"We're nearly there! Come on!" shouted the Doctor. He rounded the corner, narrowly avoided knocking over a street stall and then ran into the tardis, with a bang.
"Haha well done"' I said running up breathlessly beside him.
He pulled me inside. "This is no joking matter, whatever it is that is attempting to control the tardis is getting stronger and I still don't know what it is."
"Did you not find anything out at the spring then?"
"I found an essence of a power source, one that might have been there but not anymore...."
The tardis rumbled. "Here we go again".
In what seemed like 5 minutes to them but was actually 1,800 years or so later the tardis rematerialised.
"Woo that was a bumpy ride. So glad it's over!" I said, leaving the Tardis and feeling rather sick. "When are we now do you think?"
"August 2012." The Doctor said.
"That's an impressive guess. How'd you figure that out?"
"well the amount of noise and air pollution, the style of the clothes etc."
"Or you just saw the poster for the London Olympics?" I said nudging him.
"well, and that!"
"I wonder if the baths are still here or have been forgotten about" I said starting to walk down the streets.
"It wouldn't be surprising if they had been lost, it happens quite a lot."
"But the tardis was drawn here so wouldn't that mean the power was still here?"
"Potentially. But the power may be completely unconnected to the baths."
"Well we might be in luck... 'Cus I think they still know about the baths and they may have become a major tourist attraction...'
We had come out of a small crowded street onto an open courtyard filled with bustling people. To the left was a huge and impressive looking abbey, but more importantly straight ahead was a mock roman building with the words 'Roman Baths' proudly displayed above the door. People were milling about outside the door in what appeared to be very large and busy queue There were two men in suits and one woman in a blue shirt directing people in and towards the queue.
"Come on. Let's pay another visits"
As they approached the door the woman saw us and came forward.
"Can I help you guys? Are you looking to visit the museum?"
"Museum? I love museums" the Doctor said.
"Haha. It's always good to see someone enthusiastic about visiting! Are you buying a ticket or do you have discovery cards?"
The Doctor routed in his pocket for his psychic paper, pulling it out.
"Discovery cards!"
"Awesome, if you'd like to follow me I can take you straight through avoiding the queue' she beamed.
"So what do you have here then?"
"Well,"she said grabbing a leaflet as she passed and passing one to us, "We actually have quite a lot here. We have a rather large museum complex, which goes through the site and artifacts we found here. As well as how people would have lived and worshipped here. And then we have the actually roman level so you get to walk around the Great Bath, that's what we are famous for, which is still running, (we are the only working bath house in all of England) and the Sacred Spring/Kings Bath, and several other roman baths and rooms. You also get a free audio guide, and get to try the famous spa water if you fancy. Is there anything else you want to know?"
"Umm nope that sounds good!"
"Cool, well here we are' she said un-clipping the barrier. "If you head round the desk you can pick up your free audio guide. Enjoy your visit guys!"
"Thanks! Ooo please can we just go round the museum before investigating?" I asked.
"Yeah go on. I do like museums!' he smiled.
"Hey guys wpuld you like an audio guide?"
"Oh yes please!" I smiled.
"English? Help yourselves to ones along the desk. Press one and the green button to start."
"one and green. Got it" I said picking two up.
"What does that mean?" The doctor said pointing to a big circular symbol on top of the audio guide charging boxes.
"Oh that's the world heritage symbol." The man replied. "There is one on the street outside the exit too"
"Ok thanks!"
I headed through the entrance and to the window that over looked the Great Bath which was now below street level.
"Oh look at this! There is a cartoon of Apulia!" I said pointing to a sign next to me. "I think it is advertising the children's audio guide, I am so listening to that! one... one... one... right lets go!"
An hour or so of wondering through the museum and we walked through an automatic door and came out onto the Great Bath. The magnificent Roman structure, although half replaced by later additions, was still as impressive 2000 years later. The square Roman pillars had been replaced by Victorian adaptation which reached up to support a walkway around the top of the Great Bath which tourists were walking around. The fantastic arched ceiling that Sulinus and Bruceus had spent so long constructing was now gone, the Baths being open to the air, two large pieces of the stone roof were on display around the edge of the Bath. Due to the Bath now being open to the air, sunlight sparkled on the slowly rippling green water. The floor was still the original Roman floor, now 2000 years old, broken in places and incredibly worn down. Tourists milled around the edge of the Bath, taking photos, sitting on the steps and chatting, enjoying the rare amount of sunshine for an English summer. There were groups of children or teenagers pretending to push each other in and then running away giggling when the museum guides wondered over. To some it might seem to take away from the overall effect of the baths but to me it simply reminded me of how it looked when the Romans were using it; full of life and activity, everyone having fun and playing in the water.
