Part 24 (2/2)

The Doctor nodded sagely. 'Did you try it?'

'I got the stuffing knocked out of me.' She fiddled with a corner of the cardigan, where the grey wool was unravelling.

'I was so frightened at the house when you had that bad moment. I thought -'

'Huitzilin is three years dead,' he said. 'We have nothing to fear from him. No, that was a very different ghost.' He reached for the bedside table, where his cobbled-together machine was sitting.

Benny watched as he unwound a roll of paper from the inside of the device. 'Here,' he said. He pointed to a long line drawn by a pen that meandered over the paper, like an ECG reading. The pen had gone wild and wiggly at one point.

'That's the precise moment that I felt...'

Benny prompted him, 'You said, ”She's found the TARDIS.”'

'Yes. I told her I'd need the TARDIS in order to bring her back into this timeframe.'

'So if you find the ghost you'll find the TARDIS.'

'Hopefully before she gets curious again.' He absently rubbed his breastbone. 'I'm sorry, Benny. I a.s.sumed we'd find Jason, and the TARDIS, when we found Chris.'

'But I thought Woodworth must have the TARDIS.'

The Doctor shook his head. 'She doesn't know where it is. Leave her to M'Kabel. She's dangerous, Benny. A caged animal.'

'Yes, she ought to know all about that,' said Benny.

'What are we going to do with her?'

'You forgave Macbeth,' said the Doctor.

'Macbeth was a seventeen-year-old idiot when he dragged you to that house.' Benny s.h.i.+vered, despite the room's warmth. 'I don't like this. Bad memories. Too many ghosts.'

Isaac was coming down the wooden stairs when Benny reached the Pyramid. He looked grim. 'I've just broken the news to Myn Jareshth,' he said softly.

Benny grimaced. She put her hands on his shoulders, an abortive hug. 'I'm sorry,' she said.

'We shut them down,' said Isaac. 'Just in time, I suspect.'

Benny took her hands away, awkwardly.

Isaac went behind the counter and filled a jug with water.

'Does the Doctor often go about burning buildings down?'

'Grief, no,' said Benny. 'But I think even Time Lords reach the end of their tether from time to time.'

'Something you'll be pleased to know,' said Isaac. 'I had a phone call from one of our friends a little while ago. They drove past Jason's family's home this evening, and everything seemed quiet.'

Benny leant on the counter. 'I'm afraid that's what it'll be like when that b.a.s.t.a.r.d starts bas.h.i.+ng his kids, as well.

Peaceful and quiet. On the outside, anyway.'

Isaac said, 'Sometimes I wonder if we're fighting the right villains.

'You can't fight every monster,' sighed Benny. 'No one can.'

Joel was watching TV in the lounge when Jacqui knocked on the door. 'h.e.l.lo,' she said, as he peered at her through his big gla.s.ses.

'Come on in,' he said. 'What can I do you for?'

'I just came to talk to the Doctor,' said Jacqui. She held onto her handbag for support. 'Is he still awake?'

'I think so. He's in the first room at the top of the landing.'

'Thanks.'

Joel smiled at her, awkwardly, and waited until she was on the steps before he went back into the lounge. He was a nice kid.

She knocked on the door at the top of the stairs. 'Come in!' called the Doctor. She pushed open the door and carefully shut it behind her.

He was reading, wearing a pair of little spectacles, as if he was an old man. He put down the book. 'Jacqui,' he said.

'What can I do for you?'

She took Woodworth's gun out of her handbag. The Doctor froze.

She pointed the gun at him. It was heavy, and cool after sitting in her bag.

He didn't say anything stupid, which was good. He just sat there, waiting to see what she was going to do.

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