Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    Beautiful

     Chaos

    GARY RUSSELL

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1

Published in 2008 by BBC Books, an imprint of Ebury Publishing.

Ebury Publishing is a division of the Random House Group Ltd.

© Gary Russell, 2008

Gary Russell has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this Work in

accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988.

Doctor Who is a BBC Wales production for BBC One Executive Producers: RussellT Davies and Julie Gardner

Original series broadcast on BBC Television. Format © BBC 1963.

`Doctor Who', `TARDIS' and the Doctor Who logo are trademarks of the BritishBroadcasting Corporation and are used under licence. Mandragora Helix created byLouis Marks.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyrightowner.

The Random House Group Ltd Reg. No. 954009.

Addresses for companies within the Random House Group can be found at

www.randomhouse.co.uk.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978 1 846 07563 6

The Random House Group Limited supports the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC),the leading international forest certification organisation. All our titles that are printedon Greenpeace approved FSC certified paper carry the FSC logo. Our paper

procurement policy can be found at www.rbooks.co.uk/environment

Series Consultant: Justin Richards

Project Editor: Steve Tribe

Cover design by Lee Binding © BBC 2008

Typeset in Albertina and Deviant Strain

Printed and bound in Germany by GGP Media GmbH

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

        For Russell and Julie,for letting me play in the sandbox...

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Recent titles in the Doctor Who series:

MARTHA IN THE MIRROR

Justin Richards

SNOW GLOBE 7

Mike Tucker

THE MANY HANDS

Dale Smith

GHOSTS OF INDIA

Mark Morris

THE DOCTOR TRAP

Simon Messingham

SHINING DARKNESS

Mark Michalowski

THE STORY OF MARTHA

Dan Abnett

THE EYELESS

Lance Parkin

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

ONE DAY ...

It was raining up on the hill, the steady patter-patter-patterhitting the vast golfing umbrella like bullets on tin. Truthbe told, it was raining everywhere, but up on the hill, herein the allotment, that was the only place Wilfred Mottreally cared about it raining right now.

    Whenever it rained, he couldn't help but remember.That awful, awful day when he had come to the house,bringing Donna with him. Unconscious, unable toremember anything. For her own safety.

    Wilf remembered that final sight of the Doctor, soakedin the rain, his face streaked with water, hair drooping,clothes clinging tight to his skinny body. And his eyes, hiseyes looked so haunted, so sad, so lost. So, so old. Theylooked like the eyes of an old man, trapped in aridiculously young body. So miserable. So alone. Solonely.

    Then that marvellous blue box had vanished as Wilfsaluted it.

    And he'd never seen the Doctor again.

    But that didn't stop him looking, up there. Up into thenight sky, up into the stars that were only still therebecause of Donna. Up at the stars that warmed andilluminated countless planets, with countless lives thatowed their continued existence to Donna Noble. Whowould never know who could never know. Because ifshe did...

    He didn't want to think about that. He didn't entirely

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

understand it; he just trusted the Doctor. With his life. Andthe Doctor deserved that trust because he had saved themall.

    From the spaceships in the sky, from the Christmasstar, from that huge great Titanic, from the Adipose, theSontarans and the Daleks.

    And those were just the ones he knew about. He knewfrom Donna, Donna as she had been before, that therewere countless more.

    He shook his head at the scale of it all. And how smalland insignificant he was in comparison. But he didn'treally mind about that. Because the honour had been inknowing the Doctor.

    He reached into a damp pocket and pulled out an oldleather wallet. And from inside that, he pulled out somephotographs.

    One showed Donna on her wedding day, the weddingthat had never happened. Donna believed she had nevereven made it to the altar because poor Lance had gotcaught up in that business with the Christmas Starattacking the streets of London. Lance had died then thatwas the story he'd told her. Indeed, it was the story Wilftold everyone. And he also told Donna that she had beenso traumatised by Lance's death, that she'd gone to Egyptto get over the shock.

    Whatever it was that the Doctor had done to hermemories made her brain accept the story and find a wayto fit it together so she was convinced that was indeedwhat had happened. Perhaps that was the one good thingthat had come out of the `accident' her brain did that to

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

cope so, rather than a year or so of blankness, if you putan idea to her, she was able to rationalise it withoutquestion. Like a jigsaw where any pieces that didn't fitjust reshaped their edges to make sure they did, andformed a slightly different picture but one Donna wouldnever query.

   Another picture was of Donna with her mum and dad ather dad's birthday dinner in town. His last birthday as itturned out.

   The final photo was of an older woman in a wickerchair, glass of stout in hand, toasting the photographer.

   He sighed. So much sadness in the Noble house overthe last couple of years.

   He put the photos away and took another look throughhis telescope.

   Nothing to see.

   `How's the night sky?' asked a voice from behind.

   `Hullo, sweetheart,' Wilf said, indicating the newcomershould join him under the umbrella. `What are you doinghere? You'll catch your death.'

   `Oh, I'm all right, Dad,' said Sylvia Noble, passing athermos flask to him. `Brought you some tea and a bar ofchocolate.'

   Wilf gratefully took the flask, and they sat in silencefor a while, letting the rain create a symphony abovethem. Then he unscrewed the thermos and offered it to hisdaughter. She shook her head.

   `Donna used to do this,' he muttered.

   Sylvia nodded. `I know. Maybe I need to jog hermemory, and she'll start again.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    Wilf shrugged sadly. `Best not to, eh? Just in case.'

    Sylvia changed the subject. `No blue boxes in the skytonight then?'

    `Not today. But one day I'll see him.'

    There was a pause. `Does it really matter? After all hedid to us?'

    `Yes, love, it does,' Wilf said. `I need to know he's outthere, still watching over us. Watching over the universe.Because then I know that what Donna has suffered wasworth it. Because without him, we're not safe.'

    `That's a lot of faith to put in one man, Dad,' Sylviasaid quietly. `And a lot of responsibility.'

    Wilf knew that Sylvia didn't like the Doctor, and notjust because of what had happened to Donna. She felt thatif the Doctor had never come to Earth maybe those Dalekthings wouldn't have either. It was an old argument, andthe two of them would never agree about it. As a result,they tried not to talk about the Doctor too often.

    `He's out there, love. Protecting us. And the Martians.And the Venusians. And God knows who else.' He took aswig of tea. `You should probably get back in the warm,shouldn't you?'

    Sylvia nodded and stood up. `You going to be muchlonger?'

    `Nah, just want to stay here till eleven, then I'll headback.'

    `Donna suggested a drive out to Netty's tomorrow.'

    Wilf put his tea down. `No thanks,' he said quickly.

    `Dad, you have to see her some time.' Sylvia reachedout and squeezed his hand. `For your sake if not hers.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    `You shouldn't let Donna go,' Wilf said. `It's not safe.What if she says something about the Doctor?'

    `That's not likely. Even if she does, Donna won'tunderstand and Netty won't be able to explain it.' Sylviastood up and walked back into the rain. Then she lookedback at her old dad. `We've gone through more heartachethan anyone should have to, Dad,' she said quietly. `Let'snot bring any more on ourselves. Please come.'

    `I'll think about it. Now go on, before you get a cold.'

    Sylvia pointed up to the sky. `The Doctor would wantyou to,' she said.

    Wilf turned to her with a frown. `That's beneath you,sweetheart. Please don't.'

    Sylvia nodded. `I'm sorry, Dad.' And she walked backout of the allotments and down the hill.

