so easy as to do it once more and stop for ever. She had feelings for him. That had never happened before, and she felt it to be wrong. After all she had done, to feel this way... This way about him .
It was her last temptation. Davydd was strong, and getting stronger. He'd even told her she was beautiful, unbidden. He'd lain with her, close, not trying to take her, just holding and being held, as if that was enough. He'd shown her he was strong, how he'd gained freedom from the dead feeling that he knew ruled over her, too.
It had sat in her stomach most of her life. Deadness, unleavened promise, mouldering inside her. She was barren, it had been decreed, the doctors had decided. Too many bad angels crushed up inside her... It was their spirits, she felt, that weighed her down still.
She'd remained a child herself in so many ways, as if she'd known she would never have one of her own. And a child should trust, she told herself.
Trust in what was right. And if that was unclear, for whatever reason, well, maybe just in what felt right.
The brightness of her eyes made her head hurt. She didn't know what was right any more, and it was too tiring to try to work it all out. She only knew she had to feel stronger.
She put