Doctor Who_ Divided Loyalties Part 7

The man who was talking to him was about the same height as the Doctor - the real Doctor, the one Adric had originally met, rather than the one he had become. The Doctor Adric knew. And trusted.

The Doctor Adric missed.

The man who was talking to him was dressed in a strange long robe decorated with dragons and swirly patterns, and wore a straight flat hat, similarly embroidered. He was smiling, holding his hands outstretched, welcoming.

How can you help me? I don't need help. I'm fine.' Adric knew he had often been suckered into other people's plans. At least, he knew that's how the others others thought of it. But no - he always had a plan. He always pretended to go along with people, ready to switch back to the Doctor at the last minute. thought of it. But no - he always had a plan. He always pretended to go along with people, ready to switch back to the Doctor at the last minute.

But not this time. This time he would not play the fool. He would not give Tegan the chance to put him down in that oh-so-superior way she did.

He wouldn't need those pitying looks from Nyssa, who always said she knew what he had been planning, but still joined forces with the new Doctor and Tegan and a.s.sumed he had been fooled.

Not this time.

This time Adric would show them.

Good. That's very good.' The man's smile widened.

What's good?' asked Adric. I don't understand.'

Oh yes you do, young Adric. You understand very well. We are alike, you and I. Strangers in a strange land. Losers in a lost land even.'

How so?'

Suddenly the man was right in front of Adric, although he hadn't seen him move. He put his face very close, and Adric could feel his breath, smell how sweet and nice it was, feel tiny gusts of air on his nose each time the man breathed out as he spoke.

I, too, am from another universe, Adric. Born elsewhere and forced to live out my life in a place not my own. Oh I know you wanted wanted to travel with the Doctor and see places you had only ever dreamed of before. But the truth is, you want to go home now, don't you?' to travel with the Doctor and see places you had only ever dreamed of before. But the truth is, you want to go home now, don't you?'

Adric shook his head. Of course he didn't. He liked it here with the Doctor. If only he was still the the Doctor, rather than Doctor, rather than this this Doctor... Doctor...

Tell me, Adric, what happened? Who took away your Doctor?'

Adric was intrigued now. You understand regeneration?

Are you a Time Lord, too? Like the Doctor?'

The man smiled, and breathed out again.

Oh no, Adric. No, I am far more than just a Time Lord'

Who are you?'

I have had many names - my people are... were... weavers.

Spinners. Creators of dreams, Adric. But I got bored and left their tiny, insular existence and struck out on my own. Now, Adric, now this universe is my playground.'

Playground?'

Yes, Adric. Playground'

The man was no longer in front of him. This time he was standing to Adric's right, beside a crudely built robot, all square and grey, with huge round eyes, a rectangular slit for a mouth and clenched fists for hands.

And they were... nowhere. Certainly not on the Starliner. I don't think we're on Alzarius any more...' Adric murmured, looking around at the vast room they were in. He couldn't see exactly where the walls ended and the ceiling began. It all seemed to be one big dome, marked out with black and white checks - like that game he had played with Nyssa once. Draughts.

The man was on the far side of the dome. He started walking towards the wall, only stepping on the black squares, which seemed to enable him to walk up the walls, on to the ceiling. He wandered towards Adric until they were face to face - the man was hanging upside down.

Which of us is the wrong way up, Adric?'

You are.'

Are you sure?'

Yes.'

Why?'

Because...' Adric realised he actually didn't know why.

Maybe he was was upside down and this magician was the right way up. Adric looked over to the robot, but it was standing on a wall, at a right angle to both him and the... upside down and this magician was the right way up. Adric looked over to the robot, but it was standing on a wall, at a right angle to both him and the...

Toymaker,' the man said helpfully. Sorry, reading minds is second nature to me. I'll stop.'

He snapped his fingers and all three of them were side by side, the same way up. But Adric wasn't sure which of them had actually moved - the room had no horizons which would have allowed him to gauge this.

So, you don't need help, is that right?'

Adric nodded. Everything is perfectly all right, you see.' The Toymaker nodded slowly. Fair enough. If you do ever need anything, Adric, just ask me. Next time we meet.'

When will that be?'

Oh, that depends on the Doctor.' The Toymaker laughed. But to be honest, I think it'll be really rather soon. You see, it is time for me to get out my favourite toys. Look'

An ornate, lacquered table had appeared beside them. On it were four rag dolls, recognisable by their clothing. One doll of Adric, one each of Nyssa, Tegan and the Doctor.

You'll have to make a choice very soon, Adric. Time is not, as they say, on your side.'

