Doctor Who - The 8th Doctor - 03 - The Bodysnatchers by Mark Morris

Author:Mark Morris
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: London (England), Doctor Who (Fictitious Character), Body Snatching, General, Science Fiction, Great Britain, Life on Other Planets, Fiction, Media Tie-In
ISBN: 9780563405689
Publisher: BBC
Published: 1997-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

***

Surprising himself, Albert Rudge blurted suddenly,'There was something mighty peculiar about the manner of our gentleman tonight.'

Ever since he and Jack had begun pursuit of their quarry.Albert had wanted to express the misgivings he had had all evening, his notion that their employer knew exactly what they were up to. Because he had been afraid of Jack's response, however, the words had lodged firmly in his throat each time he had tried to speak. Albert knew all too well that once Jack had hit upon a scheme that gave him an excellent opportunity to line his pockets, he did not take kindly to any utterance from his colleagues that might be construed as doubt or anxiety or dissent. For this reason Albert felt a sense not of relief but apprehension at the fact that he had finally managed to express what was on his mind.

Sitting in front of him, his voice muffled by drizzle and fog, Jack growled,'What the deuce are you babbling about now?'

Instantly Albert felt what little resolve he had evaporating. Gamely, however, he said, 'You must have taken notice of him, Jack. He was not himself this evening.'

'Who was he then?'Jack muttered dangerously.

'He was... he was the same man and yet not the same.There was a change about him. The way he looked at us, the way he moved and spoke. My fear is that he may have got wind of our plan.'

'Ha! And who has told him? You?'

'Not I! I've not breathed a word to no one.'

'Nor I. So it appears, as ever, that you're whistling in the dark, Albert, old chum.'

Though the words in themselves seemed friendlyjack's manner was not.

Albert was all too aware that should he push Jack too far, Jack would very likely knock him off the back of Ned Cockles's nag and then urge the animal to trample all over him for good measure. Nevertheless he felt compelled to add,'All the same,Jack. I fancy caution should be the order of the day.'

Jack shook his head, rain spinning off the brim of his hat. 'Here I am, trying to make you rich, and all you do to repay me is babble in my ear like a frightened old crone! Perhaps you believe this gentleman of ours has been secretly observing us at work, listening to our every exchange? Or perhaps he has a twin brother... No, wait, perhaps there's an entire army of 'em.

Perhaps they are lying in wait even as we speak, making ready to leap on us from all sides, wielding knives to cut our throats and slice out our gizzards with! Would it please you to find this to be the case,Albert? Simply to be proven right?'

'Of course not,'Albert responded miserably.'I was merely -'

'Hush'Jack growled.

At first Albert thought Jack had urged him to silence simply because he was tired of hearing his voice. Then he realised that the sound they had been following for some time, that of the slow clop of hooves and the rumble of their employer's cart over stony, uneven ground, had ceased.

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