Chapter CXXIV
Mira
They had brought Evelina to another room. The Doctor was still in the main room, only Donna and Metella were with her.
"She didn't mean to be rude," her mother said, sitting down on the couch where Evelina was lying on. "She's ever such a good girl. But when the gods speak through her."
Mira's eyes fell on Evelina's arm. The skin looked weird, as if turning into scales. Or rock. "What's wrong with her arm?" she asked.
"An irritation of the skin. She never complains, bless her," Metella replied. "We bathe it in olive oil every night."
"What is it?" Donna asked.
"Evelina said you'd come from far away," Metella turned to both of them. "Please, have you ever seen anything like it?"
Donna stepped closer and stroked over Evelina's arm. "It's stone."
"I don't know what it is. Maybe the Doctor does," she said.
Metella looked at them and then just left without another word.
"So," Donna said quietly. "What was that? How did they know my name? And why did they call you dead?"
"They're telepaths," she replied. Well, she had to tell Donna more about it at some point. "I can block my mind so they couldn't read it. I guess that's what she meant."
"They were reading my mind? But..."
"Donna, don't panic. It's-"
"Don't panic? I tell you who's going to panic, love!" She stared at her for a moment. "What do you mean, you blocked them? Can I do that too?"
"No, Donna, I'm afraid not."
"Why not? Is it a thing in your universe?"
"No," she sighed. "I'm psychic, that's why I can do it. Some humans are like that. Here and in my universe. Not everyone is able to block their minds though. That's just how my brain works. I can interact with... With other telepaths."
"But you said you're not a telepath!"
"I'm not. I'm an empath. I can sense your emotions. I know what you're feeling. It's like when you see someone crying, you know they're sad. But I don't need to see it, I can feel it. But I can't read minds. I can only interact with other psychic people in... some ways."
"Oh." It was rather clear from the look on Donna's face that she wasn't much wiser than five minutes ago. Well, a little bit wiser maybe.
"It's really not that important, Donna."
"So you know what everyone is feeling? All the time? Is that not pretty annoying?"
"It can be."
"Does he know?"
"Yeah, he does."
"Hm."
…
It hadn't taken Evelina long to recover. Right now Donna was trying on a purple robe and a shawl. Evelina had offered her some of her clothes as well, but she had kindly refused. It looked lovely, but wrapping herself in all that fabric didn't seem to be the most practical thing to do right now.
"You're not supposed to laugh," Donna said to Evelina as she was looking at herself in the mirror, wrapping the shawl around herself. "Thanks for that. What do you think? The Goddess Venus."
"Oh, that's sacrilege," Evelina replied laughingly.
"Donna," she tried to stop her once again from getting them all into trouble.
"Nice to see you laugh, though," Donna ignored her. "What do you do in old Pompeii, then, girls your age? You got mates? Do you go hanging about round the shops? TK Maximus?"
"I am promised to the Sisterhood for the rest of my life," Evelina replied.
"Do you get any choice in that?" Donna asked.
"It's not my decision," Evelina shook her head. "The Sisters chose for me. I have the gift of sight."
"Then what can you see happening tomorrow?" Donna asked, ignoring the warning look Mira gave her.
"Is tomorrow special?"
"You tell me. What do you see?"
"The sun will rise, the sun will set. Nothing special at all," Evelina replied.
"Look, don't tell the Doctor I said anything because he'll kill me, but I've got a prophecy too."
"Donna, don't," she tried again to stop her. But, on the other hand, had anyone listened to Donna so far? Not really. They did believe in soothsayers, true, but they didn't know Donna. Why would they believe her if even the city's Augur's predictions differed?
Evelina on the other hand reacted strangely by covering her eyes. It only took her a second to work out that she was talking telepathically to the sisterhood. For a moment she considered blocking it, but then again, it was high time someone had a talk with them to work out what was going on with all this soothsaying. Maybe not all was lost just now. Maybe some other force had their hands in it, and there was indeed something that could be done. And she was determined to find out, and reading their minds when they were using telepathy was the first step.
"Evelina, I'm sorry, but you've got to hear me out," Donna continued. "Evelina, can you hear me? Listen."
"There is only one prophecy," Evelina said, still covering her eyes. And she was also thinking about the location of the Sibylline temple.
"But everything I'm about to say to you is true, I swear," Donna said. "Just listen to me. Tomorrow, that mountain is going to explode. Evelina, please listen. The air is going to fill with ash and rocks, tons and tons of it, and this whole town is going to get buried."
