Doctor Who: Lungbarrow (42 page)

It was cool inside. The Doctor had put up his deckchair again. He sat and watched the new TARDIS console, apparently waiting for it to react. Or was he just admiring the antique rosewood and tortoiseshell finish? Or wondering how to make the thing work? 'Shut the door, Chris,' he said and waved a hand. 'Things get in.'

Chris pul ed an ivory lever and the door swung shut. 'Home again,' he said cheerful y. He picked his way through the debris that littered the floor and found a chair to sit on.

The overblown vaults of the reconfigured TARDIS dwarfed them. Wood and stone rose high in panels and buttresses, where once there had been the clean functionality of a white honeycomb.

'Home,' murmured the Doctor.

215

And it
was
like the Doctor's home. As if his ship understood the loss of the House and had compensated to fill the emptiness. Shadowy corridors, alcoves and stairways, a secret at every turn. Like being in the Doctor's head. Like his life, for that matter, the details of which were strewn like flotsam across the floor.

Chris wasn't sure how long he sat, feeling the purr of the TARDIS engines as they tried to ease his own aching heart. His head had cleared of other people's thoughts, guilt and stresses. In comparison, his own were easy to put in order.

He thought of Roz, of how angry she used to get, her dark eyes flashing, her expression dour for days on end, and laughed at how much he missed her. He'd already fetched her towel from the bathroom and put it in his bag.

Click... click... click...
The Doctor was turning his keys again, staring at a fixed point on the console... waiting.

'Where would you like to go?' Chris asked quietly.

The little man edged a sad smile across his face. 'Even more places than you, Chris.' He hefted himself out of the deckchair, took a few steps circling the console and sank backwards into an ancient armchair that creaked as it received him. 'Isn't it time you struck out on your own? Did your own thing? You'll have had enough of me by now.'

'No,' protested Chris.

'But...,' said the Doctor and waited.

'Well, I mean, yes. There
are
places I'd like to see.'

'I know there are.'

'Before I'm so old, they al laugh when I walk in the door.'

'Would they?' The Doctor sounded shocked. 'They never laugh at me.'

'Um...' Chris looked across and saw the Doctor's eyes twinkle with laughter in the depths of the armchair. He gave up. 'You're just trying to make it easy for me.'

'I do try,' the Doctor agreed.

Chris suddenly brimmed with love for this strange, all-powerful, irritating, little whoever, whatever he was person.

'What about you? It's even less easy for you. I should be there.'

The Doctor shook his head. 'Talk to Romana. She'l sort out the transport for you.'

'Yes, but...' Chris was flustered. 'Romana? You mean we're going back?'

'Three days here in paradise is quite enough, thank you. Besides...' His mouth twitched nervily. '...running away again? It won't do, will it?'

'Suppose not...'

'No. It never does.' He rose again, walked up to the newly antique console and briskly adjusted the ebony dials.

'Straight back to where we left them, I think.' But his eyes were full of tears.

'Doctor,' said Chris gently. 'You're crukking wonderful, you know.'

'I know, I know,' he said with a watery smile. 'And if I didn't exist, you'd have to invent me.'

***

216

Innocet, walking on the springy turf of Mount Lung with Leela and Dorothée, suddenly stopped and took her shoes off.

'Of course, they got out,' Dorothée said for the umpteenth time. 'They always get out.'

They heard a call and saw Romana running up the slope towards them. Beyond her, the homeless Cousins resembled an animated jumble sale. People and guards were moving among them.

'Help has arrived from the Capitol,' she said. 'We've got provisions and medical aid. We'll soon get the Cousins moved to safety.'

Innocet nodded graciously and fumbled with her shoes.

'And I've been talking to Captain Redred. He seems resigned, but I doubt the poor man understands what happened.'

'His Family wil look after him,' said Leela.

'They're your Family too,' Romana reminded her.

'Andred's Family.' Leela looked in earnest at the President. 'What about you?'

Romana tossed her hair and smiled mischievously. 'Quite a lot's been going on,' she said. 'You'l see.'

Mum's the word, thought Dorothée. But she kept her mouth shut on that count. 'Still no sign of the Doctor,' she said.

