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on the Coroner's Court for every death. And I'll break the news to Doctor
Martinson as well. He'll have to examine the body for the report.'
'Perhaps I could come along?' offered the Doctor. 'I may be of some use.'
'That's awfully decent of you,' Sir Alexander said. 'Eight sharp, then?'
'Absolutely.' The Doctor watched him leave and then turned to Sarah, his eyes
sparkling with excitement. 'Isn't this intriguing?'
'Oh, yes,' gushed Sarah sarcastically. 'I've spent the evening being attacked by
a mutant chihuahua with an attitude and I get to spend tomorrow looking at
mutilated corpses. It's the perfect holiday, isn't it?'
'Sarah, Sarah,' the Doctor chided her. 'Where's your sense of adventure?'
'I think it's still out there on the moors. That monster scared it out of me.'
She scowled. 'Let me guess: you think this death might be connected to that
thing we encountered?'
He gave her a big smile. 'It would have to be a rather large coincidence
otherwise, wouldn't it?'
Sarah sighed. She knew when she was beaten. 'You think we could get a room for
the night here?' she asked. 'If there's more walking to be done, I've got to
rest my feet.'
'Let's ask Alice,' the Doctor suggested. 'She seems to be a kindly soul. I'm
sure she'll take pity on your feet.'
'I'm glad somebody will,' muttered Sarah. Following the Doctor around seemed to
be a habit she'd acquired and she dutifully wandered along, ignoring her
protesting metatarsals. She snagged a sandwich, a slice of meat pie and another
drink as they moved about the main hall, looking for their hostess. The food and
drink helped to mellow Sarah's mood a little, but she was still in desperate
need of a rest and was starting to suspect that the party would never wind down.
It was like something from Dante's Inferno, where the giddy socialites might be
doomed to spend eternity in one long round of dull social soirees. That would be
hell, all right.
Finally, though, they stumbled across Alice again. Naturally, before Sarah could
ask about a bed for the night, there was another commotion at the door. This
time it heralded the return of the hunting party. Sir Edward strode into the
room, followed by Ross, Bridewell and Abercrombie.
'How was the hunt. Sir Edward?' called Captain Parker cheerily.
'Damned pointless,' the host growled. 'I think it's high time we wound this
blessed evening down, don't you?'
Alice had run across the room to hug her fiance, and to smile happily at her
father. 'Of course, Papa,' she agreed 'I'm so happy that you're all safe.'
'Safe?' her father barked. 'Of course we're safe. It was just a wild goose
chase, when all is said and done.'
'Hardly that, Sir Edward,' Ross put in mildly. 'We've tracked the creature
almost to its lair, and tomorrow we can finish it off.'
'What?' exclaimed the Doctor, catapulting out of the chair where he'd thrown
himself. 'You'll do no such thing!'
Sir Edward appeared taken aback, and then he turned crimson. 'You again!' he
thundered. 'What are you doing here?'
'You told us to meet you here,' the Doctor replied. 'So here we are.'
Their host glared at him again. 'I do not appreciate your questioning my
decisions continually,' he said.
'Then stop making them without thinking,' suggested the Doctor blithely. 'This
creature you're hunting is not some monster to be slaughtered, you know, and
you're not Saint George spearing a dragon.'
'How dare you, sir?' thundered Sir Edward.
'It's about time someone told you the truth,' the Doctor snapped. 'I don't
suppose you get a lot of that around here.'
Sir Edward was clearly not appreciating the Doctor's candour. 'That monster is
slaughtering ponies and other wildlife in this area,' he said, struggling to
keep his temper. 'It is a menace and must be killed.'
'It's just hunting for food,' the Doctor countered. 'You should attempt to
capture it and study it. There's something unnatural about it.'
'You may study it as much as you wish,' Sir Edward countered, 'after I've made
good and certain that the beast is dead.' He poked a finger in the Doctor's
face. 'The trouble with you scientific types is that you're too keen on studying
from the ivory towers of your universities, and loath to get to grips with the
real world.'
'And you're a typical military man,' retorted the Doctor. 'Anything you don't
comprehend must be killed first and studied later.'
'Papa,' Alice broke in, attempting to sooth his ruffled feelings, 'the Doctor
and Miss Smith are our guests. They're going to help Sir Alexander in the
morning. Try to be a little kinder.'
'Sir Alexander?' her father asked. 'Whatever does he want their help with?'
'There's been a death in the village,' the Doctor explained.
'Really?' asked Ross, his curiosity clearly piqued. 'An unnatural one, I take
it?'
'Very,' agreed the Doctor. He grinned. 'An eventful night, wouldn't you say?'
'Definitely,' Ross agreed. He gave a thin smile. 'And in such a pleasant,
isolated community, too.'
'Odd, isn't it?' The Doctor returned the smile. 'And why are you here? Not a
local, are you?'
'No more than you are. Doctor,' Ross replied. He made no effort to answer the
other question, however.
Sarah frowned. There were obviously undercurrents at work here. She caught the
black look that Sir Edward darted in Ross's direction. Obviously the host wasn't
too much at ease with the guest. 'Look,' she broke in, 'it's late, and we're all
tired. My feet are killing me. Can't we call it a night and start arguing again
in the morning?'
'Miss Smith is right. Papa,' Alice said. 'We're all tired.' She smiled and
rested her hand on his arm. 'And you are getting a little grouchy.'
For a moment it seemed as if Sir Edward was about to throw another tantrum. Then
he patted his daughter's hand fondly. 'You're quite right, Alice. It is time to
retire. Tomorrow is likely to be a busy day for us all.' He glared at the
Doctor. 'Do you and your friend have anywhere to stay the night?' he growled.
'Courtesy forces me to offer you a room.'
'And forces me to accept,' the Doctor answered lightly. 'Thank you.'
Alice took Sarahs arm. 'You shall have the room adjoining mine,' she said. 'I'll
show you the way and loan you a few necessities.'
'Thanks,' Sarah gave her a warm smile. It was impossible not to like the young
woman. Anyone less like her aggressive, cantankerous father was difficult to
imagine. Sarah nodded to the group. 'Good night.'
Alice gave her father a peck on the cheek, and another to her fiance. 'Good
night.' Then she led Sarah up the marble stairs. 'You must forgive my father,'
she said softly. 'He has a lot of responsibilities.'
'I understand,' Sarah told her. 'And you'll have to excuse my friend. He
sometimes gets a little carried away with his ideas.'
Alice smiled. 'It sounds like we both have a lot of practice being tolerant,'
she said. 'I'm glad to have met you, Miss Smith.'
'Sarah,' Sarah told her. 'You make me sound like a schoolteacher.'
'Sarah,' agreed Alice. She smiled. 'I hope we can be friends.'
'That would be nice.' Sarah couldn't help liking the young woman. She was very
open and friendly. She only hoped that the Doctor and her father could resolve
their differences. It would make things so much easier. She knew from
experience, however, how little chance there was of that occurring.
He lay in his lair, panting from exertion and licking his sore paws. His sides
heaved and his head rang. It had been a hard chase, and he had been hunted as
though he were some monster. But he wasn't! He couldn't help what he had become!
And he'd been forced to abandon his prey before he had done little more than
taste it. His stomach cried out for food, but he didn't dare leave his lair
again tonight. The men might still be waiting for him, with their guns. He
didn't want to die, even if his fate was repugnant to him. He hated being the
monster he had become, but he feared death more.
Why couldn't they just leave him alone? He didn't want to hurt anyone, even
though he knew it would be easy to use his powerful jaws on a person. It would
take less effort to kill a man than a pony. Men couldn't run as far or as fast. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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