Part 19 (1/2)

'But, evacuate the whole town?' Brookes demanded. 'That's a huge undertaking, sir.'

'What do you suggest?' the Doctor's eyes were cold as he stared first at Captain Brookes, then at Colonel Wilson. 'Hang around for a bit to see if there really is a larger eruption? That will be too late.'

'We will need more evidence,' Wilson said. 'More than just your suspicions, Doctor.'

'Evidence?' The Doctor was incredulous. 'Evidence?!' he shouted, spreading his arms and spinning in a full circle. 'What more evidence do you need?'

'Colonel, the Doctor may well be right.' s...o...b..ld's voice was as drawn as his face. It cracked, as if he were holding his emotions in uncertain check.

'I'm sorry, sir. But I need more than that.'

'Then what do you propose?' s...o...b..ld asked.

Wilson considered. 'We'll try to keep everyone indoors. Anyone who wants to leave, may. We will help organise transport. I've already send a runner to Ambleton for more men.'

'We should be getting people out, not bringing them in,' the Doctor complained.

'So you say, Doctor. And you may be right.'

'But you won't know until it's too late,' he pointed out.

'I said I needed more evidence, Doctor. I don't intend to wait for the evidence to present itself.'

'What will you do?'

'I shall inspect the fissure myself,' Wilson said. 'I am an engineer. What I see may enable us to form an opinion. In forming that opinion. Doctor you may rest a.s.sured I shall take your own views your own emphatic views into account.'

'And then?' s...o...b..ld asked.

'If I believe it is necessary, I shall evacuate the town as you suggest.'

'You're wasting time,' the Doctor told him. He was shaking his head in a mixture of sadness and disbelief.

'I cannot act just on your say*so, Doctor. Whatever happens, or doesn't happen. I shall need to justify my decision to my superior officers. To do that, I need first hand evidence.'

'But ' the Doctor began.

s...o...b..ld put his hand on the Doctor's arm and interrupted. 'Then make all speed, Colonel. And good luck.'

'Thank you, sir.' Wilson turned to go, then hesitated. 'Where will you be, gentlemen? If I need you?'

s...o...b..ld looked at the Doctor. 'Are we finished here? Do you have what you need?'

The Doctor nodded. 'Oh yes. I have what I need now for our meeting with Mr Nepath.'

A yellow fog hung over the landscape. Everything seemed tinged with its effects. The grey of the dust had become a pallid amber as s...o...b..ld and the Doctor made their way up the drive to the Grange.

s...o...b..ld headed for the front door. He was still dazed, numbed by the experiences of the night before. Inside he felt empty, as if his stomach had dropped away to leave a gaping void where his heart, his emotions, his very soul sank without trace.

The Doctor drew him aside as they approached. 'Not that way,' he said. 'Let's try round the back.'

'You intend to break in? Again?' s...o...b..ld tried to sound censorious, but somehow his words were flat and noncommittal.

'Just a little look round. I like to start off at an advantage. With all the information.'

s...o...b..ld forced a smile. 'Some would say that was cheating,' he said.

'Well, I think it's about time we made some of the running. Even if it does mean cheating, as you put it.' The Doctor swung round suddenly, his eyes alive with anger. 'Look,' he demanded, 'do you have a problem with this? If so, then kindly return to the Rectory and leave it to me.'

'No,' s...o...b..ld said quickly. 'No problem. Doctor?' he added hesitantly.

'Yes?' The Doctor was off again, striding through the yellow mist, not glancing back.

'Whatever it takes, whatever we have to do, we must stop Nepath. I know that. After last night, after what happened to Betty...' His voice tailed off.

The Doctor paused, slowly turning to regard s...o...b..ld with large, yellow*stained eyes.

'You were right, Doctor,' s...o...b..ld said quietly. 'This evil must be fought. There is always a cost, and we have already paid too much. No more, please. No more.'

The Doctor stepped back towards him and clapped him on the shoulder. 'It is almost over now,' he said quietly. 'I promise you that. One way or another, things are almost done.'

The tradesman's entrance was unlocked. They let themselves in and stood for a moment in the gloom. The sun struggled with limited success to illuminate the house through misted windows.

The Doctor led the way in silence to the back staircase. s...o...b..ld recalled Dobbs's description of the events of several nights previously. He felt a pang of fear but no twinge of conscience as they made their way up to the landing. That was good, he decided. Feeling. He was feeling again.

And more than anything, he realised, he was feeling angry. He did not rile easily, rarely lost his temper, but inside he could feel the raw emotion swelling up, ready to burst once given an outlet.

'Let's start in here,' the Doctor whispered and led s...o...b..ld into a room at the top of the stairs.

The room was lined with display cases and cabinets. The Doctor closed the door quietly behind them and led s...o...b..ld to a case on the far side of the room.

'These are the copies,' he said keeping his voice low. 'Made from the reforming material, from the stuff Nepath and Urton have been mining.'

'This stuff is alive?' s...o...b..ld hissed. He peered into the cabinet, saw the various ornaments and figures. Some he recognised as religious figures and icons from his studies of the Eastern religions. At the back of the case stood Kali, swords raised, fire dancing round the figure's head. He blinked as one of the arms seemed to move slightly a trick of the misty light. Or of the moisture in his eyes.

'It is not life in the sense that you or I understand it,' the Doctor explained. 'Some sort of sentience, I'm sure. Nepath wants something from it and the substance is content to be used by him. For now. Until it gets what it wants.'

'Which is?

The Doctor shrugged, turning away from the cabinet. 'What does any living thing want?' he asked.

'Hope?' s...o...b..ld suggested. 'Salvation? To believe in something, to have faith?'

'To survive,' the Doctor said.

s...o...b..ld took a look back into the cabinet as he considered this. In that instant he saw the sword arm of Kali swipe down through the air as the figure took a lurching step forwards. s...o...b..ld gave a cry of surprise and took a step backwards. The Doctor turned quickly at the sound.