Do you hear the Whisper Men?
The Whisper Men are near.
If you hear the Whisper Men,
Then turn away your ear.
Do not hear the Whisper Men,
Whatever else you do.
For once you've heard the Whisper Men.
They'll stop...
And look at you.
***
In the dining room, Angie groaned as she saw Clara whisking something in a bowl. "Oh, no... You're going to try and make a soufflé again, aren't you?"
"My mum's soufflé, yeah," Clara nodded. "Although this time, I'll get it right. This time I will be Soufflé Girl."
Artie raised his eyebrows. "How can it be your mum's soufflé if you're making it?"
"Because, Artie, it's like my mum always said," Clara explained. "The soufflé isn't the soufflé, the soufflé is the recipe."
Angie wrinkled her nose. "Was your mum deep on puddings?"
Clara smiled, remembering. "She was a great woman." Her gaze dropped to an envelope on the kitchen table, addressed to her. "What's this?" She turned it over, reading the words 'open when alone' written in neat cursive on the back.
"Oh, it arrived today," Angie told her. "It's for you."
***
A little while later, Clara had taken the letter upstairs to read.
My dearest Clara,
The Doctor and the Angel entrusted me with your contact details in the event of an emergency, and I fear one has now arisen. Assuming this letter will have reached you as planned, on April the tenth, 2030, please find and light the enclosed candle. It will release a soporific which will induce a trance state, enabling direct communication across the years.
Clara wrinkled her nose, fishing the candle out of the envelope and flinging it onto her desk.
However, as I realise you have no reason to trust this letter, I have taken the liberty of embedding the same soporific into the fabric of the paper you are now holding. Speak soon.
Within seconds, Clara was unconscious on the floor.
***
Vastra smiled as Clara awoke in a strangely lit room. They were both sat at a five-sided table with Jenny and Strax. The only other seat was empty. "So glad you could make it."
Clara swallowed, looking around. "Where am I?"
"Exactly where you were, but sleeping," Jenny explained reassuringly.
"Time travel has always been possible in dreams," Vastra added, handing Clara a cup of tea. "We are awaiting only one more participant."
"Oh, no," Strax groaned. "Not the one with the gigantic head?"
Jenny rolled her eyes. "It's hair, Strax."
He made a face. "Hair..."
The fifth participant arrived in a puff of smoke, smiling pleasantly at her host. "Madame Vastra."
YOU ARE READING
One Last Chance |6| The Ascension
Science Fiction✅ approx. 215,000 words After the horrors of the war against Thanos, the Doctor and McKenzie are finally together again, albeit missing a limb. But that isn't the only thing they are bereft of. The death of their son cut them to the core and they wi...
