Part 43 (1/2)

And possibly Jason. Or not. The couple were arguing furiously in a corner of the coffee shop.

'We don't have time to discuss this,' Benny whispered.

'Albinex could arrive any moment.'

'Joel,' said Jason. 'He could look after him.' Keith was hanging around their ankles, coming out with the occasional 'Va!' in between chewing on a soft toy. 'It's not just you anymore. I don't want you facing the danger alone, okay?'

She took his face between her hands. 'And if we both get blown away? Someone has to stay behind.'

'I keep getting left out!'

'That's as it should be.'

'Haven't you done enough in your life?' He caught her hand, pressed it to his cheek. 'This one's on me.'

'No,' she insisted. 'This is my job. You don't ever stop being a companion, Jason.'

She pulled him closer and kissed him. The Doctor frowned, turning away.

'Now stay put,' Benny murmured silkily. 'Or I'll wallop you with yon frying pan.'

The Kapteynian flew right at the Doctor's face. He threw up his hands to protect his eyes.

She settled onto one of his wrists. 'Listen!' she said.

'Listen...'

'What can I do for you?' he said cautiously, lowering his hands. She looked like a small, perfectly formed human child, with great, glittering b.u.t.terfly wings.

'I want to go home,' she said. 'I sunburn so easily under this sun. We tried sunblock, but it gives me lesions.'

'Done,' said the Doctor.

The Kapteynian lifted from his hand, her wings beating languidly. She turned back and cleared her throat. He looked up at her. 'Thanks,' she said stiffly, and drifted away.

The van rolled up to Greenham Common. Joel threw open the door and jumped down. 'The anoraks have landed!' he announced. 'We're here to save the world!'

Jason looked around at the Doctor's team. 'Oh, great,' he muttered.

'I'll find Bridget,' said Isaac. He hefted his backpack and headed into the growing crowd at a run.

'How many women did you say would be here?' Benny asked the Doctor, as they piled out of the van.

'About thirty thousand.'

There were women planting trees, women attaching banners and pictures to the wire. They were singing folk songs, voices and guitars drifting along the curve of the fence. Later they'd be shaking the concrete pillars loose and snipping through the chicken wire with bolt-cutters.

No wonder Albinex had chosen today to make his move.

But if the Navarino could use them as cover, the cynical b.a.s.t.a.r.d, so could the Doctor's team.

Isaac came racing back, holding Bridget's hand. The young woman looked bewildered. 'She's going to get us in,'

said the Admiral. 'I've explained about our crazy pacifist friend who's going to try to get himself shot.'

'Right,' said the Doctor. 'Thank you, Ms Evans!'

'We'll have to nip around the fence,' said the peace woman. 'Come on!'

Roz took Chris, Ms Randrianasolo, two aliens and the ghost-detector with her. The Doctor reckoned that the ghost would still be with Albinex; the Navarino might be able to mask the drive of his s.h.i.+p from their scanners' but he couldn't hide her.

The Kapteynian had donated a small computer screen, grumbling, and the Doctor had attached it to the ghost-detector. Roz held the hybrid thing in her lap.

They'd let Chris drive. He was haring it down the A339.

The Ra'ashet was taking up two seats in the back. He didn't need a hologram projector; he'd done something telepathic, and suddenly he looked a whole lot like a little girl. It made Roz's stomach clench - if she squinted, she could just make out the scales and the scent of fish - but it was a b.l.o.o.d.y brilliant disguise.

The thing in the boot was too bizarre for words.

Ms R was sitting stock-still beside the alien, her eyes closed, her brow furrowed. 'Got him!' she and Roz said at the same moment.

Roz tapped a fingernail on the screen of her handscan.

'He's just come into range. At that speed, he'll be over the USAF base in minutes.' 'He's very proud of himself,' said Ms R. 'Very confident.

He's... leaving guards on the s.h.i.+p.' 'Those will be the Ogrons,' said Roz. 'No problem,' said Chris. 'We'll be there in a minute ourselves.'

Alekto

It was surprisingly quiet inside the base. Bridget led them across a wide, empty field of gra.s.s. They could still hear the chanting and singing, distantly, and the growling sound of engines.