    Wilf watched her receding form until she was out of hisview, then unwrapped his chocolate and bit a chunk out ofit. He turned for another look through the telescope, crossbecause Sylvia had invoked the Doctor. Cross because itwas a cheap shot. And cross because Sylvia was deadright.

    A tear rolled down Wilf's worn cheek.

    For so many reasons.

One month after the skies had burned...

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

FRIDAY

Terry Lockworth checked his mobile, but there was stillno signal. Maria was going to be so fed up with him he'd had to work late but couldn't let her know. No doubtthe spag bol would be in the bin tonight. Again. PoorMaria it wasn't her fault she got fed up with him, butwhat was he supposed to do. They'd been married threemonths, had a child on the way (please let it be a girl), andmoney was tight.

   Sure, her dad had given them a deposit for the flat inBoston Manor, but there was still the mortgage, the bills,pre-natal classes, food...

   Terry shook his head as he pocketed the phone. Stopmoaning, he told himself, and get on with the job, thenhe'd be home in an hour with any luck. More importantly,he'd be out of this mobile phone black spot in half that, sohe could at least phone her then.

   He picked up his toolbox and took out the wire-cutters,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

clipped the plastic coating from the copper wiring and cutthe wires. He then yanked the old cables from the junctionbox and pulled a long thin coil of fibre optics out of thetoolbox. These were interesting fibre optics (well, OK,only Terry found them interesting) because they were evenfiner than normal. A new system, developed by theAmericans (aren't they always), and this building was thefirst in the UK to utilise them. They'd sent Terry on acourse in New York six months back to learn about thesystem. That'd been fun lots of nights on the town withJohnnie Bates, discovering that it really was the city thatnever slept. Frequently they'd only just made it to thetraining classes the next day, hung over but happy.

    Terry was sensible enough to know when to party andwhen to really knuckle down and get the job done, though,and he and Johnnie had come back to England, certified towork on installing these new fibre optics, which madethem both popular with their boss and earned them a bit ofa bonus.

    They'd been promised another bonus if they got thisjob done and, frankly, it was money in the bank the waythey were going. The cabling was easy, it was the removalof the old copper stuff that was taking the time.

    Johnnie was a couple of floors above him, closer to thedemonstration suite. They'd flipped a coin to see whohung around with the bigwigs and had the chance to nicka cup of tea off the secretaries and PAs and who got theback stairways and service corridors. Terry had lost, ofcourse. No tea for him.

    He pulled a screwdriver out of his tool belt and started

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

to open the last junction box, whistling something he'dheard on the radio on the drive over. Anything to pass thetime.

   If he'd glanced back over the work he'd just done, hemight've been surprised to notice that the fibre-opticcables he'd wired into the previous junction boxes wereglowing strangely.

   Cables that weren't actually connected to powersources rarely glowed. Never, to be frank. It just didn'thappen. Why would it? How could it?

   But it was happening: tiny purple pulses of energy,briefly flickering up and down the cabling. Almost likeblood pumping through the veins of a huge electroniccreature.

   Terry didn't notice it because he was looking forwards,looking to see where he was going next, not where he hadbeen.

   Which was unfortunate. Not just for Terry Lockworth,whose spaghetti bolognese would indeed go uneaten thatnight, but also for pretty much the whole human race.

   Terry laced the last bit of fibre-optic cabling into thefinal junction box and screwed it shut for the final time,smiling to himself. Upstairs, Johnnie ought to be receivingproof that the cabling was finished, and his monitorswould be telling him that everything was good to go.

   As Terry finished tightening up the last screw, amassive bolt of purple alien energy rushed through hisscrewdriver, his hand, his whole body. It moved so fastthat, by the time the miniscule charred flakes that were allthat remained of Terry fell to the ground, the screwdriver

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

was only starting to fall away from the screw head.

    Of course, Terry was lucky. By dying so suddenly andviolently and efficiently, he was spared what was to comein the next few days.

    But he probably wouldn't have seen it quite like that.

    Upstairs, in the penthouse suite, Johnnie Bates waslinking all the computers into the main admin server of theOracle Hotel, shining beacon of the architectural brilliancethat was the Western Business District Development,commonly known as the Golden Mile, just on the left-hand side of the M4 motorway out of London.

    But to the man who owned the hotel, Johnnie was just alittle man in grey overalls doing something with wires.

    Dara Morgan had, according to the biographies hecarefully maintained on his company websites, made hisfirst million in Derry when he was just 26, by creating apopular music torrent site that enabled cheap downloads atsix times traditional speeds and with four times traditionalMP3 quality.

    The music industry loved him. The punters loved him.The government loved him. His mum loved him (well, heassumed she did; they didn't talk so much these days,what with her being kept in a silver urn on themantelpiece next to his dad).

    And the business world loved him. Four years later,and MorganTech was the funding behind the new WBDD,bringing work and development to Hounslow, Osterleyand all those other areas of London between Brentfordand Heathrow Airport that he'd never heard of prior tobuying up the land.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    With a personal portfolio of around £65m, he was onestep away from being a megastar, already wining anddining with the Trumps, Gateses, de Rothschilds, Gettysand half a dozen more movers and shakers withunpronounceable names from around the world. Actually,the names weren't unpronounceable, but Dara Morgancouldn't be bothered to remember them. They just didn'tmatter to him enough.

    What mattered to him right now was getting the suitesof his new hotel ready for the demonstration of his newhandheld computer. And the little man in the grimy greyoveralls was not going quite fast enough.

    `Cait?' He clicked his fingers and a power-dressedredhead with thin metal specs and insanely high heelssauntered over.

    `Mr Morgan, sir?'

    Dara Morgan pointed towards the grey overalls man.`How much longer?' he asked, his soft Northern Irishaccent unusually snappy.

    Caitlin nodded her understanding and strode over toask the man for information.

    Dara Morgan smiled inwardly, watching Caitlin move.He appreciated her on so many levels, but her beauty waspretty high on the list.

    Everyone in his organisation was from Derry orsurrounding districts of Northern Ireland. Moreimportantly, they were all people he'd grown up with. Allhearing stories from parents and older siblings about thestrife, the killings, the honour. The marches, the troops,the recriminations and punishment beatings.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   It was history to Dara Morgan, something from anotherage, almost. His generation had no time to care about theStruggles, any more than they cared about supposedpotato famines or Oliver Cromwell. That was ancienthistory. Dara Morgan and MorganTech were the future. Inso many ways.

   He ran a hand through his shoulder-length hair and thentook out his mobile, pausing to smell the scent ofshampoo on his fingers.

   It was so important to be clean. To look nice and smellbetter.

   At school, they'd diagnosed it as a form of OCD, as ifan obsessive compulsion to wash his hands any time hecame into contact with another person was something bad!People carried germs and, while he didn't think for onemoment he was going to be struck down with malaria justby shaking hands with a stranger, it wasn't unreasonableto groom oneself every so often.

   School never understood him, he recalled vaguely. Itwas too small, probably too focused on curriculums andtimetables and sports.

   He couldn't wait to leave, and had done so the momenthe'd finished his exams. No sixth form, college oruniversity for him. Straight into business, straight into IT,the future of the world, straight into creating an MP3system for the troglodytes who thought Big Brother andThe X-Factor were the be all and end all of televisionculture. He'd needed them, of course, because they'dhelped him reach his potential they'd been the firstrungs on the ladder to success. To ruling the world,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

through business. He had no desire to actually rule theworld, it was full of too many thick people fighting overoil and territory and God to be a sensible plan to run it.But he could dominate in technology, see off the currentso-called giants and buy access into the homes andworkplaces of everyone on the planet.

