Doctor Who: Nightshade Part 9

barman shortly pushed his way through the crowd, holding 'But not this year?' asked Trevithick, eyebrows raised over two pint gla.s.ses in his crooked hands.

the rim of his gla.s.s.

'I had no idea we had a celebrity in the village,' said 'Two missing persons,' said Lowc.o.c.k gravely. 'Old bloke Lowc.o.c.k, after paying the barman.

called Prudhoe been gone since yesterday afternoon and 'Oh, hardly that, George. It was quite a while ago.'

now Dr Shearsmith. His cleaning woman says he's vanished Lowc.o.c.k beamed at him. 'Aye, but we all loved it. We'd into thin air.'

never go out when you were on. How'd you end up in 'Yes, young Robin called to see him. Found the place Crook Marsham?'

empty and the door wide open, so he tells me.'

86.87.'Really?' Lowc.o.c.k scratched his whiskers thoughtfully.

The Doctor was enjoying a simple meal of soup, bread 'And now the phones are out of order as well,' said and cheese in the Abbot's panelled study. Winstanley had Trevithick in the most mysterious voice he could muster.

made him extremely welcome, showing him around the The one he'd used to great effect when he presented Tales of well-preserved Norman cloisters and up the spindly black Terror for the BBC Light Programme.

tower. The Doctor had been introduced to about ten of the 'Yours too, eh? We've been trying to get the GPO in but...'

monks, although he would have had difficulty telling them 'The phones aren't working,' laughed Trevithick. 'Mmm, apart, so blandly unperturbed were their expressions. This, makes you realise how dependent we all are on our mod again, was in stark contrast to the Abbot, whose troubled cons.'

eyes continued to undermine his determinedly cheery They both jumped as a high-pitched scream rang out countenance.

across the bar. The Christmas merriment froze like black ice.

Now the Doctor had been invited to a little late tea and Lowc.o.c.k was on his feet in an instant and Trevithick had just finished the last of the soup when Winstanley came hobbled after him as he mounted the stairs.

in.

They crossed the landing and threw open the bedroom 'All done? Good. Excellent.'

door. Betty lay on the bed, struggling against the restraining 'Delicious,' mumbled the Doctor, his mouth still stuffed arms of Lawrence and Robin.

with bread.

Jill stood by the bed, a fearful look in her eye.

'I made the soup myself. Brother Jeremy made the bread.

'Send him away!' wailed Betty, painful sobs breaking up It's rather fine, isn't it?' Winstanley moved over towards the her voice. 'Send him away!'

blazing fire and warmed his backside. 'Chilly places, I'm Robin managed to force her back on to the pillow and afraid.'

pressed a cold flannel to her forehead.

'I don't suppose they were built for comfort,' said the 'What's the matter, Lol?' said Lowc.o.c.k, furrowing his Doctor, settling into a studded leather chair. Winstanley brow. Lawrence drew Lowc.o.c.k to one side but Trevithick poured two gla.s.ses of ruby port. The room glowed around managed to overhear his desperate, unbelieving whisper.

them, a miasma of dancing shadows and reflected flame 'It's her brother.'

underscored by the rea.s.suring tock of the Abbot's long-case 'Patrick?'

clock.

'No, Alf.'

The Doctor could see pictures in the fire. Shifting faces 'Alf?'

and events from long, long ago. Hadn't he once sat like this 'Yes. She says... she says she's seen him again. She says with... Who was it? Victoria. Of course, Victoria. Outside the he's come back for her.'

Cybertombs on Telos. Talking about his family. Sleeping in Trevithick frowned and looked down at Betty Yeadon, his memory. Sleeping...

flailing and thrashing on the bed.

'Penny for them?' said the Abbot cheerfully.

88.89.[image]

The Doctor looked up, smiled. 'Hmm? Oh, just thoughts.

our way of life. We could go over there tomorrow, if you Just thoughts.'

like?'