"That's not true."
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, but everyone's going to die," Donna said. "Even if you don't believe me, just tell your family to get out of town. Just for one day. Just for tomorrow. But you've got to get out. You've got to leave Pompeii."
"This is false prophecy," Evelina replied, still telepathically talking to the sisterhood.
Suddenly, a thought popped into her head.
The false prophet must die. Sacrifice her.
That had been a reply from the sisterhood to Evelina. She took Donna by the arm and pulled her aside, out of earshot. After making sure Evelina didn't read their minds, she whispered, "Donna, listen. You're in danger. They think your a false prophet and want to kill you."
"What!? Why? I'm just trying to save them!"
"Yes, but they don't know that. Let's find the Doctor."
But he was nowhere to be found. Typical. Don't wander off obviously only applied to his companions. Now the question was, would the Sibylline sisterhood dare to kill Donna here in Caecilius' house? Should she stay with Donna and try to protect her or go to the temple and find out what this was all about? She wasn't entirely sure but there was a good chance Evelina hadn't told them about herself. She had only mentioned Donna. So going there might be her best option.
Doctor
Whilst Donna and Mira looked after Evelina, he had a closer look at the hypocaust, removing the grill.
"Different sort of hypocaust?" he asked.
"Oh, yes," Caecilius explained, holding an oil candle. "We're very advanced in Pompeii. In Rome, they're still using the old wood-burning furnaces, but we've got hot springs, leading from Vesuvius itself."
"Who thought of that?" he asked.
"The soothsayers, after the great earthquake, seventeen years ago. An awful lot of damage. But we rebuilt." Caecilius sat down on the bench next to the hypocaust.
"Didn't you think of moving away?" he asked, but then he remembered that humans had a habit of not doing the most sensible thing, and added, "Oh no, then again, San Francisco."
"That's a new restaurant in Naples, isn't it?" Just then a noise emerged from the now open hypocaust, almost like a hissing, sighing noise of something being alive.
"What's that noise?"
"Don't know. Happens all the time," Caecilius replied warily. "They say the gods of the Underworld are stirring."
"But after the earthquake, let me guess. Is that when the soothsayers started making sense?" A theory began to form in his head, but there were still too many unknown factors to be certain just yet. Or, in other words, he didn't quite know yet what to be certain about, but it began to take shape in his head nevertheless.
"Oh, yes, very much so," Caecilius replied. "I mean, they'd always been, shall we say, imprecise? But then the soothsayers, the augurs, the haruspex, all of them, they saw the truth again and again. It's quite amazing. They can predict crops and rainfall with absolute precision."
"Haven't they said anything about tomorrow?"
"No. Why, should they? Why do you ask?"
"No, no. No reason. I'm just asking," he replied. "But the soothsayers, they all consume the vapours, yeah?"
"That's how they see."
"Ipso facto."
"Look you."
"They're all consuming this," he said. "Tiny particles of rock. They're breathing in Vesuvius."
Now there was a connection. He wasn't quite sure what sort of connection, but now, together with Lucius' weird behaviour earlier, things started to make sense. For a moment he thought about talking to Mira about the psychic abilities of the people here, as it had been his plan, but that could wait. He was onto something, and maybe he would get all the answers he needed. Mira would stay here with Donna. They could always flee into the TARDIS if it got too dangerous. So his plan was set. But it probably was better to ask Quintus, not Caecilius. He looked around and found Quintus lying on a couch, drinking wine. He was certainly living the good life.
"Quintus, me old son," he said and bent over him. "This Lucius Petrus Dextrus. Where does he live?"
"It's nothing to do with me," Quintus replied, waving his hand.
"Let me try again. This Lucius Petrus Dextrus," he waved his hand behind Quintus' head, pretending to pull a gold coin from behind his ear. Well, there actually was a gold coin in his hand, which he now presented to Quintus, but he hadn't actually pulled it from behind his ear. "Where does he live?"
…
They had reached Lucius' house. Night had fallen, so Quintus had brought a torch. He found an open window to enter Lucius' house and asked Quintus to hand him the torch. The room was empty, and, sure enough, there was a hypocaust as well, glowing red, the only source of light apart from the torch. A curtain was covering something. Something that could very well be... He pulled the curtain away.
"The liar," Quintus said as he saw the marble tiles. "He told my father it was the only one."
"Well, plenty of marble merchants in this town," he replied, examining the boards closer. "Tell them all the same thing, get all the components from different places, so no one can see what you're building."