I smiled, "this is still a fantastic place despite only being half here."
“Back to the main entrance, I want to have a closer look at that desk.”
“The big box with the audio guides? I noticed you looking at that strangely.”
“Yeah, I’ve picked up some strange signals from it but not sure what they are.” The Doctor said as he started walking down the dark corridor. “come on, let’s try not to attract too much attention this time!”
“Mind control? That’s never good.” I said uneasily.
"That it is." The Doctor smiled. "The Romans have a way of making a mark."
We wondered around the Bath and sat down by the edge of the Bath in the sun. The Doctor began to trail his hand in the water absentmindedly.
"Doctor I wouldn't do that, the water doesn't look very clean."
"Hi there guys!" A member of staff bounced up, "Just to let you know, the water is actually very dirty, so we advise people not to touch it."
"Oh yes!" the Doctor said, as if snapping out of a dream.
"I did say it was dirty" I said apologetically.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't really help myself." The Doctor said.
"Thats ok." The guide smiled. She was a young woman, with striking blonde hair which fell in tight curls around her face, spilling out of a ponytail. She had grey-blue eyes which lit up when she smiled. The name badge on her blue uniform shirt read 'Rosa', and I remembered the young Roman slave named Rosa who helped me in the spa. "Lots of people do touch it, seems like people just can't help but to touch it! But it is green, and open to the air so it is very dirty, so if you could make sure you wash your hands before you leave."
"No problem! Man I can't take you anywhere!" I said nudging the Doctor and rooted around in his jacket pocket and pulling out a bottle of hand disinfectant.
He smiled and got up, stretching his legs out.
"So I heard someone say there are guided tours...?" he asked.
"Yep! The next one is in ten minutes and I'll be taking it." Rosa said.
"Awesome! Shall we go on it?" The Doctor asked me.
"Yeah sounds great!" I agreed.
"HEY!" The shout ripped through the hum of tourists around the Bath, silencing all but the most stubborn of children. "How dare you get up there! Get down at once!" A male guide was shouting across the Bath at a small boy who had stood one of the pillar bases protruding into the Bath, but who was now cowering under the onslaught. The shouting guide quickly ran over to the offending child and man handled him back to the floor. The child's parents had since joined and were shouting back at the guide.
"How dare you treat my child like this!" Screeched the mother.
"Do you understand how dangerous that was?! How dare you leave your child unattended like that!"
The argument appeared to be getting more and more heated and the guide suddenly broke off, unclipping his radio from his belt.
"Security! I need assistance down by the Great Bath immediately!"
A reply buzzed through the radio and the guide stood there looking smug. The family looked furious.
A minute later a large muscled man in a suit came down to the area. I recognised him as one of the men from the front of the museum dealing with the groups. He had a quick word with the guide and then addressed the family.
"I am sorry but if you could follow me please."
The family started to protest.
"I am sorry but can you please vacate the premises." The security guard started ushering the family to the exit with the angry guide following. A strange hush had descended around the baths. However people continued to enter the Bath who had missed the drama unfolding so the volume soon returned to normal as people continued on with their visit.
"Well... thats a strange way to behave..." the Doctor said after a while.
"Oh my gosh" Stuttered Rosa, "I am so sorry you had to see that! That has never happened before!"
"Its ok, he was probably having a bad day. He looked almost possessed..." The Doctor mused.
"Never mind about that" I said. "How about that tour Rosa?"
“yes! Right then guys! I think it is time we started the tour, if you have any questions while we
go feel free to ask at any point. Just a small bit of health and safety while
we are going round the site please be careful of your footing, we are actually
walking on the original 2000 year old paving slabs and they are quite slippy
and uneven so please be careful. And also I know how appetising the green water
looks but if you could please refrain from touching it that would be super; we
do now have a fountain at the end of the museum where you can try the water for
free! We are going to start up at the Sacred Spring with a little bit about the
history of the site.”
***
“So
why are we coming back to the museum?”
“Because
they said they put the torches on at night and it is meant to be more
impressive!”
