Doctor Who: War Machine Read Online Free

Good Samaritan work first.’
    ‘Like what?’
    ‘Remember the sailor at the weekend?’
    ‘Propping up the bar?’
    ‘Right.’
    ‘Not especially.’
    ‘Well, he’s here again And it’s giving the place a bad name.’
    ‘Not behaving?’
    ‘Behaving all right. But he’s so miserable he’s putting a damper on the place.’
    ‘What can I do about it?’
    ‘If you set your mind to it..
    ‘Okay. Flattery will get you anywhere.’
    ‘There he is, at the end of the bar. He just sits and mopes.’
    ‘So I see. No great advertisement for the place, is he?’ They could see through the crowd a naval rating, sitting on a high stool at the end of the bar, looking balefully at nothing.
    ‘He really has a problem,’ Polly agreed. ‘I might need your help, Dodo. Stick with me.’
    Dodo followed her. Polly looked as though she were going to walk past the young man, but she stopped suddenly.
    ‘Well, hello!’ she said in surprise. ‘Didn’t we meet a couple of days ago?’
    He gradually focused on her. A tiny flicker of interest managed to creep into his eyes.
    ‘I think we did.’
    ‘You think?’ Polly appeared to be indignant. ‘You think we met! I must have made a real impression!’ ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean that.’
    ‘Sorry! He says he’s sorry!’ Polly gestured to Dodo in disgust. ‘And as I remember it you were just as cheerful last time.’
    ‘No law against that, is there?’ said the sailor.
    ‘Not if you’ve nothing better to do... And with that face. Look... I’ll show you.’
    She climbed onto the next stool and imitated the sailor’s glum expression.
    ‘Bad as that?’ he asked as he watched her.
    ‘Worse,’ she told him. ‘What’s the problem?’ ‘You wouldn’t understand.’
    ‘Try me.’
    ‘You’d think I’m some kind of nut.’
    ‘You probably are. But press on regardless.’
    ‘Well... It’s my ship... and my mates... They’ve gone off to the West Indies, and I’ve got a shore posting... for the next six months.’
    ‘I see. So you’re missing all that South Sea Island stuff. Waving palms, blue skies, warm seas, white beaches. You’re stuck here in barracks?’
    ‘If you’ve finished cheering me up..
    ‘Come on, Dodo. I can’t stand someone who’s sorry for himself... and can’t take a joke.’
    She started to move away, but her way was barred by a tall young man with long hair and a smug expression. ‘Try me, darling,’ he said confidently. ‘I’ve got a great sense of humour.’
    ‘You’d have to have,’ agreed Polly. ‘And get your arm out of the way.’
    ‘You don’t mean it.’
    ‘It might surprise you... ’ began Polly.
    ‘Flash is the name.’
    ‘It might surprise you, Flash, but I find you tedious.’ ‘Promise you, darling, you’ll have a better time with me than with Shorty here –’ He jerked his thumb at the sailor. ‘So let’s give it a go.’
    He grabbed her arm and moved towards the dancers. Polly pulled away.
    The sailor slipped off the high stool. ‘On your way, mate,’ he said.
    ‘Go and play toy boats,’ said Flash unpleasantly.
    ‘Push off, half-pint.’
    The sailor moved so fast that Flash didn’t have a chance. He was in a grip that had him helpless. ‘Lay off! You’ll break my back!’
    ‘Time you went home,’ said the sailor quietly. He let the other man go. Flash spun round on hint, but the sailor was ready, karate-style.
    ‘I said, go home.’
    For a couple of seconds Flash thought about snatching up a handy bottle, but he changed his mind. ‘You’ve put my back out,’ he grimaced. ‘I’ll sue you for that.’
    ‘You do that,’ said the sailor.
    As Flash made for the exit, Polly said, ‘Thanks. I owe you for that, sailor... Or do you have a name?’ He let his face crack into a smile. ‘Ben,’ he said. ‘Ben Jackson.’
    From where she stood Kitty watched the two of them move onto the dance floor.
    ‘Nice going,’ she said under her breath.
    The Doctor viewed with approval the way they had