Part 20 (2/2)

' Is that good men do nothing,' the Doctor replied, completing the quotation. 'A simplistic notion but not without its own truth.' He was interrupted by a bleeping noise in his pocket. The Doctor took over his tracking device. The screen was pulsing to indicate the presence of the Xhinn.

'What does that mean?' the priest asked.

'The Xhinn are close. I have to get back to my laboratory.'

The Doctor stood up to leave, putting the tracker back in his pocket.

'You look for the answer there, Doctor I will pray to the Saviour for guidance.' He showed his visitor to the door. 'You know, Albert Einstein once said that science without religion was like a cripple.'

'He also said religion without science is blind. Goodbye, Father.' The Doctor disappeared into the cloud of smog.

'Goodbye, Doctor,' the priest replied.

Sarah was listening to the BBC World Service in the parlour at 15 Tabernacle Street. The smog was mentioned during the weather report but its terrible effects hardly rated a mention otherwise. There were no official warnings for Londoners to stay off the streets or take any precautions. The evacuation of East End residents was not announced, even though Sarah had been listening for more than an hour. She switched off the radio as Brick came into the room.

'No mention of the evacuation on ' Sarah began, but stopped when she saw the look on his face. 'Arthur, what's wrong?'

'Dead. They're all dead,' he said quietly. 'I tried to save them, I did. But it was no use. No use at all...'

'There was nothing you could do.'

'I know. Doesn't make it any easier.' He wiped at his eyes and took a deep breath. 'Mrs Ramsey says dinner will be ready in five minutes.'

'Thank you, Arthur.' Sarah smiled at him, trying to raise his spirits.

'You know, you and Mrs Ramsey are the only two who call me by my proper name. The only two.'

'It's no more than you deserve. You've got a big heart.'

Brick almost managed a smile. 'You need it when you're my size.'

Father Simmons stood before the altar, thinking about what the Doctor had told him. Could it be true? Were thousands of people dying all around him? What was he doing to stop the tragedy? Faith could be a great comfort, but too great a faith could make you blind to reality. Had that happened to him?

The priest dropped to his knees and began to pray.

'Saviour, you came to me six years ago and showed me another way. Guide me now that I may know your will. Tell me what you would have me do!'

Simmons listened, reaching out with his senses, straining to feel again the incredible light and warmth of the Saviour's love.

His G.o.d would never desert him in this hour of need would it?

The Doctor opened the TARDIS door with his key and hurried inside. All the way from St Luke's Church he had been tensed, ready to run if the Xhinn appeared. It was vital that he have the time to prepare for a final confrontation.

In the control room he checked the atmospheric display.

The needle was nearly through the amber and moving ever nearer the deadly red zone. One more day, maybe less, and London's air would be pure poison. The Doctor began sorting through the scattered circuits and wiring strewn across the central console. He would have to work through the night to have a chance of constructing his terrible weapon. He hoped against hope he would not have to use it...

Dinner in the Ramsey household was turning into a disaster.

Vera had cooked up a storm but hardly anyone was touching their food. Brick stared listlessly at his plate, Sarah couldn't stop thinking about Mary Mills and her daughters, while Tommy's mind was obviously elsewhere. Only Billy and Charlie tucked into their food with gusto, oblivious to the mixture of emotions around the table. Mrs Ramsey tried unsuccessfully to tempt Sarah with a slice of b.u.t.tered bread.

'Are you sure you wouldn't like a piece?'

'No, thank you Vera. I don't seem to have any appet.i.te.'

Sarah pushed her plate away. After Mrs Ramsey's diatribe earlier, Sarah was finding it very difficult to stomach the old woman's kindness. How could somebody be so nice yet cling to such outdated att.i.tudes? Sarah tried to remind herself that Mrs Ramsey's att.i.tude was still prevalent in this time and place.

Billy was first to spy the food going begging. 'I'll have your dinner!' He caught a vicious glare from Tommy at the other end of the dinner table. 'That's if n.o.body else minds.' After allowing a few seconds for others to speak up, Billy divided the spoils with his brother. Mrs Ramsey smiled contentedly.

'Does my heart good to see two growing lads enjoying their food.' She was less impressed with Tommy's fidgeting. 'I don't know what's got into the rest of you. That's good home cooking you're letting go to waste.'

Tommy got up from his chair and began pacing the room, like a caged tiger in a zoo. He lit a cigarette, decided he didn't want it and threw the unsmoked cigarette into the fireplace. His mother soon tired of the agitation.

'For goodness' sake, sit down Thomas! Some people are still trying to eat, you know.'

Tommy almost shouted at his mother but thought better of it. 'I'm going to the front room, if that's alright with everyone.'

He stormed out.

Mrs Ramsey turned her attention to Brick. 'What about you, Arthur. You've hardly touched your dinner.'

Brick looked bashful. 'I'm sorry, Mrs Ramsey. I'm just not very hungry.'

She patted him on the shoulder. 'That's alright, dear. Just finish what you can. Growing boy like you needs his strength.'

Sarah could stand it no more and followed Tommy into the front room. He was standing by the window, looking outside. A single lamp light was just visible but the street below was hidden by smog and darkness.

'You were right,' Tommy admitted. 'I should be out there, fighting for my people not waiting for others to decide whether they will help me.'

'You were right too,' Sarah replied. 'You've got to pick the right battles to fight. Otherwise, everybody could lose.'

'I can't see us winning tomorrow. The creatures are holding all the cards the smog, the old bill, those deathrays. What have we got? Two dozen men at most and some shooters. Might as well be pea-shooters for all the good they did against that monster.' Tommy rubbed the stubble on his chin. 'But if we're going down, we're going down fighting. Better to die on your feet than live on your knees.'

Sarah felt she could almost have been attracted to Tommy in another life, at another time and place. When he was vulnerable, he revealed a little of his inner self, the strength that drove him on and the genuine concern he held for this community. 'You could do with a shave,' Sarah said. 'How long is it since you slept?'

'Can't remember. Two nights, maybe three. Never been able to sleep well. My brain won't shut up. It keeps going over all the things I've got to do, like I've got to cram two lifetimes into every day.' Tommy closed the curtain and sat down in an armchair. He tapped a cigarette out of its packet and lit it. 'I always thought I'd die young, like my dad. He was younger than me when he copped it in during the First World War.'

Sarah sat down opposite him. 'You thought of having a family yourself?'

Tommy smiled. 'The lads are my family, I suppose. It's hard to find the right woman in my line of work, know what I mean?

Someone who understands '

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