Flushed
Chapter 6: End of the Road
“I can’t believe you had chips in that black hole you call a
galley.” Rose shook her head in amusement at Jamie’s teasing. “No, really. How
does one survive with only malt vinegar and salt packets, anyway?”
Rose giggled softly at his wild gesturing before answering
quietly. “It’s been hard since Dad got run over getting that fake stone. But I
make sure Mum and Tony don’t have to do without.”
Jamie looked down at his plate, wishing he hadn’t mentioned the
sorry state of the Bad Wolf’s
cabinets. “Well, we’ll just have to make sure to grab a bite before you leave
Gallifrey, won’t we. Should be plenty in the larder if you want to take a doggy
bag on your way out.”
After a moment of awkward silence, Jamie stood and collected the
dishes to return them to the galley. “I will get you that real diamond, you
know.” Her eyes followed him as he took their plates below as Rose fought down
the first vestiges of hope she had felt since her dad’s accident. There was
still too much that could go wrong, even if she did want to trust Jamie.
___________
The buzz of electric motors reverberating off the sewer walls woke
Rose and Jamie the next morning.
“It’s them! We have to go. Now!” Rose pushed Jamie toward the
stern to look out for Rassilon’s hench-rats before vaulting over to the
wheelhouse and starting the engine. “Get that anchor pulled! Don’t just stand
there!”
Jamie found a big red button next to the base of the mechanical
hand and, crossing his fingers, slammed his paw on it. A winch quickly lifted
the large fishing weight out of the water. As soon as it was clear, Rose gunned
the engine, a rooster tail of spray marking their passage.
“They’re here” Jamie yelled over his shoulder, keeping his eyes on
the rapidly approaching figures.
“Come on, Old Girl! Let’s show those boys what we’ve got” Rose shouted.
“Better hang on to something, Jamie.” As she spoke Rose spun the wheel, causing
the Bad Wolf to turn sharply into a
small side tunnel. Pressing a button, she yelled “Up!” The mechanical hand grabbed
a pipe that crossed the tunnel, and used the forward momentum to swing the Bad Wolf higher into the air, leaving
Sec and Thay behind.
Jamie clung to the railing for dear life as the hand repeated its aerial
stunt up a small ventilation shaft in the sewer ceiling. As the Bad Wolf climbed closer to the top of
the shaft, Jamie spotted frogs dressed in black bodysuits jumping up the pipes
behind them. “Frogs!” he yelled to Rose, causing her to swear colorfully before
gathering her maps and shrugging a stuffed backpack onto her shoulders.
Just as the Bad Wolf
cleared the top of the vent shaft, the frogs started hopping aboard. Rose
grabbed Jamie, pulling him behind her as she clambered onto the railing. Throwing
an arm around his narrow waist, she jumped, pulling the strap of the backpack.
A thin, white grocery bag burst open, catching the wind and carrying Rose and
Jamie out of reach of the frogs.
Looking down sadly as the Bad Wolf fell back into the sewer, Rose
whispered goodbye. The mechanical hand waved until the Bad Wolf hit the water below, breaking apart and being carried away
by the rushing current.
Wiping her eyes on her sleeve, Rose looked at Jamie. “So, where’s
home?”
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