Doctor Who_ Amorality Tale Part 15

They want all of Earth and its resources to feed their endless quest for more worlds, more territories.'

Sarah tried to absorb all of this information. 'So, if Callum hadn't picked a fight with Tommy, none of this might have happened?'

'We might have been able to stop the Xhinn some other way, yes.'

'We got here two weeks before the crucial moment and still thousands of people are going to die.' Sarah felt tears rolling down her cheeks.

'I know, Sarah, I know. We want to save everyone but we can't.' He took her face in his hands and lifted it up. His thumbs delicately wiped away the tears from her cheeks. 'Remember what I said before? We're here to prevent a greater tragedy. We both have a role to play.'

She nodded, sniffing back her tears. 'So, what's our next step?'

'You need to go back to Tommy Ramsey's house. I'm convinced his part in this crisis is not yet over. But be careful, Sarah remember what happened with Callum. Not everybody is who or what they seem to be.'

'That's alright we developed a test for finding the Xhinn.

They don't like flames or fire.' Sarah explained about the severed arm. 'The Xhinn don't just use their external scouts to carry out their plans. They employ unwitting collaborators to do their bidding, people who do not realise they will be betraying their own species,' the Doctor warned. 'Trust no-one.'

Sarah nodded. 'What will you be doing?'

'Trying to avert any more deaths. I'm going to tell the Xhinn to leave Earth alone or suffer the consequences.'

'How will you find them?'

'Finding them will be the easy part.' The Doctor pointed to his handheld tracking device. 'The smog is being controlled by Xhinn technology. This device should enable me to track the source of that control. Convincing the Xhinn they should leave now will be the hard part.'

'But how can you stop them?'

The Doctor tapped the side of his nose. 'That's my little secret better you don't know. Let's just say I haven't been wasting my time here in the TARDIS.'

Sarah fetched a new coat and scarf from her bedroom.

Before leaving she said goodbye to the Doctor. 'Please be careful. I don't want to be trapped in 1952 these shoes are killing me!'

He smiled and watched her go. 'Goodbye, Sarah,' he said to himself, the smile fading from his features. 'Good luck.'

Frank Kelly had never been a hard worker. He spent the war avoiding active duty with a series of mysterious illnesses. These helped earn him a medical discharge and small pension once the fighting was over. Most of that went on beer and betting. When he wasn't supporting his local bookmaker, Frank liked to eye up the barmaid in the neighbouring pub.

He had only married Rose because she was pregnant and named him as the guilty party. Her father turned up with a shotgun and a marriage licence. Two days later Frank was on honeymoon in Eastbourne, his feet having hardly touched the ground. Two months later Rose had a miscarriage. She wanted to try for another baby but he was having none of it. He had been blind drunk the night she first surrendered to his charms.

Once he sobered up, Frank decided the slightly overweight, pleasant-faced Rose wasn't to his taste. But he couldn't escape the marriage. Rose was a fervent Catholic and would not countenance divorce. So they stayed together, hating each other more as each day pa.s.sed.

Rose put all her energies into the little boarding house, trying to make it a home away from home for the guests. Mostly they were travelling salesmen, or families evicted after missing rent payments. The Kellys were luckier than most. They actually owned their house, a rarity in this part of London. Rose's father had given it to them as a wedding present. She was turning the business into a going concern. They certainly couldn't have survived on the military pension or the pittance Frank earned helping at the local market.

When the weather was bad like this, Frank stayed in the front room, always in the chair nearest the fire. Rose bustled around cooking meals for the boarders or washing the bed linen.

She was arranging sheets to dry in front of the fire when a Black Maria police van pulled up outside the house in Great Sutton Street.

'Who could that be?' Rose wondered. She was about to peer out the curtains when a heavy banging rattled the front door.

The little woman glared at her indolent husband. 'What have you been up to, Frank Kelly? If that's the old bill I'll have your guts for garters!'

He protested his innocence. 'I ain't been out of this house in three days and you know it, woman!' He always called her woman, never Rose. Any trace of affection between them had worn away years ago. He shifted in his seat before settling down again to gaze into the fire.

'Well, you could at least get off your fat b.u.m and answer the door! It'll be more than you've done round this place for months!' Rose put her hands on her hips, exasperated at Frank's laziness. But he just ignored her, as always.

The front door took another battering from the impatient visitor. Rose looked to the ceiling for guidance. 'Lord, save us all from lazy, good for nothing, bone idle men!' She stomped to the front door and opened it. 'Yes, what do you '

Sergeant Diggle was standing outside, his truncheon raised to start knocking again. 'Good morning, madam. Could you tell me how many people there are in the house?'