It was Winstanley's turn to look into the fire. 'You know, The Doctor considered this, already feeling his insatiable Doctor, I can't tell you how good it is to have a new face curiosity rising. But then he remembered why he'd come to about the place. It can get awfully lonely up here. The the monastery and set his mouth determinedly.

moor... the wind. It's not the most beneficial of 'No. Thank you, but no. I'm not here to get involved.'

environments.'

'As you wish,' said Winstanley, pouring another gla.s.s of The Doctor turned interested eyes on Winstanley who port.

avoided his gaze.

The Doctor sipped his drink and returned to his 'You seem like a good listener, Doctor. Tell me...' The contemplation of the fire. Winstanley began to hunt Abbot rolled the stem of his gla.s.s between pudgy fingers.

amongst his bookshelves.

'Tell me, do you have faith?'

'Perhaps you'd be interested in this, Doctor?'

'Faith?'

The Doctor glanced at his pocket watch. It was a little Winstanley nodded.

after seven. He mustn't forget his appointment with Ace.

The Doctor inclined his head slightly, throwing his face A small, vellum-bound book, dwarfed by the Abbot's into deep shadow.

sausage-fingers, was pressed into his hand.

'I used to think ... I used to think I had faith. Faith in what 'Local history,' said Winstanley. 'And decidedly colourful was right and wrong. What was just.'

too.'

'And now?'

'Now I'm not so sure.'

The Abbot turned towards the fire, his eyes glistening as though he were crying. 'Yes. I believe I know what you mean.'

The Doctor sat up sharply as if to break the mood of melancholy. 'Tell me about your radio telescope.'

'Oh, that's a recent addition, Doctor. Five or six years old.

We're tuned in to messages from the stars.'

'Have they had any luck?'

Winstanley chuckled. 'Not to my knowledge. They seem a nice lot up there, though. I've met Dr Cooper and Miss Kidd.

And Mr Degun often pops in. I believe he's fascinated by 90 91.The Doctor began to turn the brittle yellow pages which were crowded with crabbed print. Wide-bordered pictures appeared every once in a while, showing Saxon serfs labouring in the fields or building rudimentary houses on Chapter Four the moorland. The Doctor recognised the village church, without its later embellishments, and finally came upon a splendid print showing a large, heavily fortified Norman castle, narrow flags spiking its battlements.

'Marsham Castle,' said the Abbot over his shoulder. 'Built by Sir Brian de Fillis in - let me see now - 1156. Yes, 1156.'

He ran a hand over his shaved head. 'Gone now, of course.'

In Phillip Jackson's view, the day had already dragged on 'One of the ruins that Cromwell knocked about a bit,' said long enough. Now the night was hot and still, the cloying the Doctor smiling.

perfume of wild summer flowers mingling with wisps of 'You're closer than you think. Read on.'

gunsmoke. Overhead, the sky, smooth and unperturbed as The Doctor settled back, holding the small volume an upturned tea cup, was a rich collage of dark blue and between his hands.

sunset crimson.

This great victory upon the moor of Marston, given unto He laid back his handsome head and enjoyed the soft Parliament by the grace of our Lord Jesus, did result in the rout of pressure of the heather tangling in the shining black locks of Prince Rupert and his men. G.o.d did make them as stubble to his hair. It had been a good day.

Cromwell's sword. Brave Ironsides, notwithstanding a grave Jackson's belief was strong: to fight for true democracy, injury, beat the Prince's hors.e.m.e.n into retreat and sent Captain the freedom to worship as he chose, and not to labour under Phillip Jackson in pursuit.

the tyrannical rule of an unworthy king. Today's victory Coming upon a troop of the Royalists in the castle of Marsham, had been sweet indeed but Jackson knew well how soon he in the county of York, Jackson reported that the King's Men did would be called upon to fight again. Had he not promised experience such ghastly terrors and phantoms that they cried Cromwell to pursue the Royalists to perdition if needs be?

aloud to heaven.

1644, however, had not been a good year for Parliament.

