Part 6 (2/2)

After a while, Bernice was left in a small room adjoining the one where the Doctor and the commissioner sat talking. It was cool and well shaded; the Doctor had said something about the Cantryans not liking too much heat or light. Few plants, but lots of paintings were dotted around, and Bernice flopped down on a large soft chair, sighing in comfort after the long walk.

After her eighth sigh (she was getting bored by now), Benny was pleased to hear a door behind swish open. She looked up expectantly, but it wasn't the Doctor. Instead, a Cantryan youth stood awkwardly, holding a try of drinks and trying not to look p.i.s.sed off.

'You look p.i.s.sed off.' Bernice swivelled her chair round to face him properly.

The boy stared back at her for a moment and then strode into the room with all the manner of someone desperately trying to give the impression that he owned the place. Benny decided that tact on her part was necessary and so stood up in greeting.

'Nice place you've got here, I have to say. Nice plants. Nice pictures, too.'

Evidently she wasn't getting anywhere. 'Nice wallpaper,' she added without thinking.

The boy sighed. 'What wallpaper? It's painted granite. Even a human can see that!' He p.r.o.nounced 'human' as 'hooman', and made no attempt to hide his sneer at the word.

Be pleasant. Be nice. It's his home. Benny tried to smile but his rudeness had clearly offended her jaw muscles. All she could manage was an exaggerated rictus grin. Gritting her teeth, she resisted the urge to knock his down his throat and took a gla.s.s from the tray. 'Thank you.'

The boy, like most Cantryans Bernice had seen in the tower, was astonis.h.i.+ngly slim. Orange skin that resembled bad sun-tan lotion was about the only thing that immediately struck her as vaguely alien. On closer inspection, Bernice noted that Cantryans only had three thick fingers on each hand and also noted the lack of fingernails. Her mind sped through her mental catalogue of aliens, but nothing came to mind to indicate anything similar about any other race she'd studied or encountered. Except Sontarans, she suddenly remembered. They only had three fingers. They'd also have shot her and the Doctor by now, so it seemed fairly safe to a.s.sume there was no relation.

The boy looked about fifteen and had bright eyes that somehow promised a far warmer soul than was being presented. However, it was his face that caught Bernice's attention. Etched into the skin to the side of his right eye, just on his temple was a rectangular image. At first she thought it was a tattoo or some such decoration but as she stared she realized it was slightly metallic; filaments embedded into a few centimetres of his face. It reminded her of a very complicated micro-electronic chip board, like those in the personal microfaxes of her time. As he pa.s.sed her a beaker she noticed that the first finger of his hand had a similar set of filaments embedded in it. She realized that it must have been these tiny implants that had been reflecting the light on the faces of the crowds she had spotted earlier. Clearly this was some kind of custom that she had yet to properly encounter.

Apparently aware that she was staring, the boy withdrew his hand quickly as she took the drink.

It's only a Neysc.r.a.pe,' he said.

Oh. Right,' replied Bernice.

He shrugged indifferently. 'I s'pose you're one of those Gaia humans. Don't like the cybers.p.a.ce net and refuse the implants.'

Bernice thought quickly. Oh, it's not that. It's just that we travel so much, neither the Doctor nor I have had time to - ' The boy had already turned away, presumably bored of her explanation. 'Oh well,' she thought and sipped the drink. Instantly she began coughing. The boy looked immediately amused.

'My apologies, Professor Summerfield,' he said without any trace of regret in his voice. 'The Doctor suggested you would prefer what he called ”the heavy stuff”.'

Bernice shook her head, and tried to speak. Her voice came out as no more than a pained whisper. It . . . it's no problem. Just a bit stronger than I'm used to.' She cleared her throat and took another sip. 'Not having one yourself?'

The boy shook his head. 'Liquidized Guntha guano is not a delicacy on Cantrya. I don't think I would like it.'

As what he had said sunk in, Bernice stared at her host, then at her gla.s.s and then back at the boy. Clearing her throat again, she gingerly placed the gla.s.s on the table in front of her. 'Very nice,' she lied.

'I'm glad it pleases you.' He was also lying.

'So. D'you work here all the time?' Bernice wasn't sure what 'work' entailed, but this youngster was the only company she'd had for a while. And however hostile, a bit of mental one-upmans.h.i.+p would pa.s.s the time so she decided she wanted to make the most of it.

'Yes. The man your friend is with is my father.'

'So it was your. . .' Bernice stopped herself, but not in time.

'Yes, my sister Damajina. We have grieved, so please do not be embarra.s.sed.' There was a pause before the Cantryan boy continued. 'We do not see many Tellurians these days. What is Earth like?'

'Haven't been there for a few . . . years,' she said evasively, thinking that such a straightforward question had to have a suspicious meaning to it.

'Have you been on other planets or in s.p.a.ce?'

G.o.d, this was desperate conversation! Bernice tried a smile. 'Oh, a bit of both really. I'm an archaeologist.'

'Oh, how fascinating. I've been to the Horun ruins on Phaester Osiris. It was boring.'

Bernice nearly gagged. The Horun ruins - but they were just legend! 'They found them! When?'

'Well, over three months ago, I think. It's been on all the newscasts . . .' The boy trailed off and Bernice realized her expression must have been pure astonishment.

'After all these years . . .' Suddenly she thought that she was probably scaring the boy. Poor sod, thinks he's in a room with a madwoman. Still, it wasn't her fault that the Doctor hadn't told her exactly what century they were in. 'Well, I'd like to visit them sometime. For once, the Doctor can take me where I want to go.'

'You'll be very bored. The place is just full of stupid people from the stupid Braxiatel Collection with stupid trowels taking three days to uncover half a stupid metre. A drilltech would be far quicker. . .'

'You heathen! The reason they're taking their time is to preserve what's there!' Benny was suddenly furious. Furious with this boy for his dismissive att.i.tude towards the Horun ruins; furious with the Doctor for not telling her what century they were in and furious with herself for not being there. She swigged down more of her awful drink.

The boy suddenly laughed. 'So it's true. You humans really don't have a sense of humour!'

Bernice looked in astonishment at the boy as he flopped into one of the chairs. 'Hey, relax, human. I was only joking. Well, about the drilltech - the ruins were boring. I only went as a diplomatic courtesy. My father was still investigating . . . my sister's death.' His smile had gone.

'Were you two close?' she offered.

The boy nodded. 'We were friends more than anything else. Jina was far older than me. She was a sort of archaeologist, too. Like you. I miss her.'

'You seem to know a lot about me. I'm afraid I can't say the same of you.'

My name's Damakort. They call me Kort. And researching my father's guests is second nature to me by now. I've been doing it ever since I could read.'

'You like it here on Io? With your father?'

Kort shook his head, suddenly sullen again. I want to go home. I'd even agree to see my mother. My father wouldn't let me. Said it was important for me to follow a diplomatic life.'

Benny shrugged. 'Seems a bit harsh. Isn't there anyone else here of your age to talk to?' Again Kort shook his head. 'There was . . . My father doesn't understand me,' he said after a pause.

'How many youngsters have said that over the centuries?' Kort suddenly went into another sulk. Benny wasn't sure if this was genuine or another sham. Oh look, if you can't take a bit of a joke, then there's no point in talking,' she said, as reasonably as she could. After all, you started this.'

Kort looked up and a smile spread across his face. I like you. I'm going to enjoy travelling with you in the TARDIS.'

Benny gaped. 'Now wait a minute -' There was a shout from the next room.

It was the Doctor's voice.

'We'll continue this conversation later,' she said, getting up.

As Bernice went through the door Kort nodded slowly. And smiled. Things were going well.

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