And before Adric could ask what he meant by that, he found himself sprawled on the floor of the mess, back aboard the Little Boy II, Little Boy II, with Nyssa and Lieutenant Paladopous helping him up. with Nyssa and Lieutenant Paladopous helping him up.

You took a bad turn there, Adric,' Paladopous was saying.

But Adric just stared into s.p.a.ce, desperately trying to remember something... somewhere or someone...

8.

Garden City

This way, please.'

The American man led them through the meadow, clearly taking them somewhere. But where?

The Honourable Mrs Henry Rugglesthorpe stumbled over yet another clump of heather, trying to hold her long skirts above the grabbing stems. Beside her, the two children looked around them in bewilderment. Behind were the staff, equally amazed.

Mother, what is this place?' asked the younger child, a p.u.b.escent boy wearing a well-cut school uniform. How did we get here?'

Mrs Rugglesthorpe was wondering that herself. She recalled Eliza announcing that there was a visitor to see her - An overseas gentleman, if you will, ma'am,' Eliza had said.

Then the tall, bearded man had walked into the living room without being announced. He bowed slightly and looked at Eliza.

That will be all, Watkins,' he said quietly.

Only now did it occur to Mrs Rugglesthorpe that few people outside her own household knew Eliza's surname.

Why would they? How would they?

The man had settled into one of the leather armchairs and looked around him, as if he had not been in such a place for a while. And yet he carried himself as befitted society - he was no lower-cla.s.s jackanapes, despite his accent. A lot of Americans had settled here after the Great War, but many of them were either cheap labourers or kings of industry. This man was neither - he was... unique.

Your husband has been called away on a... a business trip,' he finally declared. It is my employer's desire that you join Sir Henry as soon as possible.'

That will not be possible right now, Mr...?'

LeFevre, ma'am. g.a.y.l.o.r.d LeFevre, late of New Orleans, now a hard-working servant to my most generous master. As, I am happy to say, is your husband.'

My husband,' Mrs Rugglesthorpe replied tartly, is a prominent backbencher. He has no master bar His Majesty's parliament. It is not allowed. Therefore I have no reason to believe anything you say, Monsieur LeFevre. Kindly leave or I shall have my butler call for the a.s.sistance of the local constabulary to have you escorted -'

LeFevre suddenly offered something to her - something that he had not been carrying when he came into the room and yet was now simply... there. In his hands was a long, thin box with a silver clasp. Chinese by design, she thought. Open it, please,'

he said. It will explain everything.'

Mrs Rugglesthorpe refused, naturally. After all, who knew what it might be? She was beginning to feel alarmed by LeFevre's presence when the door to the room opened. For a moment, she hoped it was Jenkins, or even Tom the footman.

Even Eliza - someone who could rid her of this bothersome stranger.

Instead it was Charles, her thirteen-year-old son.

Mother?'

Leave, Charles. Now. Call Jenkins to me'

But Charles Rugglesthorpe was fascinated by the object he saw the stranger holding out to his mother. As if sensing this, LeFevre turned to him.

Charles, do you know what this is?' He opened the lid and showed the boy the contents.

It's a chess set,' Charles said.

LeFevre nodded. A special set, Charles. Carved from wood from the Far East.'

It's silly,' Charles said. Look at it.'

LeFevre shrugged. Tell me what is wrong with it, Charles.'

Mrs Rugglesthorpe felt a chill run down her spine. She wanted to cry out, to run forward, knock the chess set to the floor.

But she couldn't move - it was as if she was floating in treacle. And yet Charles and LeFevre weren't affected. She tried to shout to Charles, but she couldn't draw the breath needed to whisper - let alone shriek.

All she needed to do was stop Charles touching the chess set - somehow she knew that was where the danger lay.

Instinct? Possibly. But her instincts had rarely let her down in the past.

Charles reached out. It's incomplete - there's only a white set,' he said.

Oh dear,' said LeFevre. Show me where the other pieces should be.'

Mrs Rugglesthorpe's last thought before she blacked out was to scream at Charles not to touch. But she was mute and he was inquisitive. And by the time his hand touched the edge of the chess board, her world had sunk into a cold darkness.

The next thing she recalled was walking through the meadow. Beside her were Charles and her daughter, Elisabeth Jane. LeFevre was in front and Eliza, Jenkins and Tom the footman followed on behind.

Not far now, my friends,' LeFevre called out. Just through that gate into the next field.'

And Mrs Rugglesthorpe noticed for the first time that he was not actually walking on the ground, but just slightly above it.