Chapter Three
"It's a pub." Rose murmured to herself as they stepped inside the building.
Looking around, she noticed several people sitting at the bar and the tables, but as before there was not much conversation. When there was chit chat, it was done very softly and with much looking around beforehand to see if anyone was listening in. As she and the Doctor walked up to the bar, several people turned their heads towards them and eyed them suspiciously for a moment before they went back to their drinks.
The bartender also gave them a suspicious look before clearing his throat.
"What'll it be?" he asked.
Rose looked behind him at the assortment of bottles. She stared at the colored liquid inside them. She had no idea what any of them were so she deferred to the Doctor figuring he would be able to pick for them both.
"Um, two glasses of…"
He frowned as he stared at the bottles.
"Have anything non-alcoholic?" he asked politely.
The bartender stared at him, shocked.
"Did I just hear you right?" he said in disbelief.
"Yes, you did. We want something non-alcoholic if you don't mind."
The bartender reached under the counter. He brought up a dusty bottle that contained lavender colored liquid inside.
"I have Sarcolium juice." He said gesturing to the bottle. "And that's it."
The Doctor stared at the dust caked on the bottle.
"Bit dusty." He pointed out.
The bartender snorted.
"Yeah, well that's because you're the first person to come in here requesting something non-alcoholic." He said. "The only reason I have this is because my gran used to drink it and she passed away three years ago. Now, is this what you want or would you prefer to drink alcohol like everyone else in here?"
"No, no alcohol. The Sarcolium juice will be just fine."
"Wuss." The bartender muttered as he uncorked the bottle.
The Doctor and Rose backed up quickly as dust flew off the bottle in every direction. The Bartender grabbed two glass bowls and poured the juice into it.
"Is this all you're gonna have or should I just leave the bottle?" the bartender said sarcastically.
The Doctor ignored him. He and Rose took their glasses and walked over to a table near the bar as the bartender rolled his eyes, corked the bottle and put it back under the counter. They sat down beside each other and sat their bowls on the table.
"So, why after you told me we needed to blend in, are we being different and ordering a non-alcoholic drink?" Rose whispered to him.
"Because Rose, this is another safety precaution. You've heard the adage loose lips sink ships? Well, pubs are very popular on this planet. They're practically endorsed by the government and the reason for that is drunk people tend to loosen up once they've had too much and say things they wouldn't normally say. Makes it easier for the spies to do their jobs and it keeps the executioner in business."
"And the commentators." Rose added angrily.
"Exactly. And they know people come to these pubs to get drunk and escape from the drudgery of their existence so they make sure to keep the alcohol flowin'. I don't have to worry about getting drunk since I can control it, but I'm not about to have you become completely pissed, open your big mouth and have the spies on our backs."
"Oi!"
"Sorry, Rose, like mother, like daughter. You do get mouthy at times and I'm not about to help that along." The Doctor said. "Sarcolium juice will do fine."
Rose picked up her bowl and took a sip. She was surprised to discover that it tasted good.
"Mmmm," she said. "Kinda tastes like candy floss."
"Thought you'd like it." The Doctor said.
They drank in silence. Rose darted her eyes around looking at the other people. She quickly looked away when someone would catch her eye and give her a suspicious look. As they drank, they both let out a gasp as a drunken man slammed down into the seat beside the Doctor. He was a middle-aged man with thinning brown hair and piercing green eyes. He also reeked of alcohol. Rose bit back the urge to vomit from the stench.
"Hey buddy," he slurred out. "I haven't seen you two in here before. Where ya from?"
The Doctor bent down over his drink and said nothing. Rose did the same.
"Hey buddy, I'm talkin' to ya!" the man said poking the Doctor roughly in the arm.
The Doctor glared at him for a moment and then went back to sipping his drink.
The man hiccupped.
"Wha's matter? Bezok got ya tongue?" he slurred out. "I just asked ya a question."
"I'm not interested in conversation at the moment." The Doctor said tersely.
"Hey, I'm just tryin' to be friendly to ya. Ya don't need to get all pissy!" the man said angrily.
The man leered at Rose.
"Well, maybe I just talk to ya lady friend then." He said sliding over into the chair next to her.
He gasped when the Doctor seized his arm.
"I wouldn't recommend it!" the Doctor said as his eyes flashed him a warning.
"Wha the Hell is with ya, buddy?" the man slurred. "Too high and mighty to talk to me, is that it? I ain't never seen ya in here before. You one of those royal stooges? Cause if you are, I got something to say about ya boss."
He drunkenly flipped off the Doctor.
"That's what I think of ya boss!" he yelled.
Rose's eyes widened as all conversation was cut short and all eyes turned toward them.
"On that note, I think it's time to leave, Rose." The Doctor muttered as he took her hand.
Rose nodded and both of them quickly stood up.
"Hey, where ya goin?" the man yelled at them. "You gonna go tattle to the king 'bout me, is that where ya goin'?"
Rose noticed that several people started coming towards them and she could sense they weren't wanting to strike up a conversation with her and the Doctor from the look of menace in their eyes. The Doctor glanced around and tugged on Rose's hand.
"Let's go, Rose." He said.
"You don't have to tell me twice." Rose replied.
She and the Doctor hurried around the tables and out the door as everyone stared at them and muttered amongst themselves. Everyone that is except for two people standing near the back. They looked at each other and nodded.
Once they were outside, Rose tugged at the Doctor's sleeve.
