Part 20 (1/2)

'Then I met you again in 1984 or 1985. You had just joined the force. We had a walk by the river, close to the old wooden bridge, and you told me that one day you wanted to be Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset, but that promotion opportunities were limited in the area, and you might have to move. And my friend Tegan slipped on the bridge and injured her ankle and you carried her back to the school grounds.'

Denman paused. 'The Doctor...?'

'And you said, ”If you're ever pa.s.sing, drop in and say h.e.l.lo.”' The Doctor smiled broadly. 'h.e.l.lo.'

'You look nothing like the Doctor,' said Denman.

'You've changed a bit yourself in twenty-five years.

Nevertheless, I am am the Doctor.' the Doctor.'

Denman returned to his seat and looked up at McMahon and Hill. 'Take a break for five minutes, lads,' he said and nodded towards the door. 'Actually, make it ten.'

'I'm glad you remember me,' said the Doctor as the two officers closed the door.

Denman reached across to switch off the tape recorder. 'It isn't going to help,' he said. 'I can't drop serious charges like these just because I've met you.'

'Those explosives were strapped around me by Kenneth Shanks. I was told to go to that club, or he would set them off,' said the Doctor.

Denman looked at the Doctor's face closely, as if searching for evidence of a lie.

'Knowing that piece of sc.u.m, I believe you. But...'

'Evidence?' said the Doctor sadly. 'Unfortunately, the communication device he gave me was lost when your officers arrested me.' The Doctor leaned forward. 'Hexen Bridge,' he said. 'Funny place.'

'Hilarious.'

'You know what I mean. Insular. Sinister.'

'Your point being...?'

'Are you sterile, Mr Denman?'

Denman looked as though he was about to hit the Doctor, and the Time Lord flinched. Then the policeman glanced away, clearly embarra.s.sed.

'I'll take that as a ”yes”,' said the Doctor.

'If you must know,' said Denman after a moment's silence, 'ever since I left Hexen Bridge.'

'Interesting, wouldn't you say?'

'I'm not sure I follow you.'

The Doctor stood up and put both hands on the table in front of Denman, his fingers spread out like a spider's web.

'The taint of Hexen Bridge is very strong. Everything's connected, I'm sure. The school, the cleverness of the children, the lack of other villages around it...'

Denman laughed. 'You'll be telling me Jack i' the Green is behind it all next.'

'What?'

'A village legend,' said Denman.

'Tell me more.'

'There was a ma.s.sacre.'

'When?'

'Seventeenth century. Judge Jeffreys and his black-s.h.i.+rts rode into town, rounded up every man over the age of fourteen and threw them into a pit in the village green.'

The Doctor nodded. 'I read something about this. Years ago. And Jack?'

'You don't talk about Jack in Hexen Bridge.'

'We're not in in Hexen Bridge, Mr Denman.' Hexen Bridge, Mr Denman.'

Denman paused, glancing around the room. 'Some say there's a force in the green,' he said at last. 'That he... it...

controls the village.' Denman stopped and shook his head.

'Stupid country legends,' he said.

'Someone was telling me about the hollow men earlier,' said the Doctor.

'Yes, that's another one. Scarecrows. Good stories to frighten the children...'

'Shanks is planning to wage war against you, you know,'

said the Doctor with another dizzying change of subject. 'I've seen the weaponry. Part of a huge consignment bought from a man called Winstone.'

Denman seemed unfazed by this revelation, nodding as if this was old news. 'With our beloved Minister of Defence acting as broker,' said the policeman. 'Of course, we'd never be able to prove his his involvement. He's the uncrowned King of Not Getting Caught. Trevor, on the other hand, we could perhaps implicate, with your help.' involvement. He's the uncrowned King of Not Getting Caught. Trevor, on the other hand, we could perhaps implicate, with your help.'