My Rival, My Doctor

Chapter 40

Seeing a witch in Bedlam meant to run all the way back to Shakespeare's house. "The Carrionites disappeared way back at the dawn of the universe. Nobody was sure if they were real or legend," the Doctor explained hastily.

I cut in, "Right now, I'm leaning towards real."

"But what do they want?"

"A new empire on Earth," he suggested.

"A world of bones and blood and witchcraft." Aren't we just a cheery bunch?

Martha asked, "But how?"

"I'm looking at the man with the words." The Doctor smiled at Shakespeare.

"Me?" He insisted, "But I've done nothing."

"Hold on, though," she pondered, "What were you doing last night, when that Carrionite was in the room?" What? When did that happen?

"Finishing the play."

"What happens on the last page?"

"The boys get the girls. They have a bit of a dance. It's all as funny and thought provoking as usual," he paused, "Except those last few lines. Funny thing is, I don't actually remember writing them."

"That's it. They used you. They gave you the final words like a spell, like a code," I explained, "Love's Labours Won. It's a weapon."

"The right combination of words, spoken at the right place, with the shape of the Globe as an energy converter!" The Doctor said loudly, "The play's the thing!"

I smiled widely. "And yes, you can have that! Now, I'm going to need maps, 12 Jamie Dodgers, and a fez. Give me five minutes."

"Why do you need a fez?" Martha asked.

"His future," I rambled nervously, "Just ignore me. Cancel the Dodgers and the fez, but bring me the maps. And be quick with it, will you?" A horribly inaccurate map was placed in front of me. I pointed at the street. "All Hallows Street. There it is. Martha, Doctor, we'll track them down. Will, you get to the Globe. Whatever you do, stop that play," I instructed.

"I'll do it. All these years I've been the cleverest man around," Shakespeare sighed, "Next to you two, I know nothing."

"Oh, don't complain."

"I'm not. It's marvelous," he assured, "Good luck, Doctor."

"Good luck, Shakespeare," the Doctor looked at me stealthily, "'Once more unto the breach.'" I smiled, laughing a bit.

"I like that," Shakespeare realized, "Wait a minute, that's one of mine."

We ran. No surprise there, but we ran to All Hallows Street in the night. The Doctor muttered, "All Hallows Street, but which house?"

"The thing is, though am I missing something here?" Martha struggled, "The world didn't end in 1599. It just didn't. Look at me. I'm living proof."

"Oh, how to explain the mechanics of the infinite temporal flux?" He sighed.

"I know. Back to the Future."

"It's like Back to the Future."

"The film?" she made sure.

"No, the novelization," I replied sarcastically.

"Yes, the film," he scoffed, "Marty McFly goes back and changes history."

"And he starts fading away. Oh my God, am I going to fade?"

"You and the entire future of the human race. It ends right now in 1599 if we don't stop it," he repeated, "But which house?" A door to one of the houses creaked open omnisciently. "Ah. Make that witch house."