The Missing Adventures - Evolution Part 4

'Don't hog her, Gigger,' Beresford complained. 'Let us have a go, too, you beast.'

'Quit your jawing, McBee,' Kipling snapped. 'She came to meet me, remember.'

Sarah was not at all sure she wanted three overly active fifteen-year-old boys fighting for her attention. Trust the Doctor to miss their target by several continents and a decade! Still, he had managed to get to the right planet, at least. 'Okay, enough,' she announced, pulling her hand free of Kipling's surprisingly strong grip. 'What are you doing on the moors at night? Shouldn't you be in school?'

Dunsterville snorted. 'There? They don't much care where we go, as long as we're back for morning prayers.'

'Don't you know that the moors are dangerous at night?' Sarah asked.

'We scoff at danger,' Beresford replied airily.

'How remarkably foolish,' the Doctor muttered. He glared at the boys. 'Didn't you hear the hound out hunting?'

'That thing?' Kipling shrugged. 'It's often out. It doesn't hurt anyone. Just animals.'

'You've seen it, then?' asked Sarah.

'Not as such, no,' Kipling admitted. 'We've heard it and found its tracks, though.'

'But we're not afraid of it,' Beresford added quickly.

'You should be,' the Doctor snapped. 'Three heads, and not a brain between you. What possessed you to come out here?'

Kipling scowled, obviously not keen on being lectured. 'We were looking for Anders. He went missing a couple of weeks back, and there's been a frightful stink about the whole thing.'

'It was Gigger's idea,' Beresford explained. 'He thought we might find some clues the local policeman missed.'

'At night?' Sarah asked incredulously. 'What do you think you'll find at night?'

'A pretty woman, for one thing,' Kipling answered.

'Suck-up,' the Doctor muttered. In a louder voice, he added, 'And to get a chance to smoke in peace, eh?'

'That too,' agreed Dunsterville, not at all embarra.s.sed. 'Two birds with one stone and all that rot.'

'Speaking of rot,' Sarah said, 'don't you know smoking's bad for you?'

Kipling stared at her in amus.e.m.e.nt. 'Now that's that's rot. Smoking is an art-form. And it makes a man out of you.' rot. Smoking is an art-form. And it makes a man out of you.'

The Doctor shook his head. 'You're a century too early,' he informed Sarah.

Staring at the Doctor, Kipling announced, 'You're an odd fellow.'

'And you're an impudent wretch,' the Doctor replied, grinning. 'Does that make us even?'

'What are you a doctor of?' asked Kipling.

'This and that. That and this. Mostly that.' The Doctor grinned again. 'Why don't you go back to school tonight? You'll have much better luck if you search for clues in the morning.'

Kipling shrugged. 'I suppose we could do that,' he agreed.

'Besides,' added Beresford, 'we've smoked all we brought with us.'

'That's the spirit,' the Doctor approved. 'By the by, where is this local constable located?'

'Bodham,' Kipling said. 'You do know where that is, I take it?'

Sarah scowled at him. The youngster was definitely on the cheeky side. 'I imagine we can find it if we want,' she replied.

'Anyway,' Dunsterville asked, 'what are you two doing on the moors at night?'

Kipling poked him in the ribs. 'Don't be so naive, Duns,' he said in severe tones. 'What else would they be doing out here alone?'

Sarah felt herself blus.h.i.+ng. 'You've got s.m.u.tty minds,' she informed him.

'And s.m.u.tty bodies, too,' Beresford piped up.

'At the moment,' the Doctor interrupted them, 'we're heading for Fulbright Hall. It's just ahead, I take it?'

'About a ten-minute walk,' agreed Kipling, not bothering to hide his grin. 'Got lost in the night, eh?'

'Maybe we should show Miss Smith the way next time,' added Beresford, snickering.

Sarah had almost forgotten how obnoxious teenage boys could be even if one of them was to become one of England's greatest writers. 'Grow up,' she advised them.

'Show us how,' suggested Dunsterville, which reduced all three of them to a fit of giggles.

'If you want to live to grow up,' Sarah said firmly, 'you'll knock it off right now. And you'll go back to Westward Ho!