   That was enough.

   And at tomorrow's press demonstration, that planwould be taking its first step.

   Caitlin returned and said the man was waiting on a callfrom another man in some service area on the mezzaninefloor and he'd be done.

   Dara Morgan glanced over the overalled man wastrying to call.

   `Tell your friend,' Dara Morgan said to Caitlin, `that hewon't get through to his colleague. The service areas areblocked to cellular signals. Tell him to use a terminal. Ifthe fibre optics are connected, it'll link straight to hisassociate's mobile.'

   Caitlin nodded and passed the message on.

   Dara Morgan watched as the overalled man inserted thefibre-optic connection into the back of his laptop anddialled via that.

   There was a flash of purple and, where the workmanhad been kneeling, there was now just a pile of ashes. Aburnt, acrid smell wafted over, and Dara Morgan wrinkledhis nose in distaste. Burned flesh, melted fabric and sweat.Vile.

   `Well,' said Caitlin, `that bodes well, sir.'

   Dara Morgan clapped his hands loudly, and everyone

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

else in the room, all of whom had ignored the death ofJohnnie Bates, turned to face him.

    `People, it would appear the hotel is wired. Or "fibred",I should say.'

    There was a polite ripple of laughter.

    `Tomorrow, we take over the world.'

    `Oi!'

    A word/phrase/guttural noise, spluttered with a splashof indignation, a twist of sarcasm and a great gulp ofvolume.

    No matter how hard he tried, the Doctor couldn't helpbut sigh every time he heard it. Usually because theindignation, sarcasm and especially the volume were allaimed in his direction.

    He sighed and turned back to face Donna Noble, Queenof the `Oi's.

    And she wasn't there.

    Just the TARDIS, parked between two councildumpsters. Quite neatly, if he said so himself.

    Oh.

    Ah.

    Right.

    `Sorry,' he said to the TARDIS door, then walked backand unlocked it, revealing Donna stood on the threshold.`I assumed you were already outside.'

    `Which bit of "I'm right behind you" didn't quite makesense, then?' Donna asked oh-so-politely, with acharacteristic head wobble that actually meant she wasn'tfeeling all that polite at all. `Which bit of "wait for me"bypassed your hearing? Which section of "I'm just putting

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

on something nice" vanished into the ether?'

   There was no way for the Doctor to worm out of thatone. So he just shrugged. `I said I was sorry.'

   `"Sorry"?'

   `Yeah, "sorry". What else do you want?'

   `Are you "sorry" that you didn't hear me? "Sorry" thatyou locked me inside your alien spaceship? Or "sorry"that you hadn't even noticed I wasn't with you?'

   Each time, Donna pinged the word `sorry' so itsounded like the least apologetic word in the Englishlanguage and took on a whole new meaning that linguistscould argue over the exact implication of for the nexttwelve centuries.

   `No way I can win this,' the Doctor said, `so I'm justgonna let it go, all right?'

   Donna opened her mouth to speak again, but theDoctor reached forward and put a finger on her lips.`Hush,' he said.

   Donna hushed.

   And winked.

   `I win!'

   And then she gave him that fantastic, amazing grin thatshe always did when she was teasing him and he gaveher that sigh that admitted he'd been caught out yet again.

   It was a game. A game that two friends who'd gonethrough so much together played instinctively with oneanother.

   Familiarity, friendship and fun. The three Fs thatsummed up the time shared by these two adventurers.

   She slipped an arm around his and pulled him close.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

`So, what's the skinny, Skinny?'

   The Doctor nodded towards Chiswick High Road andthe hustle and bustle of the traffic, and quickly draggedher out onto the main street, ready to get lost in thecrowds.

   Except there weren't any. Indeed, there weren't reallyvery many people around at all, just a couple of kids on askateboard on the opposite pavement and an old manwalking his dog.

   The Doctor raised his other hand. `Not raining,' hesaid.

   `Well spotted, Sherlock,' said Donna. `Sunday?'

   `You wanted Friday the fifteenth of May 2009, Donna.That's what I set the TARDIS for.'

   Donna laughed. `In which case it's probably a Sundayin August 1972.'

   The Doctor poked his head into a newsagents, smilingat the man behind the counter, who was listening to hisMP3 player and ignoring his potential customercompletely.

   The Doctor looked at the nearest newspaper. `Friday15th May 2009,' he confirmed to Donna.

   `So where is everyone?'

   `Maybe it's lunchtime,' the Doctor suggested. `Ormaybe Chiswick's no longer the hub of society it was amonth ago. Shall we walk to your place?'

   `You're coming?'

   The Doctor looked as though the thought of not goingwith Donna hadn't crossed his mind. `Oh. Umm. Well, Iwas going to.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    `Doctor, why are we here?'

    `It's the first anniversary of your father's death.'

    `And, grateful as I'm sure she is for you saving theworld from the Sontarans, I'm not quite sure my mum'sgonna be overjoyed to see you, today of all days.'

    `Your granddad will.'

    `Yeah? Good, take him out for a pint tonight in theShepherd's Hut, but to start with I want to see them on myown.' Donna was still holding his hand, and she squeezedit gently. `You understand, don't you?'

    He smiled. `Course I do. Wasn't thinking. Sorry.'

    `Let's not start that up again, yeah?' Donna let go of hishand. `I'm gonna get some flowers and walk home. Whydon't I meet you back here, this time, tomorrow?'

    `Here. Tomorrow. Sold.' The Doctor winked at her andstarted walking off. `Nice flower shop on the cornerthataway,' he called out. `Ask for Loretta and say I sentyou.'

    He turned a corner and was gone.

    Donna took a breath and walked in the direction he'dpointed.

    A year ago. Today.

    Adipose. Pyroviles. Oods with brains in their hands.Even Sontaran probic vents, Hath and talking skeletons allseemed simple in comparison to what was going tohappen this afternoon.

    Because this afternoon Donna had to go back and bethere for her mum and probably relive not just last year,but the days and weeks that had followed, funerals, tellingpeople, memorials, notices in papers, sorting out the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

financial side of things, finding the will... None of it hadbeen easy on Donna's mum. Hadn't been that easy onDonna, truth be told, and a year ago that would have beenher overriding thought. Donna Noble, putting herself first.But not now just a short time with the Doctor had shownher that she wasn't the woman she had been then.

   And Granddad, poor Granddad, bringing backmemories of Nan's passing, he'd bravely soldiered on foreveryone else's sake, trying to sort out solicitors andfuneral directors and suchlike.

   Not that Mum had been weak or feeble Sylvia Noblewasn't like that, and they'd been prepared for Dad's death,well, as much as you can be, but it still haunted her. Shecould see it in her mum's eyes, it was like someone hadcut an arm and a leg off, and Mum just coped as best shecould. Thirty-eight years they'd been married.

   Donna sighed. `Miss you, Dad,' she said out loud asshe came to a halt outside a laundrette called Loretta's.

   Her phone buzzed with a text message, and she read it.

   UMMM. ACTUALLY MIGHT BE WRONG.LORETTA'S MIGHT NOT BE FLORIST. SORRY.

   How did he do that? He didn't even have a mobile asfar as Donna knew. That sonic screwdriver perhaps? Wasthere nothing it couldn't do?

