Doctor Who: The Many Hands Read Online Free

a natural end. All the same, Martha gave
the Captain the same look she would have if the
crowd had all spontaneously cheered and carried
her around the market on its shoulders. If she could
stay out of prison, she'd have a much better chance of
being able to help the Doctor.
    Captain McAllister looked her up and down.
    'You are wearing pantaloons,' he said pointedly.
    Martha looked down at herself, and realised that he
was talking about her jeans. She almost laughed out
loud, despite the funny look on the Doctor's face.
    'What, and that's against the law is it?'
    'Ah, actually it is,' the Doctor muttered into her ear.
'For women. Sorry.'
    Martha looked from the Doctor to the frowning
soldier. Right, OK – so she was actually going to be
arrested for crimes against fashion. Tish was right
after all.
    Martha crooked her arm at the Doctor.
    'Doctor?' she said.
    'Miss Jones,' the Doctor agreed.
    And they walked back up the slope of Fishmarket
Close towards the Royal Mile, arm in arm.

    THREE
    The soldiers kept near as they trudged back up the
lethal slope to the Royal Mile – one of the three
pacing in front, whilst the other marched behind
under the watchful glare of Captain McAllister. The
street hadn't become any less busy in the last few
minutes, but Martha found going up a lot easier than
coming down. The presence of the soldiers created a
bubble around her and the Doctor: people paused on
the edge of the Close as they were marched by, and
then carried on as normal.
    It reminded Martha oddly of a royal parade, but one
that was taking in the less scenic areas of the city and
was dogged by the pungent odour of fish wherever it
went. Every now and again, someone who hadn't seen
the stagecoach drama would cross their path and stop
in wonderment. As they were pulled out of the way
by a throng of clutching hands, the sound of voices
increased as everybody in the crowd tried to tell the
newcomer the news.
    Martha clung on tight to the Doctor. He smiled at
the crowds cheerfully.
    'So who was in the stagecoach?' Martha hissed.
    'Only one of this century's most brilliant minds,'
the Doctor said. He didn't seem to care if the soldiers
overheard. Captain McAllister seemed content to
divide his time between belittling his men and giving
Martha evil looks, occasionally growling warningly at
the people who got in his way. 'You should know him:
he invented bi-focal spectacles. And the catheter.'
    'Right,' Martha said. 'I think I met him at a party
once.'
    'You don't know?' the Doctor asked, shocked.
    'No!' Martha laughed.
    'Quiet!' Captain McAllister barked behind them.
    'What did they teach you in that teaching
hospital?' the Doctor grumbled, completely ignoring
McAllister.
    'Oh you know,' Martha whispered. She wasn't quite
as certain as the Doctor that the Captain wouldn't
order his men to open fire just for some peace and
quiet. 'They just wasted time teaching us things like
how to save lives and ease human suffering.'
    'Appalling!' the Doctor cried.
    But he smiled that smile, and Martha couldn't
help returning it. No matter what it did to Captain
McAllister's mood.
    'So who was it?' Martha asked again.
    'Benjamin Franklin,' the Doctor answered.
    Martha snorted.
    'All right, don't tell me then.'
    'I did,' the Doctor protested. 'It was!'
    'Benjamin Franklin invented the catheter? You're
kidding.'
    The Doctor shook his head, the picture of wideeyed
innocence.
    'What would he be doing in Scotland anyway?' she
asked.
    'Well,' the Doctor said, scratching the side of
his nose with a finger. 'In 1759... I suppose he'd be
picking up his honorary degree from St Andrews
University. It's not far from here as the crow flies, and
it took him two weeks to get here: he'd want to do a
bit of sightseeing.'
    'Two weeks to get here from America?'
    'Oh no,' the Doctor said. 'It's two weeks to get here
from London. You're probably talking at least two
months to get here from America.'
    'They must be counting the days before someone
invents Travel Scrabble,'