“Uh
ha and that is the only reason we are coming back? Cool, I’ll hold you to
that.”
The
Doctor grinned, “Come on they are just about to shut the doors.”
“Why
do I always get a bad feeling when you hide stuff from me?” I sighed.
We
re-entered the Baths, the Doctor flashing the ‘discovery cards’ as went in.
“No
audio-guides this time thanks, we came in this morning and just came back to
view the torches!” The Doctor said as he rushed past the issue desk.
We
walked briskly through the museum to get straight down to the Great Bath.
“You
were right” I said, as we walked out onto the Roman remains.
“Hmmm?”
The Doctor said, pulling his screwdriver out of his pocket.
“That
it is more atmospheric, the torches are a nice touch and it is much nicer
without all the people and tourists. Oh and that angry guide!”
“Yeah,
that guide was a bit strange…” he muttered, starting to wave the screwdriver in
an increasing arc.
“What
are you doing?”
“Testing.”
“Testing
what?”
“A
theory.”
“Fine
if you won’t tell me I’ll stop asking” I said and wondered off to sit by the
edge of the Great Bath. “It seems so weird…” I half murmured to myself. “Earlier
today I was hanging out with Apulia in this very spot and now the place is in
ruins and she has been dead for nearly 2000 years…”
The
Doctor stopped what he was doing and came to sit by me, “You can’t think like
that” he said, putting his arm around me. “We had a great
time with Apulia and she may be dead now but this museum has brought her back
to life and she is remembered not only by us but also by all these visitors who
see the actors and listen to her on the audio guide. Now not many people can
say that!”
“That
is true,” I smiled, “she would have loved to know that she is now helping to
educate children! Just kinda makes you think that’s all…”
“Well
enough of that!" He said, giving me a squeeze. "Make yourself useful and go find us a suitable hiding spot,
we’re staying out late!”
I looked over at him and saw his mad yet contagious grin. I grinned back."Ok, I think I may have spied a cupboard earlier on that might be useful!"
"Ahh such a useful companion!" The Doctor said getting back up and continuing his 'testing'.
It
was eleven oclock at night. The museum was dark. All the tourists and staff had
left. The only person around was the night watchman, sat in his office,
drinking tea and watching the CCTV cameras. A cupboard door opened a crack,
spilling light into the dark museum corridor.
“You could have found a more spacious cupboard
to hide in.” The Doctor grumbled, poking his head out. “My leg has gone dead!”
“Hey, I didn’t get that much time to find
somewhere! We had space to play cards, so I don’t know what you are complaining
about.” I said extracting myself from the small space and stretching my legs
with a groan. “Now! Where are we headed?”
We
headed through a door and worked our way back up the museum, having only been
here twice the Doctor seemed to have a good idea of where we were going which
was useful as I felt completely lost. After a short time we had made it back
onto the inner terrace, just behind the main entrance. The Doctor slowed and signalled
me to stop. He nudged his head around the door and poked the screwdriver ahead
of him. He pulled it back and studied the readings.
“All clear. Come on!” He whispered and
slipped round the door. I quickly followed, jogging slightly to keep up. We
stepped up behind the desk. The glass top looking dull in the darkness. The
boxes of audio guides glowed in the darkness with the charging lights showing
red and green. It looked like some sort of square Christmas tree.
The Doctor started walking slowly around, waving his screwdriver from left to right and up and down. He stopped and studied the readings.
The Doctor started walking slowly around, waving his screwdriver from left to right and up and down. He stopped and studied the readings.
“What have you found?”
“There is a strong signal being received and
then relayed from that symbol thing.” The Doctor said pointing.
“The world heritage symbol?”
“Yeah.” The doctor ‘sonic-ed’ it again. “Can’t
find the source, but it appears to be some sort of mind control becon…”
"Oh no" I groaned. "That's never good."
"Oh no" I groaned. "That's never good."
“No…” The Doctor said, frowning. "But it explains why that guide was so odd in yelling at that child..."
“Hey! What do you guys think you are doing?” The
night-watchman yelled.
“Sh-”
“Run!” The
Doctor yelled.
To be Continued.
*oooooooooowwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeooooooooooooooodooooooooooooodadoooooooooodoooooooooodooooooooooodooooooooooodoooooooooodadooooooooooo*
Read the next instalment in Doctor Who and Malum Sanatore
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