Doctor Who_ Warlock - Andrew Cartmel [132]
The medical student lifted the glass rod again. ‘Come on now, love. Please.’
‘That’s right,’ said Creed, standing behind him with the gun. ‘Say please. She’s a nice girl and I think you should be polite to her.’
The Japanese boy was so scared he just sat down and shut up, his arms held high in the air, so there could be no suspicion he was reaching for a weapon. But the medical student seemed more irritated than surprised. He turned around, still holding the glass rod. ‘Look, this is going to end up taking all night. Just who are you?’
Creed smiled at him, keeping the gun pointing loosely in mid‐air, halfway between the Japanese boy and the medical student. Ready to go either way. ‘Maybe I’m the father,’ he said.
The medical student glanced over at the Japanese boy then back at Creed. He suddenly seemed to realize that he might have other problems than an unexpectedly long night’s work ahead of him. He put down the glass rod. ‘Do you want me to put my hands up, too?’
‘No. Take the gag out of her mouth.’
The student stripped off his gloves and carefully eased the tape away from Justine’s face. As soon as it was loose she spat the bolus of torn rags out, spraying saliva into the English boy’s face.
‘Steady now,’ he said. But his voice was drowned out by the cry from Justine. It was a primal howl compounded of vented fear and rage and joyous relief. It sounded like the first cry of a baby entering the world.
Creed was with her instantly. He hugged her with one arm, using his other hand to keep his gun on the boys. ‘It’s all right, you’re all right now,’ he said as she drove her face against his chest, soaking him with tears and snot.
‘I’m sorry I ran away from you,’ she sobbed.
‘Forget it. You’re safe now and the baby’s safe.’
‘How did you find me?’
‘With a little help from his friends, dear.’ Mrs Woodcott stepped through the open wall panel holding the Japanese girl in a hammerlock.
‘You wouldn’t believe this little bitch.’ She entered the room, pushing the girl ahead of her. ‘Keeps trying to escape. Just won’t sit quietly.’ She shoved the Japanese girl into a chair and gave a sigh of relief.
‘There is a theory that all the ills of the world come from people who refuse to sit quietly,’ said Mrs Woodcott.
* * *
Chapter 31
Canterbury Cathedral looked beautiful covered with snow. Shell felt her spirits soar as she looked up at it. The winter afternoon was just dimming to an early twilight. Shop windows were bright along the cobbled street, light flooding out into the cold air. Shell stole a glance at the man walking beside her.
He saw her looking and smiled. ‘I can’t believe I’ve pulled,’ he said.
His name was Jack. Shell had met him fifteen minutes ago in Marks and Sparks. She had been working on the till and Jack had come through with his purchases totalling £6.66 on her computer readout. The number of the beast, right there in bright green figures. Like a sign. Shell had stared at it a second too long, then looked up into Jack’s eyes. She could see what he was thinking.
He was thinking exactly the same thing she was. It was like they were synchronized. Soul mates. From the moment they met. It was destiny.
Shell had quit her job, then and there, walking out onto the street on Jack’s arm. Now she looked up into the eyes of this man. This man she’d already begun to love. This man she’d hardly met.
‘This is all a hallucination,’ he said. He gestured at the bright shops and icy street and the gentle powder of snow sifting down from the darkening sky.
‘I know what you mean.’ Shell said. Her heart was pounding with happy excitement.
‘No you don’t. I mean you are literally hallucinating at the moment. None of this is actually happening. It’s a mixture of memories and delusion.’
They stopped and stood under a lamppost, snow drifting down on Shell’s hair and making it glitter. Shell stared up into the man’s face and tried to read his expression. It was a strange blend of tenderness and rage. She reached up to touch that tormented face.
‘What are you trying to say, that I’m dreaming? That I’m not really