Doctor Who: Transit by Ben Aaronovitch Read Free Book Online

superstructure, its windows were opaque with dirt, the inside smelt strongly of sweat and urine.
    Kadiatu warned the Doctor not to sit down.
    At the rear of the compartment a filthy bundle of rags unfolded, and yellow eyes glared at them from under a leather slouch hat.
    'Who's that?' asked the Doctor.
    'That's the conductor.'
    The conductor grunted in their direction before shambling over to the open doorway. When he leaned out Kadiatu caught a glimpse of gunmetal blue slung beneath his jacket.
    'Anymore for anymore,' shouted the conductor.
    Satisfied that no one else was boarding, the conductor collapsed back into his seat. The doors closed with a wheeze of ageing hydraulics and the train lurched off towards the gateway. There was a jolt as the carriage penetrated the interface, shafts of light strobed through the imperfect shielding. The seats were too sticky to sit on, so Kadiatu and the Doctor hung on to the straps against the train's erratic motion.
    'First stop,' called the conductor from the back. 'Women's clothing, lingerie, pharmaceuticals.'
    The train slowed as it entered the first station but it didn't stop. Instead the doors cranked open on override as they coasted slowly through. On the platform crowds of people milled around stalls and bundles of merchandise. The smell of cheap perfume wafted inside the carriage. A woman jumped nimbly onboard near the front of the carriage, and somebody on the platform started throwing bundles of cloth which she caught. By the end of the station she had a small pile stacked on the seats beside her. There was another jolt, the doors closed and they were in the tunnel again. The woman looked over at Kadiatu and the Doctor but didn't say anything. That was the cardinal rule of the connection - no business on the train.
    'Second stop,' called the conductor. 'Sporting goods and leisurewear.'
    Again the train coasted through a station with its doors jammed open. This time two Vriks jumped on, a boy and a giri high-caste Brahmin types with short black hair and grey eyes The girl stacked her long board along the seats, the boy kepi hold of his beatbox, hefting it like a weapon.
    'Who are they?' asked the Doctor.
    'Free surfers,' said Kadiatu. The Doctor must really be outsystem not to know that. 'What's the matter,' she called to the Vriks, 'cracked board or has the music stopped work ing?'
    The girl snarled at Kadiatu who kissed her teeth in return.
    'Manners,' said the Doctor to no one in particular.
    The Vriks grabbed their straps as the train lurched off into the next tunnel. The Vriks had wild eyes from too muct unshielded transit, the rich kid's lifestyle, live fast and die flat against an oncoming train.
    'Third stop,' called the conductor. 'Catamites, courtesans and computer processing.'
    'Time to get off,' Kadiatu told the Doctor as the doors opened. With a brief wave at the Vriks she jumped from the carriage. She came down harder than she meant and stumbled; behind her the Doctor landed on the platform like a cat.
    There were no stalls set up on the station platform, instead flickering holograms above the exits pulled at the eye. Looking at them made Kadiatu feel hot and bothered. Probably packed with subliminals, thought Kadiatu and glanced back to see how the Doctor was doing. He'd stopped to look at one of the holograms. It showed a woman in abbreviated Ice-Warrior armour chained against a wall of folded neon. The thrust of her hips promised aggression and imminent violation. 'Ice Maiden's' famous logo, the iconography of the thousand days war. The Doctor's face was intent as he examined the hologram, not aroused, merely curious as if the writhing figure was an anthropological exhibit.
    'What about love?' said the Doctor.
    What about love? Love was a black rose and a missing moneypen, a rip off waiting for you to drop your guard.
    'Sex and death are pretty close. I guess,' said Kadiatu.
    'Only in humans,' said the Doctor.
    Ice Maiden's entrance was through the far exit and