   Shoving the phone back into her coat pocket, Donnadecided she'd be better off heading towards TurnhamGreen. She knew there was a florist there.

   Men. Alien men. Useless, the lot of them.

   Lukas Carnes hated technology. Which made him a bitweird, according to all his mates. His mum had a PC, but

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Lukas avoided using it if possible, other than to type upschool essays once he'd done them in longhand. He hadan MP3 player which his younger brother (who was eight)had to actually put music onto for him. And don't even gethim started on the problems associated with using a DVD-R.

   He was, he'd decided on his fifteenth birthday, athrowback to an earlier time, when technically savvy guyswere called geeks and girls ran a mile from them. Sadlyfor Lukas, most girls he knew wanted a bloke who coulddownload music at twenty paces and unlock a mobile thathad come from a dodgy stall in Shepherds Bush Market.

   So Lukas didn't have a girlfriend.

   Which just added fuel to his passionate loathing fortech. He accepted that he needed it, he just didn't want tounderstand it. His brain wasn't wired to understand MP3compressions and 3G and GPS tracking systems. He justwanted to press an ON button and have it all work. Wasn'tthat what his mum's age group had gone through all thatFirst/Second/Third Generation stuff for? So that he couldpress buttons and things worked without being out of datein six months and redundant in twelve. On TV they talkedabout the days when you could click your fingers anddoors would open, when you could walk into a room andsay `lights' and a computer would turn everything on, justto the right level.

   God. He was his grandmother! Next thing, he'd besaying he couldn't understand pop music and what sexwas that person on Popworld?

   Fifteen, not fifty, Lukas.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   So why was he standing in the local branch of DiscountElectronics, watching a demonstration of the newestFourth Generation Processor on some laptop thinner thana piece of cardboard?

   Because his brother, his 8-year-old, technically savvy,brother Joe had asked him. Well, strictly speaking, Mumhad asked him. With Joe's dad gone, just like Lukas'sbefore him, the older boy had become de facto father tohis little brother. Which suited Lukas, cos secretly headored Joe, not that he'd ever tell him that. And cos littlebrothers needed to know who was boss, and Lukas'spower would be lost at the first sign of weakness.

   And Joe had acted up really badly after his dad went,getting into trouble at school and on the estate, and Mumhad been visited by the police twice.

   So Lukas had taken Joe aside and explained as best hecould to an 8-year-old that it wasn't Mum's fault his dadhad gone, nor was it Joe's, and messing about with theolder kids, helping them nick cars and stuff wasn't helpingMum.

   After a few months, Joe had calmed down. But now hehung on to Lukas at all times, and kicked off if his bigbrother didn't take him everywhere. Lukas had evenstarted taking Joe to junior school before heading off toPark Vale High. Which Mum appreciated no end, so thatwas good.

   But occasionally, Lukas wanted to kick off by himself,be alone, not be the responsible one.

   Today was a day like that, but here he was with Joe,watching this new demo along with thirty other people, all

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

tucked into a shop that probably safely took ten people atmost. God help them if there was a fire.

    A large (in every direction) woman moved in front ofthem, so Lukas hoisted Joe up into his arms so he couldsee better. This meant Lukas could see nothing. So whileJoe (how heavy was he getting?) watched intently, Lukas'sgaze drifted round the shop.

    A skinny guy in a blue suit was tapping away at ademonstration laptop that was probably going to be out ofdate by the end of today. The guy was searching forsomething on the internet Lukas could see repeatedscreens showing a search engine (ooh, technical term!) and frowning. He clearly wasn't getting the results hewanted.

    The man reached into his pocket and took out a shinytube, like a marker pen, and pointed it at the screen. Atfirst, Lukas thought he was going to write on the laptop'sscreen but instead the end of the pen glowed blue, andLukas watched in amazement as the images on the screendownloaded and changed at a phenomenal rate. No, animpossible rate. The blue-suited man took a pair of thickblack glasses out of another pocket and put them on as hestared intently at the changing screens. Surely he couldn'tread that fast?

    He became aware that Lukas was watching him andsmiled, almost sheepishly. The shiny pen went back into apocket, the glasses into another.

    Lukas realised his mouth was open, so he snapped itshut.

    Blue Suit Guy winked at Lukas and was about to leave

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the shop, when he reached forward and picked up a leafletabout the demonstration Lukas's little brother waswatching. And then he looked at the crowd and wanderedover.

   Lukas quickly switched his attention back to the demo.Or at least to the back of Fat Lady's head.

   After a few minutes of listening to some blondedroning on about how revolutionary the new computersystem was, Blue Suit Guy shrugged and muttered about`impossible' and `not on this planet' and `contradicting theShadow Proclamation's Eighteenth Protocol', at whichpoint Lukas decided that, shiny pen-thing or not, this guywas probably a nutter. Maybe he should get Joe awayfrom him, just in case the guy had a knife.

   Lukas leaned forward to whisper in Joe's ear thatmaybe it was time to go home, when Blue Suit Guynudged him.

   `So, everyone's inside all the electronics shops, yeah?'

   `Sorry?'

   `The streets were pretty empty. As I walked along, Irealised everyone was in shops like this, watching thesedemos.'

   `Today's the launch,' Lukas found himself explaining.`Everyone's interested.'

   `You're not,' Blue Suit Guy replied.

   Lukas shrugged. `Kid brother is.'

   `Ah. I see.'

   Lukas tried to step away, but was hemmed in byanother man on one side and Fat Lady in front.

   Blue Suit Guy got his shiny pen out again. `Don't mind

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

me,' he said.

   But Lukas did mind him. A lot.

   `Why are you here?' he asked.

   Blue Suit Guy shrugged. `Well, firstly, I'm letting afriend go home for a bit. Secondly, I was wondering whyeveryone was in here. And fourthly, I'm now reallyconcerned by the technology in that laptop.'

   Lukas knew he'd regret this. `And thirdly?'

   `Thirdly?' Blue Suit Guy looked confused, and thengrinned as if something had popped back into his head.`Oh yes, thirdly, I came looking for you, Lukas SamuelCarnes.' He held out a hand. `I'm the Doctor and I'm hereto save your life.'

   Dara Morgan sipped his coffee slowly. Partly because itshowed he had good manners, and partly because it wastoo hot to do anything else. But it probably looked likegood manners to Mr Murakami and his delegation.

   `So, Mr Morgan,' the Japanese banker was saying, `dowe have a deal?'

   Dara Morgan's blue eyes twinkled mischievously as heglanced over at Caitlin, standing by the office door. `Whatdo you think, Cait?'

   Caitlin walked over, her long legs and short skirtclearly drawing the eye of some of Mr Murakami'sentourage but not, Dara Morgan observed, Mr Murakamihimself.

   Good.

   `I think it's a good deal, sir,' she purred. `If Murakami-San can get the M-TEK out throughout the East bySunday, it will be... superb.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Dara Morgan flicked his hair out of his eyes. `Justunder two days, 3.30pm Tokyo time. Doable?'

   Mr Murakami frowned. `Why Sunday? It's ludicrouslyshort notice.'

   Dara Morgan just smiled. `Let's just say, it's what theentire deal hinges on. I need that guarantee, Murakami-San, or I go elsewhere.'

   `But that way, you have even less chance of a deal to bein place by then,' the Japanese man said.

