Doctor Who_ Wolfsbane - Jac Rayner [76]
One man called out: „That don‟t be a werewolf - that be your cousin, Miss Newbugger.‟
George was ready with his answer. „Cousin or no, this is the murderer of my wife-to-be!‟ He turned to another pitchfork-waving man. „And your daughter, Mr Perry. And I‟ll prove to you all that she is what I say.
The blood was pumping faster and faster through Emmeline‟s veins. All her hopes were in vain, she knew she would surrender all her humanity, all her control to the animal within. Her fingers tingled with starlight and she could taste the moonbeams on her tongue. And as the villagers moved closer and closer, she felt the blessed relief as the silver collar was removed from her neck. She changed.
The Doctor and Godric were in the churchyard. „So many graves,‟ the Doctor said. „Human lives are so short.‟
They walked through the tall grass towards the edge of the wood. Godric jumped back at a rustling noise underfoot; the Doctor pushed back the stalks to see a family of tiny brown field mice running by. „Looking for a new home,‟ he said.
„Even nature‟s creatures are scared when she goes this mad.‟
They could go no further; the barrier was before them, as impenetrable as ever. The Doctor took a deep breath, and began to call for the dryad.
Harry stumbled out of the Doctor‟s front door, not bothering to shut it behind him - stable doors and bolted horses and all that. His head ached like billy-o but he was ignoring that for now. The only thing in his mind was finding Emmeline before anyone got hurt. Or rather, before anyone else got hurt.
The explosion of plant life meant at least that the trail was easy to follow, through crushed stalks and trampled grass.
And then, after a few minutes, he was able to follow the shouts and the screams, and knew he was arriving too late.
Yells of „Murderer‟ and „Kraut‟ - the second said as fiercely as the first, as if they were both of equal repugnance - echoed alongside the clash of metal and the howls and growls of a wolf. Harry glanced up, and saw the perfect white circle of moon shining in the sky.
The Doctor and Godric heard the howls and the screams from afar. The Doctor stopped calling for the dryad.
„The wolf is loose!‟ cried Godric.
The Doctor looked torn. „There‟s no time to go back.‟
Godric shook his head. „We must go back.‟
The Doctor looked over his shoulder, as if to see what was happening back in the village. Then he looked back at the wood. „Hester Stanton could cast her spell at any time! We need to get to her!‟
Godric turned to him. „They say the Grail can only be wielded by someone pure and good,‟ he said. „I may not think I deserve the honour, but the Grail has decided that I do.
Lady Hester may cast her spell, but as yet she has not. But back there, I can hear the sounds of people dying, and I know that with the Grail, I can stop it. I do not think I would be fit to wield it if I left them to die.‟
The Doctor did not appear convinced. „Sometimes you have to weigh the lives of the many against the few.
Godric shouted at him. „If I let them die, I will not be able to save the many!‟ And with that, he turned and ran. The Doctor stood staring after him.
The wolf had broken all of the chains that tied it back save one. When it had a fraction of mind and strength to spare as it weaved between the metal weapons thrust at it, it tore at its final bond. Soon it would be free, and these tormentors would feed its hunger. An arm that wielded a weapon got too close, and the wolf sunk its jaws into the bitter flesh, feeling the hot blood trickle down its throat. It only made it want more. All around the people were shouting, screaming, words that the wolf may once have recognised but did not now. It sensed a change of mood and thought it could just distinguish a new voice out there. The part of its brain that had once been human made out a few of the words the new voice said. „Stop.‟ „Leave.‟ „Alone.‟ And somewhere inside, the wolf realised who this fast approaching voice belonged to: Harry. Friend. Want.
And as Harry Sullivan fought his way through the