"Um, Doctor, I think we can leave now." Rose said. "I've had my fill of Zaphradia. "
"Yeah, I agree. I think we've seen enough of this planet." The Doctor said. "Let's get back to the TARDIS."
They started to walk away when suddenly the pub door banged open and the man stumbled out. He glared at them and flipped them off as he headed towards the curb, unzipped his trousers and urinated on the street. The Doctor glanced at Rose.
"Yup, definitely had my fill of Zaphradia." He said taking her hand.
They crossed the street and headed out of the city. As they walked, Rose glanced back over her shoulder and saw the man was following them.
"Doctor." She said tugging at his trench coat.
"I know he's back there, Rose." The Doctor replied. "It's okay; I won't let him hurt you. Just keep walking."
Rose nodded. She huddled close to the Doctor and he put his arm around her.
"Hey!"
Rose sighed and glanced back at the man.
"You tell the king from me that I hope he burns in Hell!" he shouted to them.
"Doctor, he isn't gonna follow us all the way to the TARDIS, is he?" Rose asked.
"No, because if he doesn't quit following us in the next few minutes, I'm gonna turn around and put a stop to this." The Doctor replied. "Just keep on walking in the meantime, maybe he'll give up when he sees we aren't paying attention to him."
They quickened their pace as the man continued to follow them, shouting abusive words at the top of his lungs.
"Blimey, the way he's going he'll be lucky to make it home without being nabbed." The Doctor muttered to Rose.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!"
The Doctor and Rose spun around and saw two men had grabbed the man by his arms.
"Doctor, I recognize them. They were sitting in the pub near the back." Rose said.
"Then they're spies, Rose. I'm afraid our friend's luck just ran out." The Doctor said.
One of the spies looked at the Doctor and Rose.
"You there! Move along before we haul you in as well!" he shouted to them.
They watched as they pulled the kicking and screaming man back down the road.
"Doctor, we have to do something. We can't let him be executed. He's just drunk, is all! Please, we have to save him!" Rose begged.
The Doctor looked at her and looked back at the man who was trying in vain to break free from the spies. He watched as they both turned around and walked backwards dragging him up onto the sidewalk. Suddenly, he saw an opportunity. He noticed a wooden sign hanging from a metal rod above one of the shops. He pulled out his sonic screwdriver and aimed it at the metal hooks holding the sigh up. He waited until the spies passed under the sign and then turned the screwdriver on. The metal hooks snapped and the sign crashed down onto the spies heads knocking them both out cold. The man stumbled forward and looked back at the men, confused, as the Doctor put his screwdriver back in his jacket pocket.
"There, I've done my good deed for the day. Now, let's get going before their friends show up." The Doctor said.
They turned and quickly headed down the street.
"HEY!"
The Doctor looked back and saw the man stumbling towards them.
"HEY!" he screamed at them. "WAIT!"
"Just walk, Rose." The Doctor muttered.
"WAIT, DAMMIT! I WANNA TALK TO YA! I KNOW YA DID SOMETHING TO STOP THOSE MEN! I WANNA THANK YA!"
The Doctor groaned as he saw several lights coming on in the windows above the shops. He looked over as someone living over the shop beside them opened his window and leaned out.
"SHUT THE HELL UP! I'M TRYING TO SLEEP IN HERE!" he screamed at them.
"AW, SCREW YOU, BUDDY!" the man said flipping him off.
"Drunken asshole!" the Doctor heard the irate man said as he leaned back in and slammed his window down.
The Doctor turned to the man who was staggering up to him.
"Could you keep it down?" The Doctor said to him. "We'd like to get outta here without attracting attention to ourselves, if you don't mind."
"Where ya goin'? The snows startin' to pick up." The man said pointing a finger at the swirling snow.
"Yes, that's why we need to get going. I'm glad you're grateful for us rescuing you. It was nothing really, but I would advise you in future not to drink. You'll get into less trouble that way. Now if you don't mind, we have to leave."
"But, it's gettin' dark now. You come with me. I know a group of people who'll take ya in for the night." The man said.
The Doctor and Rose glanced at each other.
"I appreciate the offer, really, but it's better if we just keep moving." The Doctor said.
"How far ya gotta go?" the man asked.
"A couple of miles."
"A COUPLE OF MILES! NO, YOU TWO COME WITH ME THIS INSTANT!"
The Doctor winced as he noticed lights coming on in the windows again. He looked over at the unconscious spies and knew that it was only a matter of time until more spies showed up. Especially since the drunken man in front of them wouldn't shut up or let them leave. He sighed.
"Alright, fine, let's see this place of yours and if we approve, we'll spend the night, okay?" the Doctor said. "Anything to get us off the street and away from prying eyes."
"Why? You with the resistance?" the man slurred out.
He gave them a drunken grin and pointed at them.
"You are, aren't you? That's why ya saved me just now!" he said.
He jabbed his finger at his chest.
"Me too!" he said. "I am helping to fight the king and his government and I can take ya to our headquarters. You'll be welcomed there."
"Yes, fine, let's get going." The Doctor said when he saw several men turn a corner halfway up the street and walk towards them. "Just lead the way."
"Ya got it! Just ya and ya lady friend follow me." The man said.
"Doctor, are you sure this is wise?" Rose asked as the Doctor took her hand.
"We don't have a choice, Rose. We need to keep him quiet or we're all gonna end up in the gas chamber. Let's just have a look at this place and if it isn't suitable, we'll sneak out when no one's looking. For the moment, we gotta get ourselves as far away as possible before people start asking questions."
Rose nodded. They followed the man as he staggered off down an alleyway.