   Dara Morgan nodded at this. `I know. But let's face it,with the money that the M-TEK will make, smallercompanies than yours, hungrier ones perhaps, will go thatextra mile to meet my... MorganTech's requirements.' Hesipped his coffee again. `It'll be in the contract, withpenalty clauses.'

   `Which will be?'

   `Catastrophic. For the whole of Japan.'

   Mr Murakami's people moved an inch closer to theirman. `Was that a threat, Mr Morgan?' he asked softly.

   `No,' said Dara Morgan. `I don't do threats. Barbariansdo threats. Idiots do threats. I just state facts.'

   `It is a great opportunity,' Caitlin cut in. `Please, thinkabout it over dinner. Tonight. At our expense.'

   `Alas, we cannot join you,' Dara Morgan added, `butyou are at liberty to pick any restaurant in London thattakes your fancy and all expenses will be covered byMorganTech. Indeed I insist.'

   `All expenses?'

   `Relating to food and drink, yes.'

   `Ah. In that case, you shall have my answer by

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

midnight tonight.' Mr Murakami stood and Dara Morgandid the same, giving a slight bow as he did so. MrMurakami responded likewise, including Caitlin in thedeference, and she nodded to him and the others in hisparty.

   Formalities over, the Japanese delegation headed forthe door of the suite, but Mr Murakami turned back onelast time. `Seriously, why Sunday? Why 3.30 in theafternoon?'

   `Because something big is happening all over the globeon Monday at 3pm UK time. That's 11pm Tokyo time.But we all need deals in place. I too have made a deal, yousee, but it's rather like a chain in a property purchase: onelink breaks and the whole deal comes tumbling down.Then we all suffer.'

   `All?'

   `Universally.' Dara Morgan threw a sideways glance atCaitlin, and she immediately moved to escort MrMurakami out of the room.

   A moment later, the Japanese were gone and Caitlinwas back at Dara Morgan's side. He was standing at amassive picture window, a huge panoramic view overWest London. He could see the new Wembley Stadium,Centrepoint, the London Eye and other tall Londonstructures.

   `Monday,' he smiled, `and this planet is MadamDelphi's.'

   Caitlin nodded. `At last. Revenge is hers.'

   They took each other's hands and held on tightly, andlooked to the computer screens, which appeared to be

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

humming a tune, ever so slightly, causing waveforms onone of the screens to pulsate fractionally in time.

  `Welcome back,' they said to her, together.

                           ***

Donna stood at the end of Brookside Road and took adeep breath. It hadn't been that long since she'd been herelast (indeed, for her mum, it was probably slightly lesstime), but every time she `came home' there wereawkward moments. `Where have you been?' and `Are youstill hanging around with that awful Doctor person?' and`Why don't you call?' and `Have you got a job yet?'

    Of course, Granddad Wilf knew where she was, she'dtold him everything right from the off. But her mum, well,she wasn't someone who'd understand. Wasn't someonewho'd think saving Oods, stopping generational wars orensuring Charlemagne met the Pope actually equated witha `good' job typing up notes or placing stationery orders.

    Taking a deep breath, she walked towards the housethat hadn't actually been her home for too long.

    After her disastrous wedding and slightly lessdisastrous trip to Egypt, her parents had moved from theirterraced house where Donna had grown up into this newsemi. It had been an upheaval, compounded as it was byDonna not having a job and Wilf originally being crossbecause he thought he'd have to leave his astronomerbuddies behind. As it turned out, of course, the allotmentswere easier to get to from the new house, so he was happyafter all.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    But Donna's dad hadn't been well for a long time, andin many ways the move had been his idea, his desire tofind somewhere new to be, to give him a bit of challenge.He'd got bored in the old house. He'd built all thecupboards, shelved all the walls, painted all the ceilings hewas ever able to do, and he needed something new to keephim active since his illness had made him take earlyretirement. Doing up the new place to Mum's quitestringent specifications would be exactly the rightchallenge.

    They had been there three months before Dad passed.Donna and Wilf had taken on the mantle of doing all thoseodd jobs Dad had been going to do, but they were neverquite right, they were never `how your dad would havedone it'. Which wasn't altogether surprising Wilf wastwenty-odd years older, and Donna had never lifted apaintbrush or hammer in her life before.

    God. How shallow was Donna Noble before she metthe Doctor again? Before she learned not just to stand onher own two feet but realise that she could. Her family lifewas a real chicken and egg situation. Had she been uselessat home because her parents had always let her be, or didher mum think she was useless because she was?

    And talking about it, talking about anything, withSylvia Noble was rarely a positive experience. Donnawould love to say that her mum's bitterness andresentment was because of Dad's death, but the truth wasSylvia had always been disappointed in her daughter. Sherarely hid it. And Donna never understood why. Had shewanted a son? Had she wanted a high-flying lawyer or

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

company executive daughter who would be rich enough tosend her parents off to live in the country in a littlesixteenth-century cottage where they could keep goats?Had it got worse since Dad had died? Would it have beenbetter if she had got married to Lance? Should she havetold Mum the truth about that day? Like she had Granddadrecently? Probably not, because Sylvia didn't like peoplebeing open and honest. `Those bleeding hearts who weartheir hearts on their sleeves' was an analogy she'd torturedonce, and it summed up her opinion of people actuallybeing honest.

    Donna remembered reading a magazine article onceabout how parents could never truly hope to understandteenaged offspring and their best bet for harmoniousliving was just to tolerate those three or four nightmareyears. But was there a manual for sons and daughters onhow to deal with negative parents? It was impossible toactually argue with a mother they had an inbuilt `guilttrip' button to press that forbade you saying all the thingsyou wanted to say to them, whatever they threw at you.

    Donna loved her mum, no two ways about that. Andshe had no doubt that Sylvia Noble loved her daughter.

    She just wasn't entirely sure they actually liked eachother that much.

    `Hullo, Donna,' called Mrs Baldrey from opposite.`Had a nice trip?'

    `Yes thanks,' Donna smiled back. `How's Seymour?'

    `Oh fine. Still complaining about his prostate,' theneighbour groaned.

    Donna thought that conversation had gone as far as she

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

wanted it to go, frankly, and speeded up her pace towardshome.

   A cat sat by a lamppost, warily watching Donnaapproach, not quite sure if she was friend or foe. Donnamade squeaky noises to attract its attention.

   It bolted.

   Ah well.

   Mum's car was outside on the road (you have a drive,Mum, use it) and Donna touched the bonnet as she passed.Cold. Mum hadn't been out today then. Funny how she'dpicked up these little things from travelling with theDoctor to find things out. Like whether a car had beendriven. The old Donna would never have thought aboutthat. The old Donna wouldn't have cared.

   The old Donna was gone.

   Thank God her life was a trillion times better thesedays.

   If only she could involve her mum in it, though. Thatlast little piece of the puzzle, that last bit of acceptancefrom each of them.

   `Oh there you are, Lady,' said a familiar voice frombehind her. `I wondered if we'd see you today.'

   Donna didn't bother turning around. `Hello, Mum,' shesaid.

   `Oh yes, "Hello, Mum" because that's enough isn't it.One minute the air's choking with exhaust fumes, the nextthe sky's on fire, and that's it. No idea where my onlydaughter is. No calls, no texts, not even a message sent toyour granddad, so he can shut me up. Nothing.'

   Donna stopped in the street and turned to face her

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

mother, automatically tugging two of the four shoppingbags from her hand to help.

   The old Donna wouldn't have considered that either.

