Doctor Who_ The Taint - Michael Collier [75]
She'd said the things were everywhere. That was all Azoth really wanted to know. Tarr could tell him that. What use was Sam Jones to them now?
He walked back towards the warehouse, a little smile of relief on his face.
***
Lucy found Russell staring out of the window before which they'd all gathered late the night before.
'Are you all right, Russell?'
He looked at her, and said nothing.
She saw that his eyes were red. 'Oh, you've been crying. Let me.'
She sat close to him, lifting the hem of her long dark dress and dabbing at his face with it. He was uncomfortable, being so close to a woman, and it made her smile. She pressed a little closer.
'Is it the maid?'
Russell showed no surprise that she knew what the matter was. 'Maybe. I don't know. Maybe it's everyone.' He breathed out, deeply. 'Maybe it's just me.'
'Whatever do you mean?' asked Lucy, lightly.
'I was getting better ,' he said fervently, looking at her. 'And now, I'm...'
'Now, you're best .'
He turned from her and looked back out of the window.
She smiled again, her voice becoming harder. 'You needn't feel pain, you know. Needn't torment yourself. It wasn't your fault then, and it isn't now.
'Again, she moved up close to him. 'None of us can be held responsible for our actions.' She laughed, softly. 'We're mad, remember?'
'No,' he said, but his voice trembled as she placed a hand on each shoulder. He let his head droop until it rested against the window pane.
'Why touch through glass when you can hold things for real?' whispered Lucy, slipping her arms round him. 'With us, you can have anything, and anyone, you like.'
Slowly, he turned to her. 'Anything?'
'Anything.'
'I won't be punished?'
'"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law," quoted Lucy, smoothing his hair away from his forehead, stroking the thick scar tissue underneath.
Russell opened his mouth in surprise, but she put her finger against his lips, hushing him. 'It's been decreed.' She grinned, lasciviously, squeezed his hand. 'And it's terribly naughty to break the law, isn't it?'
***
Performing some extraordinary manoeuvres with the Rolls, the Doctor weaved in and out of the traffic. It was beginning to get dark. He sighed, still feeling bad because he'd had nothing to offer that kind woman who'd car-sat for him, other than a paper dolly he'd made from a page in his diary. He hadn't even been able to find a clean sheet - the closest he'd got was one that some Spanish chap had scribbled on. What was his name?
Miró, that was it - old Joan...
Suddenly a bus pulled out straight in front of him, causing him to stamp on the brake. He sighed. On the back of the bus was an advertisement for Schweppes tonic, depicting a glass being bombarded by the fizzy water.
'My cup runneth over,' remarked the Doctor, drily. Then he caught sight of who was sitting on the back seat, and suddenly smiled in amazement. 'It's full. Score one to the optimists,' he added.
He indicated and stepped on the accelerator pedal. Dear Louis was right: sometimes, it really was a wonderful world.
***
With her senses still scrambled, it took Sam a little while to realise the car was honking at her .The man across from her gave her a nudge, and, recoiling automatically from the sight of legions of the Beast all over him, she turned to the window.
She blinked, slowly and deliberately. A Rolls-Royce was driving along next to the bus. Somehow, the Doctor was driving it while sticking his head out of the passenger window to get her attention.
She almost smiled. But, sweet Jesus, the things were clustered all over him as well.
'Next stop,' announced the conductor, and Sam piled down the gangway in her haste to get off.
***
Maria started as Fitz and his mother came into the drawing room. She wiped her eyes with her hanky, head down, though she knew it was a useless effort.
'You all right?' Fitz said.
She