Part 14 (1/2)

Turning to leave, he collided with Luke in the office doorway. 'Ah, Luke, is Stephenson in his workshop?'

Luke answered without hesitation. 'Nay, sir.'

'I must find him. Is he at the forge?'

'Nay, sir.' Luke's laconic manner disturbed the Doctor.

'Did he give you any idea where he'd be?'

'Nay.'

Ravensworth, too, considered this unusual. 'Not at all?'

'Never said nowt, m'lord.'

The Doctor, who had been studying Luke intently, exited abruptly.

A bewildered Ravensworth glanced at Peri.

'Don't bother to ask,' she said, resignedly. 'I haven't a clue what he's up to.'

The Doctor's destination was the workshop. The taciturn replies had convinced him Luke was lying.

'Primed and loaded.' He referred to the blunderbuss tucked under Stephenson's arm. 'You're expecting trouble?'

'Likely as not. I've had message from Faraday. He's taken shelter in Redfern Dell.'

'Message?'

'Aye, he's been attacked. Now out of road, Doct'

'Luke. He brought you the message.' A statement not a question.

'How did thee know that?' Stephenson found this new acquaintance more and more unpredictable.

The Doctor, typically, ignored the query. 'Stephenson, it's too risky for you out there. Let me go.'

'But Faraday?'

'If Faraday is there, I'll bring him to you.'

Stephenson's resolve wavered.

'I promise.' The coup de grace coup de grace. 'You could finish a.s.sembling your modified steam bypa.s.s.'

'Well then tha' best take gun.'

'Thank you, no.' However, he did have a parting request. 'Stephenson I can't explain. But this is important.'

'What is't, Doctor?'

'Don't trust Luke...'

Luke was indeed a changed youth. jack Ward, aching from tiredness and unable to sleep, was writhing in the chair, yet his son regarded him almost dispa.s.sionately.

'P'raps sleeping draught's t'answer.'

'At least it would sedate them.'

Ravensworth agreed with Peri, but had no means of getting a medicament, short of sending to the town for an apothecary.

'If I had the proper herbs I could make a sedative,' Pert offered. 'Trouble is, I know nothing about the vegetation in this area.'

'I may be of use there. Somewhat of an amateur botanist myself.' Ravensworth selected a thick volume from his bookcase.

Accepting it, Peri consulted the index then flipped through the pages to the appropriate ill.u.s.tration.

'That's what I need. Valerian. Know it?'

' Valerians officinalis Valerians officinalis. Matter of fact, I do. It's an indigenous plant. Grows wild hereabouts.'

''Appen I can a.s.sist, my lord,' Luke intervened. 'Take Miss Peri to collect herbs.'

'Excellent idea. Just be careful where you go.'

Too true, Peri thought. She didn't want to b.u.mp into any of the aggressors who were roaming the countryside.

Lord Ravensworth had no qualms. 'Not to worry, young lady. You'll be in safe hands with Luke.'

'I were thinking of Redfern Dell, m'lord.'

'Couldn't have suggested a better place myself.'

The reptilian embryo's membrane-covered eyes stared fixedly from a jar.

'You saw the apprentice?' the Rani asked the Master, who had come post haste from briefing Luke.

'Yes.'

'He'll get Stephenson to Redfern Dell?'

'Not just Stephenson.' He shuddered with disgust as she topped up the embryo jars with a green, slimy glutinous liquid.

'Don't be enigmatic. It's out of character.'