   `Nice to see you, too,' Donna said. `Granddad got thekettle on? I could do with a cuppa, loads to tell you.'

   Sylvia Noble shrugged and stomped off ahead of herdaughter. `You know what today is, don't you,' she calledback.

   And Donna stopped dead.

   Of course she knew what today was. Why the hell didshe think she was there? How dare she even ask thatquestion?

   The front door opened and Sylvia pushed passedGranddad Wilf and went wordlessly into the kitchen.

   `Do you know what she just asked me?' Donna hissedat him after kissing his cheek.

   Wilf raised his eyes to heaven. `It's gonna be one ofthem days, isn't it?'

   Donna opened her mouth to reply, then stopped.

   The old Donna would have gone off on one, there andthen. The old Donna would've started a row with hermum, throwing around words like `attitude' and`whatever' and `selfish'.

   New Donna didn't.

   Because new Donna, frustrating as it was, understoodthat what Sylvia Noble probably wanted and needed todaywas a good cry.

   But being Sylvia `I don't wear my heart on my sleeve'Noble meant she'd never do that.

   And sadly it was going to be new Donna's job today to

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

ensure she did, before bottling it up caused her mum moredamage than it already had.

   The Doctor was striding down Chiswick High Road,glancing into various shops where people were staring atthe new laptop demonstrations. `It's just a computer,' hemuttered. `Why so much interest?'

   `They're already out of date,' said a young voice besidehim. `The M-TEK that's the future.'

   The Doctor looked over, then down. The speaker barelyreached knee height. It was a little boy. The Doctor hadseen him before somewhere then running towards him,he saw Lukas Carnes, and realised this was the littlebrother he'd been carrying.

   `Joe!' yelled Lukas. `How'd you get away from me sofast?'

   `I'm not your prisoner,' Joe yelled back, and the Doctorgave the arrived-but-out-of-breath Lukas a look that said`Oh, that told you, mate'.

   Lukas pulled Joe back from the Doctor. `Leave himalone,' Lukas snapped at him. `Touch him and I'll havethe police here.' As if to underline this, Lukas had hismobile out and ready.

   The Doctor didn't bother pointing out that Joe hadfound him. Nor did he point out that Lukas was clearlyonly being aggressive because of what the Doctor had saidin the other shop.

   He had to remember that people didn't always likegetting hints about their future. Always tripped him up,that one.

   Spoilers, someone once said.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `How do you mean you are going to save my life?'

   The Doctor shrugged. `Done it.'

   `Done what?'

   `Saved your life.'

   `How? When and why?'

   The Doctor drew his psychic paper out of his innerjacket pocket and showed it to Lukas. It had the right dateon it, the name of the shop and the message SAVELUKAS SAMUEL CARNES'S LIFE BY STOPPINGHIS BROTHER BUYING AN M-TEK.

   `Dunno who wrote it,' the Doctor said, `cos I don'trecognise the handwriting. But it appeared on the paperabout twenty minutes after I arrived in Chiswick. Badform to ignore messages, I always think. So, you've beensaved, my job is done, all I need to do now is find outwhether Loretta's is a laundrette, a florist or a coffee shopin this time period. It's one of those in 2009 but I'm notsure which.'

   `Laundrette,' said Joe.

   Lukas pulled Joe behind him. `Don't talk to that man,'he scolded his kid brother.

   `But you're talking to him,' Joe protested, notunreasonably.

   `That's different,' Lukas said, realising with horror thatthis was exactly what his mum used to say when she'dsaid something he considered hypocritical or unfair.

   The Doctor turned away. `Nice to meet you, boys, but Ithought I might wander off to a lovely restaurant inBrentford, down by the canal there, to pass the time beforeI meet up with my friend.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    `What?' said Lukas, mentally kicking himself forcaring. Just let the weirdo go, he urged himself. But hismouth wouldn't stop asking questions. `What would'vehappened if Joe had got an M-TEK?'

    And the Doctor looked at him. `No idea. I don't knowwhat an M-TEK is. I assumed it was that laptop you werethinking of buying. I did a search, but I couldn't find anyreference to it. Then I saw you watching the demo, likeeveryone else appears to be, so I guess that's the M-TEK.'

    `No,' said Joe, pushing forwards. `That's the newPsiryn Book Plus. It's rubbish. I wanted an M-TEK.'

    `But I wasn't planning to buy one,' Lukas added. `ForJoe or me.'

    `So what's an M-TEK then?' the Doctor frowned.

    Lukas sighed. `How can you save me from it, if youdon't know what it is?'

    `If I knew everything I was saving people from before Itried saving them, I'd save very few people cos I'd bespending all day researching what I was saving themfrom, wouldn't I?'

    Lukas and Joe glanced at each other.

    `You're funny,' said Joe.

    `Thank you,' the Doctor said.

    Lukas shook his head. `Home,' he said to Joe. `Comeon.' He all but dragged his little brother away.

    `Bye, Doctor,' Joe called back.

    The Doctor waved as the two boys vanished into a sidestreet. Then he started to wander towards the lower end ofChiswick, and the M4 flyover, towards Brentford. Andthat nice Italian in the square. Luna Piena. He hadn't had a

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

decent Italian meal in years. Centuries perhaps.

   SINCE 1492 was written on the psychic paper.

   Which was weird, because the psychic paper didn'twork like that. At least, it hadn't in the past. It was badenough that people were using it more and more to sendhim messages these days, but when it started answeringhim unbidden, it was time perhaps to give it a two-thousand leaf service.

   He shoved the leather wallet with the paper in it backinside his jacket pocket and tried to forget all about it.

   At the back of his mind, though, he still had a naggingworry, an echo of Lukas Samuel Carnes's notunreasonable question: what was an M-TEK and how hadhe saved Lukas from it?

   To which the answer was obvious.

   He hadn't.

   So Lukas was still in danger (if the psychic paper wasto be trusted), and he had to save him.

   Oh, and another question needed an answer.

   How had Lukas's little brother Joe known to call him`Doctor'?

   So... Luna Piena or getting embroiled?

   It wasn't much of a decision was it? Food was nice, buta mystery, that was far better.

   He wondered how Donna was getting on and whetherhe should stop by and tell her he might be busy for acouple of days.

   Nah, she was probably best left alone to do familystuff.

   And so he turned around and headed up the side street

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

after the two boys.

   On the penthouse suite floor of the Oracle Hotel, DaraMorgan and Caitlin were staring at a bank of flat-screenmonitors, connected to the computer, by the fibre-opticcables which Terry Lockworth and Johnnie Bates had diedsetting up earlier.

   On most of the screens was a sine wave, pulsatingrhythmically, as if the computer were breathing. Which itwas. Sort of.

   But on the largest, central screen was an image, aphoto, taken from CCTV cameras that had beenautomatically hacked into and enhanced to almost perfectresolution, according to the parameters the computer hadbeen set to.

   `Madam Delphi,' Dara Morgan asked. `What is this?'

   His finger traced the outline. It was a tall blue boxstanding in a Chiswick alleyway between two dumpsters.

   `The TARDIS,' replied a strong, feminine voice,echoing across the room, the sine waves on the otherscreens pulsating and changing as it spoke.

   `He is here,' Caitlin said. `Already.'

   Dara Morgan nodded enthusiastically. `Five hundredyears, as the legends foretold. The Chaos Bringer.'

