Menagerie - Martin Day [61]
Zoe ducked down behind a metal pipe that stretched up into the ceiling. It was hot to the touch, and she hoped its heat would be enough to distract the creature. The twins flicked open a furnace door and dived for cover. She couldn't even see where Diseaeda had gone.
Despite the hammering of pistons and the roar from the exposed furnace Zoe could still hear the enormous whimperings of the savannah walker. A few moments later there was a squeal, and then nothing.
The creature jumped through the doorway, landing comfortably on its splayed feet. Its seemingly eyeless face scanned the gantries and machinery. After the chase its movements were now slow and methodical. It seemed to know that the small-bodied humans could pose no threat to it.
Zoe crouched down still further, listening to the tap of the beast's claws on the flagstones. She could not tell if it was coming closer or moving further away.
The noises stopped, and the crashing of the machinery became a terrifying silence. Zoe wondered if the creature were standing over her, gloating, its deadly claws gently reaching out for her.
Then the sounds of movement started up again, a few yards to her right. Through eyes half-closed with fear she saw the creature as it came towards the furnace, passing close to her position. It stared at the flames for a while, moving its head from side to side as if weighing up its sensory input.
Then the creature's head turned in Zoe's direction, as if it knew all along where she would be. It trotted towards her and extended its clawed fingers.
As Kaquaan had expected, getting back into the castle had proved ludicrously easy. Despite their other-worldly contemplations it seemed that even the knights were shocked by the sight of the smouldering Furnace. Jamie just hoped that this time he would be reunited with the Doctor and Zoe.
He followed Kaquaan through the quiet corridors as she sought to retrace her steps back to Araboam's quarters. After some time she came to a halt towards the end of a corridor of polished pale-blue stone and pointed to one of the two doors at its end. 'That's the one,' she said. 'That's where Araboam brought me.'
Jamie walked boldly up to the door and banged it with his fist, not really knowing what he'd do if there was a reply.
After a few moments he pushed the door open and walked inside. Kaquaan followed, closing the door.
'Let's see if we can find anything of interest,' said the young Scot, opening a small cupboard and rummaging through papers. 'Stand by the door and make sure no one's coming.'
'You can read then?' asked Kaquaan as Jamie scanned a number of frayed parchments.
'Aye, just a little,' said Jamie. 'The Doctor taught me.'
Towards the back of the room a full-height wardrobe had been set into the castle wall. Jamie peered in and saw clothing hanging from a rail and wooden racks containing polished armour and boots. The cupboard smelt of cleaning oil and aromatic herbs.
He returned to the paperwork, bundled into little sheaf-like piles. He had hoped to find some indication of concealed cells used only by the brotherhood, but realized quickly that he was most unlikely to find a detailed map giving away such secret locations.
'There's someone coming,' hissed Kaquaan, darting away from the door.
'Quick, get in the cupboard,' said Jamie. There was just enough room for the two of them, and not for the first time Jamie was grateful that he was by no means the tallest of the McCrimmons. He pulled the door closed and held it in position with one hand.
He heard the door to the room creak open and then close again. Footsteps scuffed across the floor.
Now then, Oiquaquil, there is much that I must attend to,'
said a voice that Jamie recognized. 'I have only just returned to my duties. What is it that you want?'
'Rest assured that I would not normally disturb you in the middle of the night but rumour has reached me that Himesor is dead.