'He'll turn up,' Romana said. 'Always when you least expect it. As things stand, I don't mind if he takes years...'

The others threw her puzzled glances.

There was a shout and someone came galumphing down the slope to meet them.

Chris looked surprisingly clean and rested. Somehow he'd found time to shave and have a bath. And change his clothes too.

'How did you get out?' they asked. 'Is the Doctor safe? Where's the TARDIS?'

'The Doctor's fine,' he said after he'd hugged them all, including Innocet, much to her surprise. 'But he's had a hell of a shock.'

'So have we all,' said Romana.

Chris nodded up the mountain. 'Go up and see him. The company will do him good. And you won't believe what the inside of the TARDIS looks like!'

Chris watched the others tramping up the slope. Romana waited, suddenly looking serious, which made him feel awkward.

'Actually, I have to ask a favour, if that's OK.'

'Of course,' she said.

'Well, he and I have talked it through. I mean, it's not that I don't get on with the Doctor. I'll miss him terribly...'

'But he has been very much in your thoughts lately.'

217

'That's right,' said Chris. 'I think we've sort of needed each other. But now I'd like to strike out on my own. No ties.

You know the sort of thing.'

Romana smiled. 'Where would you go?'

'Well, for a start I've this friend called Bernice.'

'Bernice Summerfield,' said Romana. 'I've met her. She's an archaeologist. A rather good one. She could teach us Time Lords a thing or two.'

Chris grinned.

'If you like, I'll arrange a time ring,' she went on. 'But think first, Chris. Don't rush it. The Doctor might need you too.' She tapped his arm. 'Come on, we'd better join the others.'

Chris looked back and saw that a small and official party was fol owing.

***

'This is where our hermit used to live,' said Innocet, quietly as the company approached. 'The Doctor would spend days up here. It used to infuriate Satthralope.'

'He'd enjoy that,' said Dorothée.

'There you al are.' The Doctor stood up. 'I'd put the kettle on only we're completely out of tea.'

He looked exhausted and, although everyone stood around smiling, no one knew what to say.

'It's the shock,' he added quietly.

When he saw Romana, he produced the data extractor from his pocket.

'My House and Family,' he said. 'The essentials at any rate.' And he flourished a bunch of heavy keys.

'Good,' Romana said.

He passed the objects to Innocet. 'You're Housekeeper now, Cousin. Please look after these.'

He surveyed the group that had accompanied her up the slope. 'You've been busy, Romana. Are you still President?'

'Chancellor Theora?' said Romana.

A proud woman stepped forward, holding her labyrinthine hair sculpture steady in the breeze. 'Please tell Romana to come back to the Capitol, Doctor. Former Castel an Spandrell has spoken to the High Council in the President's favour. They are prepared to listen, if she will only come back.'

The Doctor eyed Romana. 'No doubt you have something startling to pul out of your Presidential hat.'

She nodded. 'Something monumental is happening on Gallifrey.'

'So l gather.'

She indicated a tall woman, robed in red. 'This is the priestess Charkesta.'

'You're the new Ambassador from Karn,' the Doctor said.

218

The woman made honour with her hands. 'The ages-long rift between Gal ifrey and our Sisterhood is healed.

There are many favourable portents.'

She turned and made honour to Leela, who had been busy sharpening her knife on a stone with her sound hand.

'Thought as much,' said Dorothée. 'I thought they'd know al the time.'

'Of course,' said the Doctor proudly. 'Curses can't last forever. Sooner or later, two people with the right potential were bound to get together. Congratulations, Leela. You and Andred must be very happy.'

'We will be when I have told him,' she said.

The Doctor bowed graciously to Charkesta. 'The Sisterhood's intervention is most welcome and timely. I hope Romana's grateful.'

The priestess nodded. 'Time moves in circles, Doctor. The omens for the President are also most propitious. Once again the female principle is restored to Gallifrey.'

'I don't think,' said the Doctor with a twinkle, 'that it ever really went away.'

Romana took a deep breath. 'The first child on Gallifrey in millennia. We must take care of you.'

'Not too much care,' said Leela firmly.

