Doctor Who_ Wonderland - Mark Chadbourn [32]
'Oh, I do, I do.' He gave Ben's wound a cursory inspection. 'That won't need stitches – you'll be over it in no time. And Polly, are you well?' She nodded. 'There we are, then. I gather you met a little opposition at Mathilda's house?'
Ben told him what happened. He was intrigued by the description of the deaths of the Goblin and his men.
'Witchcraft, you say?' He sniffed. 'I don't think that's very likely. Particularly as it doesn't exist.'
'Then what was it?' I said. 'What is this Colour-Beast?'
The Doctor raised a finger. 'Ah, now there is the question. But back to the matter at hand – symbolic communication.' I sighed; he watched me for a moment through narrow eyes before continuing. 'Symbolism is the secret language we use to communicate with our gods, with our own true selves ... and there are some who say that's one and the same. It is the language of magic, mythology, politics ... it's around us all of the time, but most of us are blind to it and to its overwhelming power to shape our lives.'
I slumped to the foot of the police box, inexplicably overcome with thoughts of Denny; I felt like crying. 'So you've broken the code. Whoopee.'
He seemed oblivious to my sarcasm. 'Consider: the Cyberman. What is he?'
'A bloody nightmare,' Ben muttered.
The Doctor tutted. 'In essence, the Cyberman is a man transformed into a cold, merciless killing machine. Then we have the Menoptra.'
'The butterfly-man,' I said. Something was tingling at the back of my mind.
'That is it exactly!' the Doctor exclaimed. 'From, admittedly limited, perception, it is a butterfly – a creature that undergoes a transformation from ugliness to beauty. And then we have a component from the master computer WOTAN ... an integral piece from a wider, malign organisation.' He held out his hands as if we were supposed to understand, then shook his head when all he saw were blank faces. 'This is leading us forward,' he said firmly.
'This is leading us into a trap.' Ben stood firm. 'Whoever is sending you these messages knows your mind, Doctor. He knows you're going to be intrigued.'
'And I am intrigued!'
'That's right. So you'll follow wherever they lead.'
'Oh, don't you be so sure of that, Ben,' the Doctor said sniffily.
Ben grunted, but he didn't look convinced. He sneaked a secret glance at Polly; I could see they were both still concerned that the Doctor's excitement would cloud his judgement and lead us into trouble.
Although I couldn't grasp what the Doctor was trying to say, those mysterious, unseen connections began to cause echoes in my deep mind. 'A man transformed into a ruthless killing machine,' I repeated. 'That's what's been happening with the kids who took Blue Moonbeams.'
'Of course it is!' he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
I looked at him for a long moment while he silently encouraged me to continue. 'The messages to you ... what's been happening in the Haight ... with Blue Moonbeams and the Colour-Beast ... and Denny ... There's a link,' I suggested tentatively.
'More than that!' he said. 'One and the same.'
'How long have you suspected?'
'Oh, there was never any doubt. Too much of a coincidence. They had to be connected.'
'Why didn't you say something earlier?'
He clapped his hands excitedly; it seemed I was already forgotten.
***
We again spent the hours of darkness at the all-night café, afraid that whatever had slaughtered the Goblin and his men was still roaming around the Panhandle. When we finally emerged in the thin light of a San Franciscan dawn, preparations for the Human Be-In were already well advanced. We made our way cautiously to the Polo Grounds where the event was taking place. Most activity was centred on the stage where roadies swarmed like ants, but there was already a steady stream of freaks coming in from all directions, in floppy hats