Now move it.'

Kipling threw her a mocking salute, and the three boys faded back into the night. Sarah could still hear them giggling as they moved away. She glowered at the Doctor. 'You were a lot of help.'

'You were doing fine,' he replied. 'Anyway, the Hall's just ahead, like I told you. Come along.' He strode off into the night. Sarah rolled her eyes, but followed.

Sir Edward reined in his steed, holding up a hand to halt his companions. 'It's no use,' he announced. 'The beast has gone too far into the marshes. We can't possibly follow it further on a night like this. We need torches, at the very least. It's not safe in this gloom.'

Ross slapped his fist into the palm of the other hand. 'd.a.m.nation.' Then he glanced across at the leader. 'You're right, of course. Further pursuit would be pointless and most likely dangerous to boot. However, if you'll permit me a moment?'

Without waiting for a reply, Ross slipped down from his mount and examined the ground. 'Abercrombie,' he called, 'bring me the dark lantern.'

'Fetch me this, fetch me that,' grumbled Abercrombie. Fis.h.i.+ng under his clothes, he pulled out a compact metallic lantern and opened the lens. Striking a match, he lit the wick inside, then dismounted and brought the light to his master.

Taking the lantern, Ross examined the ground at the edge of the bog. He seemed absorbed by the task.

'What the devil are you up to?' asked Fulbright a few moments later.

'Looking for prints,' Ross replied without getting up. 'There are numerous.'

'So?' Fulbright couldn't restrain his impatience.

Ross clambered to his feet, blew out the light and handed the lantern back to Abercrombie. 'So it proves that the beast we were chasing traverses this path often. Animals, as I'm sure a keen sportsman such as yourself knows full well, tend to keep to the same paths. I suspect that we've discovered one of our quarry's home trails.'

'Capital!' exclaimed Bridewell. 'So all we need do tomorrow is to return here and take up the trail once again in the daylight.'

'Or simply await the monster's emergence tomorrow evening,' Ross suggested. 'Either way, we have it. Provided Sir Edward can return us to this spot.' He glanced up at his host as he remounted.

'I can indeed,' Fulbright replied.

'Splendid,' said Ross. 'Then I suspect we shall be able to clear up at least one aspect of this intriguing mystery before another day has pa.s.sed. For the moment, however, I am certain that a gla.s.s of your excellent Jerez would be more than welcome to us all, Sir Edward.'

Fulbright nodded. Whatever else this man was, he was neither a fool nor did he lack discrimination. The sherry was a particularly fine batch. 'Then let us return to the Hall,' he agreed.

The sight of lights suddenly appearing from the darkness cheered Sarah up immensely. She had begun wondering if Fulbright Hall was some sort of mythical place, like Brigadoon or Shangri-La, and it was comforting to have proof that something physical existed at the end of their journey.

'The end is nigh,' she muttered happily. 'I wonder if I can get a footbath there?'

'We're Sir Edward's guests,' the Doctor pointed out. 'I should imagine you can get whatever you want.'

'I don't recall him using the word "guests",' Sarah objected. 'In fact I got the impression that we were to be held to account.'

'Semantics,' the Doctor replied dismissively. 'I'm sure he meant us to think of ourselves as guests. h.e.l.lo!' He grinned again. 'Do you hear what I hear?'

Sarah listened carefully. She could just make out the strains of violins. 'Music?'

'Right.' His teeth flashed. 'I do so love a party, don't you? Fancy a dance?'

'After this slog?' Sarah snorted. 'Besides, I don't imagine they know the twist or anything else I can do.'

'We are a bit before the Beatles,' the Doctor agreed. 'Pity.'

They had come to a pair of wrought-iron gates that stood some fifteen feet high. Lanterns blazed on either side of the gates, showing tall walls stretching off into the night. The gates had been flung open, and the gravel driveway showed evidence of the pa.s.sage of a number of carriages. Without hesitation the Doctor marched along the lawn on the side of the drive. Sarah followed his lead, dodging around patches of flowers and shrubs. Their way was illuminated by lanterns on small pedestals that stretched up to the main doors of the Hall. To reach these doors, they had to ascend a flight of wide steps. The Doctor rapped on the door, and then bent to examine the knocker.