'President Romana?' said the Doctor. 'Is this why I was summoned home?'

'Yes, that's right,' she said very quickly. 'I thought you should be the first to know.'

'Then don't look so glum. Anyone would think it was something dreadful.'

***

He was sitting on the crumbling edge of a wel , examining a scarlet-winged fly that had landed on his finger.

'Don't worry,' she said. 'I discovered two more stashed away in a stable.'

'Kadiatu Lethbridge-Stewart,' he smiled. 'Always prepared for any eventuality.'

'Doctor?'

'Hmm?'

'You know what you said about me going to the Academy?' She swallowed hard. 'Well, if you want me to enrol...'

'Ace. . . I mean Dorothée. You are breathtaking.'

'I mean it.'

'I know. But only if you want to.'

She stuck her hands in her pockets and kicked a dead fish. 'Not real y.'

'Then thank you anyway,' he said. 'Just go on being Time's Vigilante.'

'Thanks, champ,' she said and gave him a long hug.

When they final y pulled apart, Innocet was standing a little way off, looking awkward.

219

***

They watched the Doctor and Innocet walking together on the mountainside.

There were no words to hear. Just the angle and movement of their heads. The pauses in their steps. A moment when they stopped to examine a flower together.

The Doctor went inside the TARDIS, which they had hardly noticed, standing among some scrubby bushes. He emerged a moment later pushing a battered wheelbarrow loaded with books.

Innocet reached out and touched the Doctor's arm.

The disgruntled Cousins muttered to themselves as the Doctor and Romana faced them. 'You tell them,' she said.

He took off his hat. 'Cousins of Lungbarrow, you will shortly be transported to the Capitol. President Romana assures me that you will be wel cared for and recompensed.'

'Not enough!' shouted several of them.

'Furthermore, the excommunication of the House will be revoked and the Family reinstated in the Prydonian Chapter.'

'What about our House?' yel ed Rynde.

'And there wil be a new House, restructured from the original template, but without the temper. Anything else I can do for you!'

In one movement, they turned their backs.

'Goodbye, Lungbarrovians,' he cal ed. 'Don't worry. I don't ask for your forgiveness. Time runs in circles. I have other families!'

He looked away across the slope to his companions. Close by, the Director of Allegiance was standing with several of his agents.

'If I keep my job,' Romana said, 'I'll have Lord Ferain suspended on a charge of misdirection of power. I'm going to have the Agency doors thrown open to Public Register Video for a full investigation.'

'What it is to have power,' said the Doctor.

'You'd know.' She grabbed his arm and tried to steer him away as Ferain started towards them.

The elderly man caught up with the Doctor. 'Has she told you why she summoned you yet?'

Romana scowled. 'Go away, Ferain.'

'Has she told you about the mission she's arranged?'

'I changed my mind,' Romana said. 'The Doctor's not involved.'

'What mission?' said the Doctor.

'To Skaro,' Ferain said.

'Cairo?'

'No, Skaro.'

The Doctor shook his head. 'Is this some new Skaro? Or the one that I destroyed with the Hand of Omega?'

220

Romana flailed her arms. 'I said it doesn't matter!'

Leela and Chris and Dorothée were drawn in by the sound of the argument.

Ferain stood smugly back while the Doctor and Romana argued.

'No, Doctor. I'll get someone else to go.'

'If it's the Master's remains, then I should be the one to fetch them.'

'It's too dangerous!'

'What could be worse than facing my miserable Cousins! Filling in forms with Lethbridge-Stewart? Lunch with the terrible Zodin. . .?'

Ferain said, 'But it's true. The Matrix predicts a ninety-six percent chance of fatal injury.'

The Doctor closed his eyes and said quietly, 'Then that leaves me with a clear four per cent margin.'

'Don't be so Otheringly flippant!' snapped Romana.

The Doctor laughed. 'You should see yourselves. The President and the CIA locked in your eternal skirmishes.

One side always tilting at the other.'

'That's how the balance of order is maintained,' said Romana.

The Director of Allegiance smiled grimly. 'It has been that way on Gallifrey ever since the Intuitive Revelation.'