He wasn't quite convinced by his own words though. Or rather, Lucius seemed to be a bit paranoid. How could anyone know here and now what that was supposed to be? They had no idea about those things. Not yet, and wouldn't for the next couple of millennias or so.
"Which is what?" Quintus asked. But before he could answer, Lucius entered the room, followed by guards.
"The future, Doctor," Lucius said. "We are building the future, as dictated by the gods."
Seemed like he finally would get some answers. There was just one thing bugging him. The boards where in the wrong order. It wouldn't work like that.
"Well, just let me get one thing straight," he said. "Put this one there." He started to rearrange the tiles, handing one to Quintus, moving around the others. "This one there," he took the tile from Quintus. "Er, keep that one upside down, and what you got?"
"Enlighten me," Lucius said.
"What, the soothsayer doesn't know?" he said mockingly. He just couldn't help himself sometimes.
"The seed may float on the breeze in any direction."
"Yeah, I knew you were going to say that," he said, and then added, more seriously, "But it's an energy converter."
"An energy converter of what?" Lucius asked. He really didn't have the hint of an idea. Just like him. But, contrary to him, Lucius didn't quite seem to enjoy it as much as he did.
"I don't know. Isn't that brilliant?" He beamed at him. "I love not knowing. Keeps me on my toes. It must be awful being a prophet, waking up every morning, is it raining? Yes, it is, I said so. Takes all the fun out of life. But who designed this, Lucius, hmm? Who gave you these instructions?"
"I think you've babbled enough."
Was he babbling? Really? "Lucius, really, tell me. Honestly, I'm on your side. I can help," he said.
"You insult the gods. There can be only one sentence. At arms."
How had he insulted the gods now? He hadn't even mentioned them. The guards didn't seem to care though as they drew their short swords, pointing them at him and Quintus.
"Oh, morituri te salutant." It was just too tempting.
"Celtic prayers won't help you now," Lucius said.
"But it was him, sir," Quintus, who had been rather quiet, said now. "He made me do it. Mister Dextrus, please don't."
"Come on now, Quintus," he whined. "Dignity in death. I respect your victory, Lucius. Shake on it? Come on. Dying man's wish?" As Lucius didn't move, he took a step forwards and reached for his arm, pulling at it. And just what he had expected happened. The arm broke clean off with the sound of cracking stone. Everyone stared at the stone hand and forearm he was holding.
"But he's..." Quintus started.
"Show me," he said, already knowing what he would see. Lucius threw his cloak back, revealing his right side. All of it had calcified.
"The work of the gods," Lucius said gravely.
"He's stone," Quintus said perplexed.
"Armless enough, though," he replied and threw the arm back to Lucius. "Quintus!"
Quintus threw the torch at a guard, which was distraction enough. After he had soniced the circuit board, causing the tiles to fall down, they leaped out through the same window they had come in.
Once out he started to run, pulling Quintus with him. It was clear that the boy hadn't moved that fast in a very long time. Then, after he was sure he had put enough distance between Lucius' guards and them, he stopped. "No sign of them. Nice little bit of allons-y. I think we're all right."
"But his arm, Doctor. Is that what's happening to Evelina?" Quintus asked.
He was afraid so, but before he could reply, they could hear a rumbling. Or rather, feel it.
"What was that?" he asked as it continued. It didn't feel like Vesuvius. It was closer. Way closer. It almost sounded like... ""Footsteps." He looked at Quintus.
"It can't be."
"Footsteps underground," he was now certain. "Run!"
...
Little later they reached the villa, followed by the noise and hypocaust grills along the street flying off. Well, he definitely had angered the gods of the underworld right now, but he still had no idea who those gods were.
"All of you, get out," he yelled as he entered.
"Doctor, what is it?" Donna asked.
Good, she was still here. But were was Mira? Maybe somewhere in the villa. "I think we're being followed." Just then the hypocaust grill in the villa flew off as well. "Just get out!"
"Doctor? There's something-" Donna started.
"Not now Donna," he gestured her to stop. "We have to get out!" But no-one moved. They all just stood and stared as the floor around the hypocaust cracked. A create seemingly made of stone and fire appeared through the hole, standing so tall it almost touched the ceiling.
"The gods are with us," Evelina breathed.
He wasn't quite sure what he was looking at just yet. But one thing he knew for certain. "Water. We need water. Quintus. All of you, get water. Donna!" Hot stone and water was hardly ever a good combination, and he hoped it would work this time as well.