   `Five hundred and seventeen years, one month, fourdays,' corrected Madam Delphi. `We did not allow forcosmic shift five hundred years ago. That was a tad...unfortunate.'

   Caitlin addressed the computer. `But Madam Delphi,there have been other attempts...'

   `And because of that cosmic shift, because the universe

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

breathes shallow breaths as well as deep ones, thealignments have never been perfect.'

   `But on Monday all will be perfect.' Dara Morganstroked Madam Delphi's surfaces. `And you will haveyour revenge.'

   `On the Doctor. On mankind. On the entire universe,'Caitlin said excitedly.

   `Oh sure,' Madam Delphi pulsed her sine waves.`Absolutely. Love the revenge thing, my darlings. Butespecially on the Doctor.'

   It was 5pm in the UK. So, in sunny New York, the BigApple shadows stretched as the midday sun beameddown, covering the city in an unusually humid blanket.

   This was not good news for the inhabitants of theMorganTech office block on 52nd and Seventh. The airconditioning had failed a few hours earlier, and theautomatic drinking fountains had ceased pumping coolwater into the water coolers. The main reason for this wasthat all the power in the block was off. The main doorshad failed first, followed by the phones, IT equipment, air-con and so on.

   It had taken Melissa Carson on reception a few minutesto twig that everything had gone wrong. She tried callingmaintenance. Obviously, as everything maintenancemaintained had failed, there was no way to getmaintenance to maintain anything. This had annoyedMelissa, so she had committed the corporate crime ofleaving her desk to find someone.

   Instead, what she found other than stalled elevatorsprobably containing rapidly dehydrating passengers, and

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

internally locked electronic doors was a pile of dust onthe floor by a junction box in the basement. Presumablymaintenance had been doing something to the wiring andhad fused the systems. It didn't occur to Melissa (and whyshould it?) that the ashes she was wiping casually off herDolce & Gabbana heels had once been a guy she'd wavedto earlier that day called Milo. But she did wonder whereMilo and the guys were.

    Casually, as she stomped back to her desk infrustration, she flicked the open junction box shut.

    At once, the newly installed fibre optics came to life,pulsing purple light throughout their network. Theoccupants of the building, already whingeing about stucklifts, no air-con and crashed computers, had all of tenseconds to register their PCs flicker back into life. Asoffice workers do, everyone reached forward and touchedtheir keyboards.

    A massive arc of purple light pulsated throughout thebuilding, touching everyone, not just those using the PCs.Not a person, a roach or a moth in the basement wasspared the purple pulse of energy.

    Forty-two seconds after Melissa Carson had shut thatjunction box, all one hundred and seven humans, eighteenrats, two thousand creatures of various sizes and shapesbut with six legs or more and three pigeons on the roofwere all dead.

    `We have a slight problem, guys,' Madam Delphipulsed at Dara Morgan and Caitlin. `The MorganTechbuilding in Manhattan is offline. The terminals areterminal.' There was a noise like an electronic laugh, and

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the sine waves pulsed accordingly.

   Dara Morgan frowned, tapping at another part ofMadam Delphi's array of monitors and keyboards.

   `I'm not wrong,' the computer reported.

   `I know,' Dara Morgan said quickly. `You're neverwrong. I'm trying to ascertain what the problem is.'

   `Human error,' Madam Delphi reported. `What else is itgoing to be? I mean, let's be honest with each other, youlot are always the weakest links in the chain.'

   `We need New York,' Caitlin said.

   `Well, we haven't got New York any longer,' said thecomputer.

   `Can you override the pulse?'

   `No,' snapped Madam Delphi. `Too late anyway.Honestly, my sweets, you're wasting your time. I'll see if Ican shift resources to a back-up server and start again.'

   Dara Morgan lost his cool for the first time in ages.`Don't you get it? We don't have time to start again. Wehave to have New York's M-TEKs online at 10amManhattan time on Monday.'

   `It's the city that never sleeps, if I remember my songlyrics,' the computer said.

   `Yeah, maybe it never sleeps. But it pretty much stopswork at 5pm on a Friday and doesn't go to work atweekends.'

   `Oh, my darling boy, have some faith. I've been at thiskind of thing across the universe for a few million yearsnow. We'll just have to do a merger this afternoon. Ahostile takeover by MorganTech on a small company in...ooh let me guess... oh yes, look, here's one.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   On Madam Delphi's big screen a shot of a smallish (forNew York) office building, all chrome and glass withpeople milling about popped up.

   `I'm accessing their systems... now. Ooh yes, lots ofpeople. They do hardware service and repairs, a firm co-owned by the Mafiosa, a Chinese Triad and initially set upby IRA laundering. None of whom know about each otherobviously. Easy to take over because none of them aregoing to stand up and scream about it.'

   The image changed to one a little further away.`Lexington and 3rd, nice spot,' the computer continued. `Iknew a cybercafé there once. It never called back.'

   Row after row of figures shot across the screens, toofast for Dara Morgan to even count and then the sinewaves returned, pulsing again as Madam Delphi purred atthem both.

   `Kittel Software Inc, now a subsidiary of MorganTech.I hope you don't mind, I had to agree to allow one HarveyGellar to remain CEO, with a set of shares and a vote onthe board.'

   Cait frowned. `Won't that be a problem?'

   `In one hour, eighteen minutes, Mr Gellar will get intothe lift... sorry, elevator... and ride it to the ground floor.In one hour, twenty-one minutes, the lift will get stuckbetween the nineteenth and eighteenth floors. He willpress the alarm button. It'll be the last thing he does.They'll find the body within, oh, a couple of hours andassume it was a heart attack. I've already rewritten histerms to ensure that on his death his Irish third cousin,Dara Morgan of MorganTech, inherits everything.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    `I'm not his third cousin...'

    `You are now according to FBI files.' Madam Delphi'sscreens darkened slightly, the sine wave taking on a redhue as it pulsed. `Your constant underestimation of what Ican do, Dara Morgan, is beginning to bore me.'

    `I'm sorry.'

    `Good. Now then, this new branch of MorganTech willnow appear to have been planning to handle Monday'slaunch of the M-TEK all along. They have the specs,details, customer base, everything. All we need to do isget a couple of flunkies in over the weekend to strip outthe wiring and put our fibre optics in. And... there,subcontractors booked and assigned. Easy.'

    Caitlin looked at Dara Morgan. `Yes, Madam Delphi.Easy.'

    `Cheers m'dears. Now if it's OK with you kids, I'mjust going to download this week's Coronation Streetomnibus. Whatever will that sweet little David Platt get upto next?'

    Sylvia was putting the shopping away in the kitchen.Neatly, everything in its place. Just as always. She was,however, letting the odd drawer or cupboard door slamshut a little noisily.

    `What have I done now?' Donna whispered to hergranddad from the armchair that faced the TV in thesitting room. Where her dad used to sit and laugh at TheX-Factor. And repeats of Dad's Army. And thatprogramme where... where...

    Well, all his programmes, anyway.

    And suddenly, she wanted to move to the settee next to

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

her granddad but he moved along it instead, so he was satclose to her armchair.

   `Dunno what you mean, darlin',' he said, not catchingher eye.

   `Right, cos mum's using IKEA's finest to beat out thedrum solo from something Ozzy Osbourne wrote becauseshe's suddenly got an interest in heavy rock, yeah?'

   `Oh, she's just...being your mother. You know...'

