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Show Dr'Anya nodded her head while she drank the cold water thirstily, holding the glass in both hands. The hall door into their sitting room had been slid back and all around them the Mews were as silent as death. The young Janni sprang out of her bed and rushed to the cupboard. "Good Nell," she whispered over her shoulder, "give a hand here if it please thee, 'tis black as pitch amongst these garments." Obediently, Nell glided across the room and looked into the cupboard, lighting the inside with her soft blue eyes. Janni seized a jerkin, tunic and leggings, a light shortdoublet, and a longdoublet and girdle. Nell leaned over and picked up a pair of soft boots for her. Then the android glided over to help Dr'Anya. In a few moments, the two women were dressed and the good Nell had tidied their hair. Dr'Anya followed young Janni and the android out of the room and into the hall. There was no need for talk now-Nell of a surety knew well what needs be done. The anxiety filling the two women was sore affecting the android too, thought Dr'Anya, for Nell had looked most furtive as she glanced up and down the hall before passing them through the door. The woman looked back. Aye, the door was dogged indeed from the outside, and she wondered, with heartfelt grief, how many other Doctors were locked in the BESPA Mews that night. Then she turned back and followed Nell and Janni down the tiled hall. At the halfway mark was a vestibule, flanked by twisted columns. Nell turned into it and mother and daughter followed her. Opening out of the vestibule was a double door, one side of which was slid halfway open. Nell glided through the opening 125 |