Part 9 (1/2)
In the midst of a calamity, what sort of individual would be so diverted as to enquire about the composition of a metal? Recognising only too well the impulse, the Doctor beamed.
'George Stephenson, I presume.'
'Aye, I'm Stephenson.'
'An enormous pleasure to meet you, sir.' The Doctor lifted a shackled wrist as far as he could and Stephenson gripped the fingers in a warm handshake. 'Would you be kind enough to undo these straps?'
Stephenson complied. 'Forgive me. T'were metal that took my attention.' This was understandable. The t.i.tanium the Rani had used was not known in the nineteenth century. If it had been, many inventors would have benefited. Especially George Stephenson who was experimenting with steam engines and would eventually design the famous Rocket.
'Run, Doctor! Run!' Peri's warning preceded her panting arrival.
The Doctor looked back as he slid from the trolley. Jack Ward and the aggressors were returning to the attack.
Intent on slaughter, they would spare none of them.
'Quickly, we've got to get away!'
'Follow me.' Stephenson hared off.
Drawn by the racket of the fracas, Ravensworth was at the breached pit entrance surveying the shambles of the battle.
Ripped from its hinges, the gate was beyond repair.
Already villagers were drifting in. Ravensworth knew he could not count on their loyalty. Understandably. The attackers, however demented, were their kinfolk. His pressing task was to secure the mine area.
'On the gate!' he commanded a guard. 'No-one enters or leaves! That's an order!'
A second guard was rubbing his bruises.
'Here! Take this!' Ravensworth gave him his blunderbuss. 'Round up all the able-bodied men you can.
Search the pit. I want every one of those scoundrels hunted down!'
A crowd of bystanders surrounded a sentry whose wounds were being dressed by Luke.
'How bad is it?'
'Can't tell, m'lord. Lost a great deal of blood.'
'Where's Stephenson?'
'In't forge. I were on't way over when I heard noise.'
'Find him. Tell him to stay in the workshop until those ruffians are under restraint.'
'Shall I finish binding '
' Now! Now! ' On the double, Luke obeyed. ' On the double, Luke obeyed.
'You!' Ravensworth summoned the drayman. 'Make yourself useful. Staunch the bleeding while I get a bandage from the office.'
He stalked away. The guards watched his departure. So did the Master. His simmering fury fuelled his determination to extirpate his rival. He must get into the pit before its defences were rea.s.sembled.
Handicapped by her costume, Peri had difficulty in keeping up as Stephenson and the Doctor fled through a haphazard muddle of buildings, wagons, stables and loading bays.
'Come on, Peri! Come on! We haven't lost them yet!'
A predatory holler confirmed the Doctor's declaration.
Their pursuers still had the scent.
In a grain store, they disturbed a furry swarm of feasting vermin. Peri gulped, closed her eyes and ploughed on; she tried not to think of the long skirt brus.h.i.+ng the floorboards.
They had almost reached the workshop when Luke blundered into them.
'Mr Stephenson, his lords.h.i.+p says-'
'Lift planks!'
Luke s.h.i.+fted a couple of planks at the rear of the workshop.
'Inside!'
Unceremoniously, Stephenson bundled Peri and the Doctor through the hole.
Scrambling in after them, Stephenson and Luke slotted the planks into their fixings.
The workshop's major exhibit was a prototype railway engine. Rough wooden benches claimed the rest of the limited s.p.a.ce. Jotted calculations and primitive tools cluttered their surfaces.
'His lords.h.i.+p told me to keep-'
Stephenson motioned Luke to silence. With bated breath, they listened to their pursuers thumping past. Only then did they relax.
'Somewhat unorthodox entry,' remarked the Doctor.
'Lord Ravensworth's notion,' said Stephenson. 'He thought we should be prepared lest the Luddite riots started here. Seems he were right.'
'Except these men are not Luddites,' came the Doctor's reply.
'They're not?'
'No. That's what you're meant to believe.'
'Then why did they attack thee?'
'a.s.sumed I was attending this meeting of yours.'