Part 14 (1/2)

She shrugged, which was hard to do squashed like that.

Ms Randrianasolo scrunched herself down awkwardly to peer through the windscreen. 'Nearly there,' she said.

Jacqui craned her neck, looking out of the window past the Doctor's face. Suddenly the fence appeared from behind the greenery, and there was the main entrance into USAF Greenham Common.

There were women all over the place, pale faces peeking out of layers of winter clothing. Some were huddled around a big fire; others were was.h.i.+ng up at a card table. A huge banner announced that this was GREENHAM COMMON WOMEN'S PEACE CAMP.

'Are you sure you don't want to come?' said Jacqui. 'Men are okay in the daytime.'

'I need to get on to Newbury,' said the Doctor. 'I'd love to visit, though. I hope I get the chance.'

Jacqui, Roz and Ms Randrianasolo watched as Joel carefully pulled back out onto the wet road, gave them a wave and headed off. The morning rain was slowing, becoming a constant frozen drizzle.

A woman almost hidden inside a bright orange parka came up to them, smiling broadly. As she got closer, Jacqui saw it was Bridget. 'Hi Jacqui! Hi Ms Randrianasolo!' She gave Jacqui a hug, and reached for their companion's hand.

'Hi! I'm Bridget Evans.'

'Roz Forrester. Oh, s.h.i.+t s.h.i.+t!'

Roz grabbed the short, dark-haired woman and dragged her out of the way as a car skidded onto the gra.s.s. Jacqui stumbled backwards, b.u.mping into Ms Randrianasolo. They blinked at the car as it shot past and was gone.

Bridget looked up at Roz. 'Thanks. You okay?'

'The driving conditions aren't that that bad,' said the companion, peering after the car. bad,' said the companion, peering after the car.

Bridget shrugged, disentangling herself from Roz's fierce grip. 'You want a cup of tea?'

'How have you been, Bridget?' said Ms Randrianasolo, as they followed the short, dark-haired woman to the fire.

'Oh, I'm still high from the weekend before last,' said Bridget happily. 'The papers said we cut down about a thousand feet of fence, but I reckon it was closer to three or four miles.'

'That was good fun,' said Jacqui.

'It was brilliant! There were a couple of thousand women here.' Bridget looked up at Roz. 'Can you stay overnight?

There's a bit of s.p.a.ce in my bender, if you want.'

'We're looking for someone,' said Roz.

Bridget looked at Ms Randrianasolo. 'It's okay, Bridget,'

she said smoothly. 'There was a Swedish backpacker staying with us, and we think she got lost. We were wondering if she might have ended up at the camp.'

'Oh, right,' said the diminutive woman. 'Swedish? Okay, well, we can ask around.'

They sat around the fire while Bridget made tea in a billy.

Jacqui watched Roz watching the women, her cool eyes kind of sucking in all the details. One small group were making a shelter out of fallen tree limbs, bending them into a curved shape. A pair of women were joking as they dug up a patch of frozen earth, working on a garden. Military cars were driving in and out of the base, stopping at the gate. Beyond the fence she could see long, low buildings.

'So,' said Roz, 'exactly what do you do here?'

'Anything we can,' said Bridget, carefully pouring tea into a mug. 'Short of violence. We believe in non-violent direct action. Taking down the fence. It shouldn't be there anyway - this is common land. Blockading construction vehicles. Or getting into the base and painting the planes.'

'Painting the planes?' said Roz.

'Mmm-lunm.' Bridget gave Jacqui a smile and some tea.

'For a nuclear installation, the security is dead lax.

Sometimes we can't even find someone to arrest us.'

Ms Randrianasolo was rummaging in her handbag, as though she was looking for a tissue. Roz looked as though she was trying not to say anything because she didn't want to be rude.

'Okay,' Bridget said, 'right now there are, um, five camps, all around the base. And there's probably about a hundred women, plus visitors. So if n.o.body at Yellow Gate has seen your friend, maybe we could go for a walk around the perimeter.'

The Doctor became aware that Joel kept sneaking peeks at him in the rear-view mirror. He glared at the mirror, making the young man jump. But he didn't seem frightened, just excited.

'Do you mind if I smoke?' said Joel.

'Infinitely,' said the Doctor.

'No problem. Wow. This is so cool.'

'I wish Admiral Summerfield shared your enthusiasm,'

sighed the Doctor.

'Oh,' said Joel. 'So... what's it like?'

'What's what like?'

'You know.' When it became apparent that the Doctor didn't, Joel added, 'Travelling through s.p.a.ce and time with your companions and fighting monsters. Saving the world.'

'Hours of tedium followed by moments of sheer terror.'

'Neat!'

The Doctor smiled, despite himself. 'You'll be asking for my autograph next.'