Doctor Who PDA20 - Deep Blue (5th) by Mark Morris

Author:Mark Morris [Morris, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-07-13T02:42:41+00:00

* * *

A UNIT jeep cruised to a stop beside them. As Benton jumped out of the passenger side, the Brigadier hastily rebuttoned his shirt.

Benton poked his head through the open window beside the Brigadier. ‘I thought you were all goners for a moment there,’ he said. ‘What happened? Is everyone OK?’

‘Everyone’s perfectly fine, thank you, Benton,’ said the Brigadier brusquely.

‘A slight miscalculation on my part, I’m afraid,’ said the Doctor, giving Benton a meaningful look. ‘I overshot the red light. Careless of me.’

‘I see,’ said Benton hesitantly. ‘Well, if you’re sure you’re all right...’

‘Never better,’ snapped the Brigadier. ‘Now, if there’s nothing else, Benton, I suggest we go and tackle this creature before it dies of old age.’

‘Yes, sir,’ said Benton, jumping almost to attention in response to the Brigadier’s tone.

As he left, the Doctor said, ‘I think a quiet word with Sergeant Benton might be in order.’

‘Going to tell him about my funny turn, are you?’ said the Brigadier.

‘Not at all,’ said the Doctor, though he looked guilty. ‘In view of the circumstances, I think it might be wise to assess the current state of the troops.’

The Brigadier regarded him shrewdly for a moment, then gave a concessionary nod. ‘Yes, good idea.’

Offering a brief smile, the Doctor got out of the car and went round to the passenger side of the jeep. ‘Do you think I might have a private word with you, Sergeant?’ he asked.

Benton looked surprised. He regarded the Doctor as a good friend, but it was not often the Time Lord confided in him.

‘Yes, of course,’ he said and got out of the jeep. ‘Is everything all right, Doctor?’

The Doctor led him a few yards away from the jeep and regarded him gravely. ‘How are you feeling, Sergeant?’

Benton frowned. ‘You mean since eating the fish yesterday?

This infection thing?’

‘Precisely.’

Benton considered for a moment. ‘Not too bad. I’ve been having one or two odd thoughts, but I think I’m holding things together pretty well.’

‘Good man. And the troops? How are they?’

‘A bit edgy. I’m having to give them constant pep-talks to stop them losing concentration.’ He shrugged. ‘Some are worse than others, mind you. Around a dozen or so have had to be confined to sick bay.’

The Doctor patted Benton on the arm. ‘Keep fighting it, Sergeant. You’re doing a splendid job.’ His voice dropped, even though they were out of earshot of both the jeep and the Brigadier’s car. ‘The Brigadier’s not too good, I’m afraid. I’m not sure how much longer he can keep going.’

Benton puffed out his chest. ‘I’ll try and keep an eye on things for you at this end, Doctor. You just find a way to beat these things.’

They returned to their respective vehicles, and reached the fairground without further incident. UNIT and the local police had done their job well. The place was deserted, the rides silent. As the car approached the gates, where a lone UNIT

sentry stood guard with his rifle clutched in his hands, the Doctor said wistfully, ‘There’s nothing quite so sad as an empty fairground.

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