'Just me and Frank me husband,' Rose replied. 'Normally we'd expect to have boarders but this weather is terrible for driving off any casual trade. Is something wrong?' She feared the worst, as always. Frank had a habit of acquiring misplaced goods from dubious salesmen in pub bars. Any police search of the boarding house would probably fund enough evidence to lock both of them away for many, many months.

'We're evacuating everyone from the local area, due to the inclement weather,' the policeman explained. 'The authorities believe this smog could pose a health risk to residents, especially in the East End. We've been asked to move people to a holding area. From there you'll be taken outside the city.'

'Like the kiddies during the war?'

'Something like that, yes madam.'

Rose smiled excitedly. She had never been out of London, never been further than the West End. A free trip to the countryside sounded like just the tonic she needed. But a worry was hampering her happiness.

'What can we take with us? I don't want anyone breaking in and stealing all our valuables.'

Sergeant Diggle smiled. 'Don't worry, madam. Everybody is being evacuated over the next few days, so that shouldn't be a problem. As a safeguard, we shall have a constable on every street corner to stop any looters or criminals from taking advantage of this situation.'

Rose turned to shout along the hallway. 'You hear that, Frank? We're being evacuated to the countryside! The police think the smog's not safe.'

She was rewarded with a grunt of disinterest. Rose rolled her eyes at the policeman. 'How long have we got to pack?'

'Actually madam, the van is ready to leave now. We need to get everyone out of this street in the next few minutes.' He pointed at a Black Maria parked in front of the boarding house.

Through the mist Rose could see several of her neighbours being helped up on the back of the vehicle.

'But I need to take some things a night dress, my jewellery,' she protested, one hand reaching for her neck. Frank had only ever given Rose one gift in all their time together, a pearl necklace he claimed to have found on the street.

She wore it whenever she was expecting guests, or on the rare occasions she got out of the house. She couldn't leave without the necklace.

'You'll be provided with food and clothing at the holding area. If you lock up the house securely, your valuables will still be here when you get back.'

Frank had finally pulled himself out of the armchair and joined his wife at the front door. 'Valuables? What's all this about valuables?'

Rose looked at her husband with worried eyes. 'We have to go now. The policemen want us to leave everything behind.'

'That can't be right, can it?' Frank looked at the sergeant with suspicion. He had a natural distrust of the police anyway but this seemed too sudden. Since when did the authorities care what happened to the residents of Great Sutton Street? All the local people had felt was neglect and contempt.

'Yes, sir. You have to leave now,' Sergeant Diggle insisted.

'What if I don't want to leave? This is my home! I own this house, you know I don't just rent it like most round here,'

Frank insisted, neglecting to mention the property was registered in his wife's name.

'It will still be here when you get back.'

'Well when's that?'

'Probably only a few days, once the fog's cleared away.' The sergeant gestured towards the van. All the other residents had been loaded into the back of it now. Everyone was waiting for the Kellys.

Rose made up her mind. 'Alright, we're coming.' She got her coat down from its hook in the hallway and pulled it around herself. Frank got the front door key from under the mat and locked the boarding house. They clambered into the back of the vehicle, Rose pushed up by Sergeant Diggle. He slammed the door shut after her and locked it tightly. The policeman slapped the back of the van twice with his hand.

'Alright, this one's full move it out!'

Rose peered out the vehicle as it pulled away from her home.

How long before I come back, she wondered before her mind moved on to more exciting thoughts. 'Where do you think we're being evacuated to?' she asked Frank.

Her husband almost smiled. 'Somewhere sunny and warm, I hope!'

That brought a laugh from everyone.

A white Rolls Royce pulled up outside 15 Tabernacle Street. The driver got out and strode briskly around the vehicle to open the rear pa.s.senger's door. Out stepped Steve MacMa.n.u.s, his camel-hair coat pulled tightly around himself. He was wearing a brown felt hat and a matching camel-hair scarf wrapped around his face.

Two men in black greatcoats also emerged from the back of the car, their identical faces dull and impa.s.sive.

MacMa.n.u.s knocked sharply on the front door of number 15.

Tommy Ramsey opened the door and welcomed his rival into the house. MacMa.n.u.s looked back at his driver. 'Barry, you better stay in the car. Don't want one of the local toerags taking a fancy to it now, do we?'

