The Crooked World by Steve Lyons

Author:Steve Lyons [Lyons, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Science Fiction, Adventure, Comics & Graphic Novels, Doctor Who (Fictitious Character)
ISBN: 9780563538561
Publisher: Random House UK
Published: 2002-06-02T07:00:00+00:00

What did it matter what happened to him anyway? No punishment could be worse than what he was suffering already.

‘Things have changed on this world.’ The Doctor paced the narrow corridor between Dogg’s platform and the public seating, emphasising his 148

words with his hands, locking gazes with members of his audience in turn.

‘You’ve all experienced new ideas, new impulses. Many of you, I dare say, have done things, just like my client, of which you are ashamed.’ They were starting to avoid his eyes now. ‘We know for a fact that Jasper isn’t the only murderer in Zanytown, probably not even in this room.’ Some muttering, and shifting of feet. The Doctor raised his voice sternly. ‘Until you understand what is happening to you, what has happened to my client, then I submit that none of you can have the right to judge him.’ A rumble of anger, at that. He spoke quietly again: ‘I can help you to understand.’

He turned back to the judge, with an expectant look. Dogg chose not to argue, and the Doctor smiled gratefully. ‘I call to the stand my first witness.

I believe she is known as. . . ’ He cleared his throat apologetically. ‘The big, fat hotel maid.’

‘Just get this done quick,’ grumbled Dogg. ‘I’ve got a hanging to get to.’

Jasper’s old mistress forced her bulk through the crowd, and the Doctor asked Streaky to produce another lectern for her, which he did. Jasper realised that he had never looked above the big, fat hotel maid’s waist before; he had always been too cowed by her presence. Now that he saw her face, she didn’t seem as intimidating as he had always imagined. She was a sad, dumpy old woman with misshapen features, rheumy eyes and hairs sprouting from her warts. Her white hair was held in place by rollers and a hairnet. It took him a minute to adjust to this new image of her, to shift his perception of his world once again. By this time, his counsel had put the witness at ease with questions about her duties at the hotel and her relationship to the accused. Now, he went on the offensive.

‘Am I right in thinking, Miss Maid, that you repeatedly beat my client with a broom?’

‘I did.’ The woman seemed proud of the fact. ‘Moth-eaten fleabag!

I knew he was a bad lot, knew it all along. You ask me, I should have whacked him a bit more often.’

‘I see. And you never considered that you might be perpetuating a cycle of abuse?’

‘Eh?’

‘Tell me, what crimes did my client commit to deserve such punishment?’

‘That cat was a lazy old so-and-so. He wouldn’t do his job, just lay around my kitchen.’

‘And his job was?’

‘I gave him one duty, that’s all, just one. I told him to get rid of that darn mouse.’

‘For good, you mean.’

149

‘Of course for good. I didn’t want that filthy thing scampering around while I was preparing food. Landsakes, it got so as I was spending half my days up on that kitchen chair.

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