'Fine workmans.h.i.+p,' he observed. 'Sir Edward's family obviously has taste.' The door opened, and he was staring at the midriff of a portly butler. 'h.e.l.lo, I'm the Doctor and this is Miss Smith.'

'Quite, sir,' agreed the functionary. His face was absolutely impa.s.sive. 'And you are here for the affair?'

'Naturally,' agreed the Doctor, giving Sarah a big wink. Sarah simply grimaced and followed him inside.

The hallway showed taste and money in about equal amounts. Sarah's knowledge of art was spotty at best, but she was fairly sure that the portraits of various personages on the walls included a Gainsborough and a Holbein. Suits of armour stood guard at the base of the main stairs, and guests and servants circulated about the pedestals which held vases and busts.

A lovely young woman broke through the throng, her pretty face flushed and eager. 'Roger? Papa?' she began. Then, seeing the two arrivals, her face fell. 'Oh. Your pardon. I had hoped '

'Quite,' agreed the Doctor amiably. ' " Papa", I take it, is Sir Edward?'

'Yes,' the young lady replied. She offered her gloved hand, which the Doctor solemnly touched to his lips. 'I'm Alice Fulbright.'

'Charmed,' the Doctor a.s.sured her. 'I am the Doctor, and this is Sarah Jane Smith. Say h.e.l.lo, Sarah.'

'h.e.l.lo,' said Sarah obediently. 'We did meet your father and three other people out on the moors.'

'Were they all right?' asked Alice, concern in her voice.

'They were when we left them,' Sarah answered. She decided against mentioning the beast they had been pursuing, afraid the young woman might faint or something. 'Your father suggested that we meet him here when he returned.'

'Oh. How rude of me.' Alice blushed at her lack of manners. 'Would you care for a gla.s.s of something?'

'A gla.s.s of anything,' Sarah admitted. 'My throat's parched.'

'Of course.' Alice led them into the main hall. This was still quite active, despite the lateness of the hour. It had to be at least one in the morning, Sarah judged, but the ball was in full swing. She felt a little under-dressed amid all the military uniforms, dress uniforms and bejewelled dresses. The Doctor, naturally, seemed to feel he was perfectly attired, despite his ratty appearance. He managed to snaffle two gla.s.ses of champagne from a pa.s.sing waiter and handed one to Sarah.

It was, of course, first cla.s.s. Sarah had to fight the urge to down it in a single gulp. It felt good to get something to soothe her throat at last.

'I don't know if you know anyone,' Alice said.

'I know a lot of people,' the Doctor admitted, 'though I doubt any of them are here.'

Alice smiled. 'I'm sure you do. Doctor. You have the air of a man of the world. Do you travel much?'

'You wouldn't believe how much,' Sarah a.s.sured her. 'It's our first time in Devon, though.'

'At least this century,' agreed the Doctor.

Alice laughed, delighted at what she clearly thought was politely silly conversation. 'Come along, then,' she said. 'I'll introduce you around.' She took them to the closest knot of people. 'This is Sir Alexander Cromwell, Lady b.u.mwell and Captain Kevin Parker,' she announced. To the trio, she explained, 'This is the Doctor and Miss Sarah Jane Smith.'

'Charmed,' replied Parker, a tall, neatly bearded military man. He kissed Sarah's hand. 'A pretty lady always lightens up the room.' Sarah curtsied, smiling at the compliment.

'Doctor?' asked Sir Alexander. 'Of what field of studies?'

'All that I've found,' the Doctor replied modestly. 'I dabble a lot.'

'Are you interested in astronomy, by any chance?'

'By every chance,' agreed the Doctor. 'It's a special study of mine.'

'Capital!' exclaimed Sir Alexander. 'Mine also. I've my own telescope set up at home, you know. I've been cataloguing nebulae.'

'Really?' The Doctor gave him an engaging grin. 'Perhaps I could have a peek sometime? I've always been awfully fond of a good nebula myself.'