Upon surrendering themselves to Parliament's mercy, the castle King Charles stood firm even with the war two years old.

was consumed by a strange fire and all were glad to return to their Then had come a morale-crushing blow, only the previous camp. This place has long been notorious for weird happenings...

day, as Prince Rupert entered the city of York unopposed The Doctor looked up from his book and chewed his lip after crossing the north bank of the Swale. Sniping attacks thoughtfully.

92.93.by Rupert's men had followed and Jackson saw Cromwell's like frightened sheep. The night was suddenly alive with face darkening with anger.

the yellow sashes of the Roundheads and the Royalists'

'We must stop and fight!' he had bellowed at the Earl of vivid scarlet.

Manchester. 'Else lose all to that puppy Rupert.'

Cromwell's dragoons, three thousand strong, attacked Manchester had sat long and thought hard, fingering the Lord Byron and the Royalist right wing, decimating them.

delicate embroidery of his collar. Then he nodded his a.s.sent.

Jackson hacked away with his sword, a rush of grotesque They had drawn up on the long ridge of open plain that faces flurrying past him.

stretched down to Marston Moor, Cromwell's force of A musket ball whistled past his ear and he felt himself twenty-seven thousand against Rupert's eighteen thousand.

twist and fall awkwardly from his horse. The ground raced A line of hedges and ditches separated the two armies. Six up to meet him, iron hard, and he lay there a moment, miles due west stood York and four miles to the east the winded and sick as booted feet staggered past. Then there little settlement of Crook Marsham, dominated by its ruined were strong hands under him and he opened his eyes to see Norman castle.

Cromwell himself lifting him bodily on to his horse.

Jackson had seen its sun-shimmered battlements hovering 'Thank G.o.d we've not lost you,' he said with a smile, the on the horizon.

fire of battle shining in his eyes.

Before battle could begin, Parliament had observed its Jackson pulled on the reins and charged again. A Royalist traditional good grace, allowing Rupert to await the Earl of soldier, his face already streaked with mud, and dark blood, Newcastle and his men. The day had worn on, the mood of launched himself at Jackson's flank. The captain heaved his impatience spreading from the florid-faced Cromwell to his ma.s.sive sword and took off half the soldier's face in one troops. At around four in the afternoon, Newcastle's men movement. The body fell under Jackson's horse and the finally arrived. To Jackson's disbelief they had retired for captain rode on, shouting in exhilaration.

supper, as they believed the hour too late for fighting that There was another salvo of musket fire and Cromwell day.

reeled in his saddle, his warty face contorting with pain.

At around seven in the evening, with the pleasant smell of Blood pumped from a wound in his neck. Jackson reigned woodsmoke drifting across the plain, Cromwell had come in his horse and called above the din of battle, 'We must get into view, ma.s.sive and inspiring astride his horse. He you to the field hospital, sir!'

narrowed his eyes, watching the distant enemy figures Cromwell shook his head, wiping the soil-caked wound moving like indistinct ink-blots on a purple canvas. He as if to dismiss it. 'The second charge, Phillip, the second caught Jackson's eye, smiled slightly, and then bellowed the charge!'

command to charge.

Jackson nodded worriedly and followed his brave leader With a great whooping cry, Parliament's hors.e.m.e.n back to the ridge. After organising the second charge, thundered across the moor, scattering the surprised enemy Cromwell had finally a.s.sented to treatment and retired.

94.95.Jackson and his men swept back on to the moor, Rupert's thousand the Prince hath not four thousand left. Colours, routed cavalry fleeing before them. The fighting became muskets, men. All are ours.'

desperate, the iron stink of blood mingling with powder 'And Rupert?'

smoke as the two forces waded into each other. Then with a Cromwell sighed. 'Fled. Vanished. The jackanapes has the terrifying cry of triumph, Parliament's reserve of three devil to protect him.'

thousand Scottish cavalry tore into the Royalist right wing Jackson unbuckled his belt and sat back on the warm which broke and fled.