[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
tales of hurtling through centuries to the Pyramids or to meet Napoleon him-
self. Some of it she hadn t understood. But when she did not believe, she
glanced out the window, to where a fifty-foot crater had been bitten out of
her back lawn. To where she had last seen that salaud François and his salaud
littleboy.
The Doctor sat at the kitchen table, peeling and slicing apples into a ceramic
bowl. Genevieve pushed another pan of bread into her oven. A hot, yeasty
breath blew out into the kitchen. She smiled and pushed the door closed.
What will you do? asked the Doctor.
160
She started tugging at her apron strings. I have my freedom now, she said.
I suppose I could sell the estate and go away.
She sat down at the table with him. Perhaps I will stay. I don t feel as
though I have earned the right to leave.
Earned it?
She picked up a piece of his apple peel and bit a piece off the end. The
explosion was an accident, n est-ce pas? I did not do anything.
Do something now, said the Doctor.
Genevieve gathered up the dish of apple slices, took them to the bench,
where a bowl was already lined with thick pastry.
Kadiatu ducked under the door frame. Genevieve stopped humming.
You d better have something clever up your sleeve, because I ve run out of
ideas, said the tall African woman.
The Doctor pulled a bag of barley sugars out of his pocket, unwrapped one
with great care and popped it into his mouth. It s going to take patience.
We ve got no time, said Kadiatu urgently. Now that these two are here
He shrugged his left shoulder, massaging it as though to relieve a cramp.
Not twice this day inch time foot gem, he said, as Takuan put it. An inch of
time is worth a foot of precious stone.
There was a dreadful mechanical sound outside. Genevieve went to the
window, clutching her bowl of apples. The Doctor s blue box was fading away,
like shadows disappearing in the morning sun. She blinked. It ought to be
extraordinaire, oughtn t it? Perhaps she would never be surprised by anything
ever again.
Where s it gone? said Kadiatu, alarmed.
Where the Ants won t be able to get their grubby little mandibles on it, said
the Doctor.
Surely they wouldn t be able to use your TARDIS?
No. But they might learn a lot by pulling the old girl to pieces. They know
too much already, they learn so quickly as soon as they try an idea they re
adapting it, expanding it. He looked at her. They must have found you
fascinating.
If you d just let them take my ship aboard . . . She raised her hands, in a
gesture that was almost pleading.
The Doctor shook his head. They suspected a booby-trap that s why they
sent the vessel here first. This way, they still think you re on their side.
Do they? How long will that last? What s your plan, then? insisted Ka-
diatu.
Oh, there is one, said the Doctor, I just
The back door creaked open and Ace came in, trying not to look ill. She
went up to the Doctor, holding something out. Are these yours?
161
The Doctor opened the little bag and let the marbles inside fall into his
palm. For a moment he stared at them in bewilderment. Then he closed his
hand, closed his eyes, a look of relief crossing his face.
Of course, he said. That was it.
162
Chapter 14
The Oncoming Storm
History is time s way of preventing everything from happening at
once.
(Graffito, Prydonian Academy)
They rode in the hay in Nicolas cart, with the top down. Twice they were
stopped. Twice the Doctor had a quiet word and they were allowed to drive
on. Ace grinned at Benny and said, The Force gives me power over weak
minds.
They bumped along cobbled streets, passed parks in which not one tree had
been left standing. A house stood in ruins, smoking softly. Some cafes were
still open, tired Parisians drinking coffee on the pavement. From time to time,
the Doctor shook his head. Paris, sa grand vale, he muttered.
They climbed out of the cart at Thierry s city house. Kadiatu paid Nicolas
while Benny plucked splinters from her clothing. There was no-one about to
give them strange looks, just the sounds of distant shouting and smoke in the
afternoon air.
I ll have to take care of some of Thierry s business, said Kadiatu. Make
yourselves at home. She went inside.
Are we assuming she s on our side, then? said Ace.
Oh yes. The Doctor nodded. She would have stranded herself, using her
vessel as a weapon against Ship.
How about us? said Ace. Are we stranded?
If Ship succeeds, he said, watching Nicolas trot away, it won t be possible
to be stranded. The barriers that separate one moment from the next will
come crashing down. All places, all times squashed together like a cosmic
blancmange.
Doctor, said Bernice, are you saying the universe will come to an end?
Nevermore a butterfly, he breathed.
Ace puffed out her cheeks. Best not to screw up then. She went into the
house.
Benny pulled something out of her pocket. She had to tug the Doctor s
sleeve to get his attention; he was peering into nothing, as though trying to
see something suspended between two molecules of air.
163
She held it up to the light. It was a gold ring, a wedding ring. It was in the
cart. Just mixed up with the hay. There were initials engraved on the inner
side. It doesn t belong to anyone we know.
Perhaps you should follow Nicolas, said the Doctor, without much interest.
I d like to know what he s about, maybe ask him a few questions. Is Kadiatu
qualified to fight monsters?
It s important to work out which people the enemy has sent to spy on you
and to bribe them to serve you instead. Said Sun Tzu. You don t trust her.
With the entire universe at stake, I m not sure I trust anyone, said Benny.
What about me? Do you trust me? His eyes suddenly pulled into sharp
focus, raking at her face. Have I been taken over by some alien entity?
You are an alien entity, said Benny. And your lack of a formal degree in
fighting monsters is adequately substituted for by practise in the field. I wish
you could tell us your plan, though.
Sorry, he said. This is something I have to do myself.
Benny grimaced. Surplus to requirements as usual. I can t follow Nicolas,
he s scarpered.
The Doctor pulled out a notebook and scribbled down an address. How d
you know? she said.
Written on the side of the cart. Off you go.
Off she went, throwing a worried glance over her shoulder. What had that
been all about?
How is Ship these days? said the Doctor. The roses on Thierry s mantle had
withered and blackened, hanging down over the side of the bowl. Long time
no see.
Kadiatu was rummaging through Thierry s desk, having wrenched it open,
snapping the lock with her fingers. It s a sick ship.
Not ship-shape?
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]