+9+ Of monsters and men
As soon as Ena was asleep the Doctor stood up and left the room. Voices came from the room Bill had shown them as his private room and the Doctor followed the voices. Dr. Rhymes and Bill were sitting on the floor, talking.
„I thought we should get some rest.", he said with a smile.
The two men turned their heads and looked at him.
„Doctor!", Dr. Rhymes waved at him to come in. „I was asking Bill about the virus!"
The Doctor went to sit on the floor next do Rhymes and Bill. In the middle of their little circle was an oil lamp, flickering in the, apart from that, dark room.
„Dr. Rhymes told me that they´ve been suggesting that the virus doesn´t spread when people get bitten.", Bill said.
„Yeah, Arthur Mullet told us so.", the Doctor replied „But in the way you were saying that I suppose this is not entirely true?"
„No.", Dr. Rhymes said.
„People do turn when they get bitten, I thought Pete, Mullet and their people would know that already. They don´t turn when they´re alive, though..."
„They turn when they die.", the Doctor ended the sentence. „That´s what you´ve wanted to say, isn´t it?"
„Yes.", Bill nodded.
„Interesting, it seems to feed from dead tissue."
„You said it´s propably an alien virus, could that cause those symtoms? Turning people into monsters only after they died.
„Yes, that´s quite possible, I still think it´s a virus of the Comubes and since their biology is so different from the one of humans.. yes, I think that´s defenitly possible."
„I never believed in aliens before.", Bill said.
„Until Pete contacted me and told me about you. What´s so different with you? You look human."
„No, you look Time Lord.", the Doctor smiled at him „Amd there are plenty of things, more than you can imagine."
„He´s got two hearts.", Dr. Rhymes said in an admiringly voice as if he was talking about making a big archaeological discovery.
Bill´s eyes widened.
„Two hearts? Blimely, that´s creepy."
„For you, propably, for me it´s the -heart-thing that´s creepy, still don´t get how you manage that.", the Doctor replied.
„So, where do you come from? What is your planet like and why do you sound british?", Bill babbled.
„Well, lots of planets have a Britain and please don´t get me wrong, but I don´t like talking about me on first dates, so tell us about you!", the Doctor said. „How did you end up here in the forbidden zone and never got caught?"
„Well, I´m just very good at not being seen, and even if, I´m very good at escaping.", he said with a proud smile on his face.
„In other words I´m the perfect smuggler for you."
„Why did you stay here? Why not go to the village with your brother?"
„Oh, I have a place in the village.", Bill answered, „Sometimes I go and pay them a visit, but I offered them to smuggle food and stuff to the outside and it´s easier to do it from in here. Also, I kind of like the excitement."
The Doctor nodded.
„You´re a man of adventure."
„Exactly."
They were quiet for a while. Then Dr. Rhymes took the word.
„Are there lots of infected on our route?"
Bill sighed.
„We will meet a few, I suppose, but they´re not the problem, since they are quite easy to execute, it´s the military that we should avoid by any means. Will get difficult from time to time."
„They´re not really the noce guys, are they?", the Doctor said.
„No.", Bill said. „Who´s the girl by the way? Why bring her? As much as Pete told me she can´t help you in the lab."
„She´s a friend of mine.", The Doctor said. „And she insisted on coming with us."
Bill just nodded.
„Will keep an eye on her.", he winked at the Doctor who gave him a friendly smile.
„Thanks."
„And on you too, that was pretty close, he almost bit you."
„Yeah, I know, I´ve been there."
Bill laughed. „Sorry, I didn´t mean to offend you."
„What do you think would happen if they bit you?", Dr. Rhymes threw in.
The Doctor thought for a moment.
„Actually I don´t know. Maybe turn me too, maybe not, I really don´t know, but I´m also not very keen of finding out."
Dr. Rhymes yawned.
„Well, I supposed we should really get some rest. I´m going to sleep.", he stood up. „Goodnight, gentelmen." With that he left the room.
„I suppose I should be leaving too, you propably want to get some sleep." The Doctor also stood up.
„What about you`Won´t you go to bed?"
„That´s another difference between me and you, I need less sleep than humans."
Bill just smiled.
„I think I don´t envy you.", Bill said while getting up as well.
The Doctor, now standing in the door frame turned around.
„The two hearts thing.", Bill said. „Always carrying twice the pain that we feel. I think I couldn´t cope with that."
The Doctor just looked at him.
„I can see it in your eyes, you know.", Bill continued. „All the loss in your eyes. Pete told me about your age, must be hell loosing everyone around you. I lost my son to the military, he got shot after the infection broke out."
„I´m sorry.", the Doctor said, standig there, his shoulders hanging and a pityful look on his face.
„Don´t worry, I´ll make sure you won´t loose her, too."
The Doctor gave Bill a nod and a sad smile before went back to his room again.