The driver nodded his agreement and returned to his seat, grateful to close the door and escape the smog. The trip into the East End had been long and painful. The combination of soot and mist plastered the windscreen like paint, resisting all attempts to keep the gla.s.s clear. Thank goodness for the car's heating system which helped keep them all warm on the difficult journey.

MacMa.n.u.s stepped inside, followed by his two lieutenants.

'This is James and John, my offsiders. They help keep the peace.'

Tommy gave a grudging agreement. 'They can wait in the front room with the other bodyguards. The meeting is just between the top men from each firm. The fewer people talking, the quicker we get this done.'

MacMa.n.u.s nodded, shrugging off his coat, hat and scarf.

Tommy hung them up in the hallway. 'Who else is here?'

'Fingers Blake from the docks and Stratford Simon. I was expecting more but this weather...' Tommy shrugged helplessly.

'I know, it was a nightmare getting here. Got any brandy?

That smog was getting into my bones on the journey.' Tommy led MacMa.n.u.s upstairs to the front room, where the others were waiting. Fingers Blake was a thin, red-haired man with freckles and nervous hands. Stratford Simon was an overweight, hairless lump with bloodshot eyes and a surly mouth. Mrs Ramsey appeared and offered the new arrivals a cup of tea.

'I'm getting them something stronger,' Tommy said, nearly blushing.

'Still living with your Mum, eh?' MacMa.n.u.s hissed once she had gone, trying to goad his rival into doing something stupid.

Tommy just smiled. 'Least I got one. Heard they found yours in a dustcart.'

Fingers Blake stepped between the two men, pushing them apart. 'Alright, alright, you two. We've exchanged enough unpleasantries for one day. I thought we were here to talk some business. Shall we get started?' Tommy and MacMa.n.u.s agreed, still glaring at each other. Tommy signalled to Jack, who was standing up by the door.

'Jack, will you show our distinguished guests to the dining room? We'll be having the meeting in there. Everybody else can wait here together.' He looked round the room at the half dozen burly bodyguards gathered. 'Quietly.' As the gang bosses filed out, Tommy whispered into Jack's ear. 'Where's Sarah? She's supposed to be here!'

'What do you care?' Jack asked, genuinely surprised.

Tommy grabbed his second-in-command by the collar. 'I'll deal with you later, my lad, just make sure nothing happens in here, alright?'

Jack nodded vigorously. 'I'll let you know when Sarah returns.'

'You do that.'

Sarah was still some distance from Tabernacle Street, trying to grope her way back to the Ramsey house. The smog was thickening, just as the Doctor had predicted. By now she could hardly see her hand if she stretched her arm out in the front. The air was sickly yellow, speckled with black and grey. Someone had turned London's street lights on, but these were hardly visible in the pall. Sarah was grateful for having memorised her route on the way to the TARDIS, otherwise she might never have found her way back again.

Ahead she could just make out shapes moving in the murky air and voices talking. She strained to hear what was being said, but the smog seemed to swallow up noise just as it swallowed up light.

'Excuse me, miss.' The voice startled Sarah. A tall, young policeman was standing beside her. She had been so intent on what was happening in front of her that she hadn't noticed his approach.

'Oh my goodness! You gave me quite a surprise, constable!'

she said. Sarah recognised the face of the policeman. 'I've seen you somewhere before. Weren't you patrolling in Tabernacle Street yesterday morning?'

'If you'd just come along with me.' PC Hodge took a firm grip on her right arm and tried to guide her forwards.

'It's just I'm trying to get back to Tabernacle Street and I'm not sure this is the right way.' Sarah laughed out loud. 'That's funny. You must have people asking you for directions all the time. I wouldn't normally need to, but this smog is making things very difficult.'

'Yes, miss. If you'd just come along with me,' the constable replied blandly. Sarah realised he wasn't even looking at her.

'Did you hear what I said? I'm looking for Tabernacle Street.' She stood still now, forcing the policeman to a halt. 'I think I should be turning left here.'

'We're evacuating everyone from the local streets, due to the inclement weather,' Hodge explained. 'The authorities believe this smog could pose a health risk to residents, especially in the East End. We've been asked to move people to a holding area.

From there you'll be taken outside the city.' He tugged at her arm again. 'So, if you'll just come with me...'

Sarah tried to pull her arm away. 'Now, look! You may be evacuating this street but I don't live here. I'm staying in Tabernacle Street and that's where I'm going now. Okay?'

'I'm sorry, miss, but you have to come with me,' the policeman insisted.

Sarah could not seem to pry his iron grip from her arm.