Part 44 (2/2)

Rita leaned forward and gave him a peck on the cheek. 'Thank you.'

The Doctor looked fl.u.s.tered and embarra.s.sed. He stood up and held out his hand. 'We should go.'

Rita took it and pulled herself out of the couch. 'Where are you going to start looking? I mean, this building is huge, and someone's bound to see us sooner or later.'

The Doctor eased open the office door and peered out into the corridor. 'Act as if you own the place, that usually works. As for Mr Limb, well, I think it would be difficult to remain inconspicuous with an eight-foot cybernetic gorilla in tow.'

Rita's jaw dropped. 'Come again?'

Grunting with effort, McBride and Hark eased Mullen into the wheelchair. McBride slumped back onto the edge of the bed, clutching at his ribs.

'Either you're getting too heavy or I'm getting too old, Mullen.'

'You should be grateful. I've lost a lot of weight recently.'

McBride snorted, then realised what Mullen meant. He felt himself flush. 'Come on, we'd better get going.' He pulled a blanket from the bed and threw it across the big Irishman's lap. 'Davey O'Brien should be waiting for us.'

'Are you sure that the Doctor's going to be happy with all these People knowing about his little conjurer's box?' murmured Mullen.

McBride shuffled uncomfortably. It was true his plan to rescue Mullen had involved far more people than he had expected. Truth be told, he wasn't even sure he could just sit by and watch Hark and his snivelling a.s.sistant die if it came to it.

'I'll worry about that later.'

He waved his gun at Hark. 'Right, Doctor. Let's take our patient for a little walk, shall we?'

Scowling, Hark gripped the handles of the wheelchair and started to push Mullen across the ward.

'You're never going to get away with this, McBride. Even if you get past the guards, where are you going to go? London's crawling with Russian soldiers.'

'Why don't you let me do the thinking and you just concentrate on the pus.h.i.+ng, eh Doc?'

He followed Hark out into the corridor, and peered across at the lift 220 door. A small arrow pointing down was illuminated. McBride gave a sigh of relief. O'Brien had sent the lift back. 'We might just get away with this,' he murmured under his breath.

Relief turned to puzzlement as the floor started to tremble under McBride's feet.

'What the h.e.l.l?'

There was a shattering roar and the entire hospital heaved and shook.

The air fizzled and crackled, and fingers of blue lightning arced across the ceiling. Shelves collapsed, spilling gla.s.s and files across the floor.

McBride ducked as light-bulbs exploded' sending shards of gla.s.s showering down on them. Hark was curled up in a ball on the floor'

whimpering like a child. Mullen cursed as his wheelchair was sent skittering across the corridor and crashed into a wall.

The shuddering subsided and McBride edged over to his friend.

Mullen gave him a long-suffering look. 'And what in the name of all that's holy was that about?'

McBride shook his head. 'I have no idea, but I really really think it's time to get out of here.' think it's time to get out of here.'

Kicking debris away from the wheels of the wheelchair, he heaved it away from the wall, backing it across the corridor to the lift. 'I just hope to G.o.d that this is still working.'

He stabbed frantically at the b.u.t.tons. There was a soft chime. Mullen gave a weak smile. 'Luck of the Irish.'

The doors slid open and two invading soldiers stepped out, futuristic rifles raised.

'Oh, c.r.a.p,' said McBride.

Rita clung to the Doctor's arm as the shuddering and flickering lighting subsided.

'Hey, since when did they have earthquakes in England?'

'That was no earthquake.' The Doctor's face was grim. 'That was a dimensional tremor. There won't be a part of the multiverse that didn't feel that. It's started.'

'The end of the world?'

'Much worse.'

As if on cue, a long chilling howl rang out through the cavernous corridors of the Ministry of Augmentation. Rita tightened her grip on the Doctor's arm.

'I'm no expert, but did that sound like a frightened gorilla to you?'

The Doctor peered out from under the staircase where they had taken refuge. 'Upstairs I think.'

The two of them padded softly up the thickly carpeted stairs, the 221 Doctor abandoning all attempts at stealth now. Below them the few staff who were still working milled around now, spilling out of offices and chattering nervously. If anything, they were even faster than the people outside. Panic, Rita a.s.sumed. She wasn't even sure that they were aware of her and the Doctor.

On the landing the Doctor stopped, holding up his hand. Rita could hear the low murmur of conversation. The Doctor pointed at an open door, a long shaft of light spilling out across the floor. Crumpled shapes cast long shadows on the carpet. Rita peered at them, then realised they were bodies, or parts of bodies, strewn carelessly around like a child would discard toys.

She covered her mouth with her hand. 'Oh, G.o.d...'

The Doctor caught hold of her hand and squeezed it. 'Are you going to be all right?'

Rita nodded.' Yes...Yes, it's just...'

'I know. This will be over soon, I promise.'

Rita took a deep breath, straightened her coat and ran a hand through her tousled hair.

'I'm hardly looking at my best to be meeting the head honcho in this universe.'

The Doctor smiled. 'You look fine. Ready?' Rita nodded.

The Doctor linked arms with her and the two of them stepped through the door.

<script>