Doctor Who_ Warchild - Andrew Cartmel [140]
‘Creed has moved out, then?’
‘Yes,’ said Justine. ‘He’s found an apartment in town and he’s moving in with Amy.’
‘Blondes are always the worst,’ said Mrs McCracken philosophically. ‘But don’t worry. In a few years she’ll be playing volley-ball with those tits. How is Eve taking it?’
Justine glanced over at the sand-box. Not too bad. Creed still sees a lot of her. I’m not putting up any obstacles. And, anyway, she seemed to know it was coming.’
‘What about Cynthia?’
‘You probably have a better idea than I do. She spends most of her time with Lysette these days.’
Mrs McCracken nodded. ‘And what about Ricky? I understand he’s not going back to school for a while.’
‘Maybe never.’
‘Well, he certainly made quite an impression,’ said Mrs McCracken. ‘Apparently the kids are still asking after him.
What is he doing?’
‘He’s going on a cross-country trip with some friends.’
‘The Doctor?’
‘Yes, and our friend the Buddhist monk, and Jack.’
‘Oh yes,’ said Mrs McCracken. ‘He’s the nice man who can’t stand to see a dog tied up.’
‘That’s right. They’re all going to work together with Ricky to try and help him understand and control his power.’
Mrs McCracken peered into the galvanized bucket. ‘I’m sorry about this, dear, but the ice seems to be melting with ridiculous speed. You couldn’t fetch some more from the kitchen, could you?’
Justine rose and went into the house. She was opening the refrigerator when there was a sound at the front of the house. She left the refrigerator open and trotted to see who it was.
There, silhouetted in the front door, was Creed. And Justine’s heart leapt. She hurried forward, smiling. She hurried because she knew that he’d come back. Creed had come back.
He’d come back to her and everything was going to be all right again.
But as Justine left the kitchen the angle of the light changed and she realized that it wasn’t Creed at the front door at all.
It was her son Ricky.
Ricky hadn’t noticed her and he was on his way out.
Justine followed slowly as he closed the door. She walked to the living room window where she could see him step down from the front porch and head towards the driveway.
The Doctor was there, sitting in the back of an open-top car. Beside him was the big man called Jack and in the front, behind the wheel, was Chris wearing a baseball cap to cover the bandages on his shaven head. Ricky joined them, sliding into the front seat.
Justine watched the car as it pulled away. It was a natural mistake, she told herself. Seeing Ricky like that, in the uncertain light of the front door, he looked so much like Creed; it was something in his stance and posture.
After all, he was his father’s son.
Justine went back, got the ice from the refrigerator, and took it out to Mrs McCracken.
Document Outline
Front Cover
Back Cover
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39