Doctor Who_ Wooden Heart - Martin Day [42]
Petr nodded, saying nothing, his eyes still fixed on the retreating monster.
Martha came over, trying not to look too closely at what the men were wiping from their blades. When the two men had sheathed their swords, they turned to each other – despite everything, there was still an awkwardness between them that spoke volumes.
‘We’d better get back,’ said Petr abruptly.
There was a drawn-out roar from somewhere to their right – it seemed the dragon wasn’t the only beast patrolling the forest. The cry sounded like it was coming from the insectoid creature Martha and Saul had encountered earlier; though currently deep in the trees, it was getting closer.
‘Not until we find Jude,’ said Saul firmly. His face was set and determined. He began calling out her name, his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice. His strong, desperate cries penetrated deep into the trees – and received only the bestial cry of the advancing monster in return.
‘You sure shouting like that’s a good idea?’ queried Martha. She understood Saul’s feelings for his daughter but, if they weren’t careful, all they were going to do was bring every monster within a ten-kilometre radius to their position.
‘She was here?’ queried Petr, the colour seeming to drain from his face. He had obviously turned up too late to see his niece threatened by the creature.
Saul stopped calling, his hands now hanging limply at his side. ‘She followed us,’ said Saul sadly. ‘Damn the impetuous child!’ Despite his harsh words, his eyes were suddenly full of tears.
‘She… disappeared,’ said Martha carefully. ‘One minute she was there…’ She sighed, thinking of the other young villagers who had vanished. ‘Whatever happened to her, it wasn’t the monster,’ she added, as gently as she could, though she knew it must be of little comfort to Saul.
‘And the Doctor?’ asked Petro ‘Where is he?’
Martha turned to Saul. ‘You saw the silver corridor?’
Saul nodded.
‘That’s where we came from. The Doctor went back. He can help us from there.’
‘He’s abandoned us,’ said Petr, a self-pitying tone creeping into his voice.
‘No,’ said Martha firmly. ‘The Doctor knows what he’s doing. We have to trust him.’
‘Why didn’t you go with him?’
‘I was worried for Saul,’ said Martha. ‘It looked like that dragon thing was going to finish him off. I couldn’t just leave him…’
Saul bowed before Martha, his gratitude wordless once again.
‘Neither could I,’ said Petr simply. ‘I had a sense something was… wrong. I came up to the forest and could hear things moving about. Creatures I did not recognise.’
Saul raised a quizzical eyebrow, but it was left to Martha to articulate his surprise. ‘That doesn’t sound much like you,’ she said. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful, but…’
‘You think I am not by nature a man of action and instinct?’ Petr glanced at his younger brother. ‘You are right, but I had a good teacher.’ A slow, sad smile passed over his features. ‘You know, sometimes I can hear Saul’s voice in my head, telling me about the plants, the animals, the web of life… Encouraging me to trust my instincts.’
Saul was preoccupied with the swords at his belt, studiously rearranging them so that he did not have to look his brother in the eye. ‘If Jude has disappeared, like the others…’ Saul sighed, a bleak note of defeat in his voice. He sounded crushed and resigned, as if the dragon had already stamped down on his body and ended his life.
‘Look, if anyone can, get to the bottom of the disappearances, it’s the Doctor,’ said Martha, desperate to offer Saul some hope. ‘Whatever it is that generates and sustains this world – he’ll find it, and make sure the children are brought back.’
Petr turned to look at Martha, his face grim. ‘Tonight, more and more people are seeing their children in the fog. The village is thick with innuendo and fear. If the legends are true, their return will only bring destruction to us all.’
Saul’s face suddenly brightened; it was as if he