"Blessed are we to see the gods!" the old slave said and stepped forwards. It was the last thing he would ever do – the creature breathed fire at him, burning him to ash instantly. At least now he was sure the creature wasn't exactly friendly.
"Talk to me. That's all I want," he tried it anyway. He had to. "Talk to me. Just tell me you are. Don't hurt these people." But no reaction. Well, on one hand it was good, as he was still standing there and not burned to ashes, but he still had no idea what he was dealing with. "Talk to me. I'm the Doctor. Just tell me who you are."
Just then Quintus and another slave returned with buckets, scooped water from the pond and threw it at the creature. Almost instantly the fire inside it went out and it stopped moving. Moments later it cracked and crumbled to the floor.
"What was it?" Caecilius asked into the silence that had fallen over the room.
"Carapace of stone, held together by internal magma," he explained. "Not too difficult to stop, but I reckon that's just the foot soldier."
"Doctor, or whatever your name is, you bring bad luck on this house," Metella accused him.
He heard that before. And it hurt, though it wasn't always his fault. He just appeared where things were about to happen – and for the people it must seem as if chaos and destruction were following him.
"I thought your son was brilliant," he finally said. "Aren't you going to thank him?" Then, quietly, he continued, "Still, if there are aliens at work in Pompeii, it's a good thing we stayed. Donna? Mira? Donna!" He looked around. Well, he had at least seen Donna only moments ago. But not Mira. Where had they gone? Both of them now? Really?
Mira
It hadn't been to hard to find the temple – in fact, the hardest part so far had been to convince Donna to stay in the house. Of course, Donna had agreed instantly, but it had taken a while to get her to actually mean it. She only hoped she was doing the right thing. But at least it hadn't been her to wander off first this time. He could have at least told them where he was going or when he intended to be back.
At least her plan had worked out so far – the Sibyls where willing to give her a chance she was one of them. She hoped this way she would get as much information as possible. There was just one hurdle to overcome as they were standing around her in a circle, waiting for her to make a prophecy about tomorrow. Unfortunately, she had not the slightest idea what they expected to happen. Not volcano day, that much was obvious.
"Uhm... The sun will rise. And it will set, and- Nothing special, really." She remembered what Evelina had said earlier, but they obviously waited for something more specific. "The weather..." She looked around, getting a bit nervous. She had fully relied on telepathy here, on getting all the information she needed from their thoughts. And then, finally, the Sibyls started to think about the prophecies for tomorrow, if only to see if she herself would tell the truth. She still wasn't sure how it was working for them, and it was completely different to the hints about the future she herself got occasionally.
"Someone has to make a decision," she said slowly, as that was what she could read in the sister's mind. She was dramatically staring into space, hoping to give a convincing performance. "A choice. It's..." She almost withdrew from the sister's mind as she could feel the full impact of what was about to happen. There were no details, just an overwhelming feeling of doom. "An awful choice."
"She speaks the truth!" one of the sisters said. "I am Spurrina. And you are one of us. So, there is only one false prophet in this city after all."
Well, that was at least progress she thought, as one of the sisters draped a red shawl around her shoulders. She just hoped they wouldn't insist on the white and black makeup. But soon the makeup should be the least of her problems. Just as she thought about how to proceed, Spurrina continued, "Now you have to prove your loyalty!"
She turned her head to where the rest of the sisters were looking, and saw how Donna was dragged in. Her hands were bound, and after a short struggle they had strapped her to the altar. Had they snatched her from the house or had she not been listening after all and wandered off as well? Nevermind, she thought, same difference now.
"Kill her!" Spurrina demanded, handing her a dagger.
She stared at the dagger for a split second, then grabbed it before Spurrina could change her mind. Big mistake, she thought. At least now she had a weapon, but she was still outnumbered. And she didn't really want to kill any of the sisters. Nor sacrifice Donna.
"Kill her! The false prophet has to die!" the sisters chanted around her.
"Mira, I'm sorry," Donna said. "I stayed in the house, I really did. You're not going to do what they say, are you?"
"Donna-"
"You know her?" Spurrina asked, becoming slightly suspicious.
"Well, do I, prophetess? You tell me," she asked in return. She moved backwards, trying to get everyone out of her back, Spurrina following her. Then, suddenly, she grabbed Spurrina, spun her around in her arms and held her close to her chest, her one arm bend behind her back, the dagger pointing at her throat. "You want a prophecy? I can give you one. Spurrina will be dead soon if you don't let Donna go!"
OneWhoReadsToMuch, denise3, NicoleR85: Thanks for leaving a review :-)
