Doctor Who_ Wolfsbane - Jac Rayner [89]
„I should have slept for another thousand years.‟ His head was dizzy and he couldn‟t think straight. There was only one thing he knew now. „I want to sleep again.‟
If he would never see his home and his friends again, he could think of only one way of easing the sorrow. Better than this foul and frightening world was the place he‟d known for a thousand years. The place where he‟d slept, and had no worries or fears at all.
Somehow he pulled himself to his feet. One hand to his stomach, he made his way down the cottage stairs, and limped off towards the wood.
Harry leant on the TARDIS console, as the Doctor busied around, setting coordinates. His senses were slowly returning, and he gazed around the control room, taking in the gleaming futuristic surroundings that he‟d never expected to see again.
The Doctor was about to throw the final switch, whirling them back into the vortex, away from the nineteen-thirties and the approach of war, back to Harry‟s own time and place.
Harry glanced up at the scanner, taking a final glimpse of his near-prison. And then he yelled, „Stop!‟
The Doctor and Sarah froze. „Harry, what is it?‟ cried Sarah.
He pointed at the screen. A moving shape could just be discerned in the moonlight, walking towards the dryad‟s ash.
Harry darted for the door control, and the white roundelled walls swung back. He called out to Godric, and the lad turned away from the tree. He had a hand clutched to his stomach. „Harry? You‟re alive?‟
„Yes, I‟m fine. Everything‟s all right. What are you doing?‟
Godric smiled sheepishly. „I thought I was alone. I thought... I don‟t know what I thought.‟
For a second, Harry wondered if he should ask after the Doctor. But he was leaving now. If the Doctor had really done something terrible - something really terrible - then Harry preferred to remain in ignorance, to remember the Doctor, if at all, when he seemed like a friend and a good man. Godric moved away from the tree, towards Harry. His face was full of pain.
„Harry, what are you doing?‟ hissed Sarah at his shoulder.
He‟ll see inside the TARDIS!‟
But Harry didn‟t care. He hurried over to the lad, hand outstretched. „You‟re not alone. It‟s all right, really. I say, how would you feel about going home?‟
Godric‟s face lit up for a second. And then it dimmed again.
„I cannot go home. Even Merlin himself could not get me home.‟
Harry laughed. „Ah, but I know someone cleverer than Merlin!‟ And only a few moments after needing support himself, he took hold of Godric‟s arm and supported the lad into the TARDIS.
Godric‟s eyes widened, but Harry knew he would think it another wonder of the twentieth century, so far after his own time, or just something magical.
„This is Godric,‟ he announced to Sarah and the Doctor.
„He‟s from the time of King Arthur - no, don‟t ask. He really is. And he needs us to take him home.‟
Godric stared at Harry. „You were not jesting with me? You really can take me home?‟
Harry nodded, beaming. „Well, I can‟t. But -‟ he indicated the Doctor - „this man can. He‟s a sort of magician. And he really is cleverer than Merlin, you know.‟
The Doctor had raised an eyebrow at the intrusion, but nodded too. And didn‟t deny Harry‟s claims. „King Arthur, hmm? Always meant to pop into the court again. Lancelot was desperate for a rematch. I promised to show him a few little tricks with the sword.
Sarah shot her eyes to the ceiling, and grinned at Harry.
Then she darted forward. „You‟re hurt!‟ she said to Godric, gently removing his hand from his stomach.
He smiled at her weakly. „I thank you for your concern, my lady. I was pierced by an invisible arrow...‟
„He was shot,‟ said Harry, suddenly concerned.
The Doctor had closed the doors, and was now altering the controls once again. „Bring him through, Sarah,‟ he said.
„We‟ll see what we can do about patching him up.‟ He flicked the final switch. Outside, the lamp on top of the TARDIS‟s roof began to flash. „Wish I knew what dragged us off course in the first place, though.‟ Then he shrugged. „Just one of those things.‟