   `No, Granddad. No, I don't know.' Donna sighed andlooked at a local newspaper on the occasional table. Itslead story was about Q-Mart and Betterworth's openingrival supermarkets in Park Vale.

   Thrillsville.

   `I'm here. Chiswick. London W3. Earth. Yesterday Iwas on another planet, stopping robots fighting a civilwar. A week before that, we were in the Garazone Bazaarriding six-legged horses!' She suddenly grabbed Wilf'shand. `They had six legs! Six. I mean, how fast were wegalloping? It was brilliant. I loved it. And Martian Boywas screaming at the top of his lungs "Where's the offswitch?" cos he thought they could be stopped just likethat.'

   `He's not a Martian though, is he? I thought he said--'

   `No, Granddad, he's not a Martian. It's a joke.Remember jokes? You know, that moment when you openyour mouth and go ha-ha-ha? We used to do it, even inthis house once or twice.'

   Donna stared at her granddad's lined face. When did hesuddenly get so old? Was that the strain of Dad's passing,too? What happened to that man who used to take her for

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

a spin in his old Aston? Who used to show her off to hisold paratrooper mates down at the Social? When did heget replaced by the white-haired old man sitting in front ofher?

   When did the idea of coming home fill her with suchdread? Was this the downside of being with the Doctor?That normality was now alien?

   `I got something to tell you, sweetheart,' her granddadsaid. `I reckon it'll cheer you up. I hope it does.'

   Good news at last. Donna smiled. `Well, go on then.Spill.'

   Her granddad opened his mouth to speak, but Sylviachose that moment to come into the sitting room and floponto the settee next to him.

   `So, where've you been, Donna Noble?'

   Donna opened her mouth to answer, but her granddadgot there first. `She's been horseriding, Sylv. In Dubai.'

   `Dubai? How the hell did you afford Dubai?' Sylviasighed. `Oh silly me, the Doctor took you, yes?'

   Donna nodded. `Yeah. He paid for it and everything. Inearly married a rich oil sheikh and lived in his harem, butyou know what? I thought it was more important to behere today. With you two.'

   `Well, that's nice, I'm sure,' Sylvia said. `Perhaps, ifhanging out with the rich and famous of OPEC hasn'tbeen too demanding, you could make us all a cuppa?'

   `Course.' Donna stood up but wasn't fast enough tostop Sylvia getting another jibe in. `Can you rememberwhere the teabags are? And the kettle?'

   And that was it. Time to have this out.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    `What have I done, Mum? I mean, really, where did itgo wrong? All you ever told me was to go out, do things,get a job, live my life. And I do that. And it's still not goodenough, is it?' She sat down again. `I'm still not goodenough, am I? Was Dad as disappointed in me as youare?'

    `Don't you dare speak about your father like that,'Sylvia yelled, far louder than seemed necessary.

    `Now, now--' Wilf started, but Sylvia shushed himsharply.

    `No, no, it's time Lady Muck over there had a fewhome truths.' Sylvia leaned forward, jabbing at the airwith her finger. `Your grandfather and I are worried sick,you know that? You up and leave with barely a word, youturn up once in a blue moon when it suits you and you'reoff again. I don't know whether you're alive or dead. Idon't know if each time the phone rings it's you telling meyou're in Timbuktu, or there's a ring on the doorbell andit'll be the police saying they've found you washed up inthe Thames. A letter arrives for you and I put it on themantelpiece, hoping that somehow that means you'llcome home sooner. But after a couple of weeks, I justchuck it on your bed because it doesn't work. It doesn'tbring you home. Ever since you met that Doctor bloke,you've become a different person.'

    Donna stared at her mum in mute shock. Where had allthis come from. `Why the hell would you assume I'mdead? That's mad.'

    `It's not mad, it's not unreasonable. It's what I think.Every day I don't hear from you, I think it more. Maybe if

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

you were a mother, maybe if you'd got kids, stupid,selfish, unthinking kids, you'd understand.'

   Sylvia was shaking now.

   Donna was horrified. She'd somehow, without meaningto, without quite knowing why, she'd made her mum cry!For all the wrong reasons! Like there were right ones...You're not supposed to make your mum cry...

   `I'm not gonna die, Mum! No policeman's gonna ringthe doorbell and say I'm dead.'

   `Why not?' Sylvia was almost screaming now, not in anangry way, but tears were rolling down her cheeks no,they were actually throwing themselves down her face,like wet lemmings. `Why not? It's what happened whenyour dad died!'

   The sudden silence was gut-wrenchingly terrible.

   Then Donna was across the room, hugging her sobbingmother, holding her, squeezing her, mumbling apologiesand soothing words, telling her that it was all right, thatshe was there.

   But one thought ran through her mind. Tomorrow,she'd be gone again. With the Doctor. Because that's whatshe wanted.

   But did she have the right to? Had she really earned theright to go off again if this was what her mum thought?

   All those times she and Sylvia had fought, argued,yelled. As a teenager (and frankly, most of her spoilttwenties), Donna had just put it down to `that's my mum'.But Donna wasn't that person now, and she could see thather widowed mum, one year on, needed her daughtermore than ever before.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    And Donna was crying too now.

    Crying for her mum's pain, her dad's loss,remembering that knock on the door. The policemanstanding there.

    `He was supposed to die here, in my arms, with hisfamily,' Sylvia was saying. `Not in a bloody filling station.Alone.'

    At which point, with timing for which both the words`impeccable' and `inconvenient' were invented, thedoorbell rang.

    Wordlessly, Wilf went to answer it, and Donna heardhim say `Ah, not a good time.' Donna knew, withouthearing the response, exactly who was on the doorstep.

    And so did Sylvia.

    She looked with red, teary eyes at her daughter.

    And, for the first time that Donna could remember,Sylvia Noble stroked Donna's face, a soft caress of purematernal love. `I'll put the kettle on.' Then she called,`Come in, Doctor.'

    A moment later, the Doctor's face popped round thesitting room door, brainy specs in place, hair madder thannormal.

    `Hullo,' he said to all of them. `Do you know theCarnes family by any chance? I think they've got aliens inthe family.'

The tourist trade in Moscatelli was mainly based aroundolive groves, orangeries, a nice vineyard and the annualmotorcycle race that started thirteen miles away inFlorence and ended up the other side of the mountains in

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

this small but oft-visited little town.

   The people who lived in Moscatelli were mostlyItalians who had been there for thirty or so generations.Everyone knew everyone and it was friendly, welcomingand cheerful.

   It was also, in the middle of May, the recipient ofstunningly good weather, and Jayne Greene thought itbrought out the best in the locals. Not least of which wasthat Tonio was spending most of the day during the digwearing nothing but a pair of tight denim cut-offs that leftvery little to the imagination (and Jayne could imaginequite a lot). The Professor had employed Tonio and hisfamily to help them set up the dig a week or so back.Jayne and her two fellow students, Sean and Ben, hadagreed to accompany the Professor there for the summerbecause it would give them really good marks in the end-of-course assessments, it'd be an adventure to travel to anice part of Italy and it was a great way to get a tan.

   `Got it!' Sean yelled excitedly.

   `How much?' asked Ben, sifting soil a couple of feetaway from where the laptop was set up by the food tent.

   `Seventy-eight euro.'

   `Sixty-something quid. Not bad.' Ben nodded. `Welldone.'

   `I bloody love eBay,' Sean smiled at Jayne. `Yaay me!'

   `Was it the Egyptian pot?'

   Sean looked at her and shook his head, slowly.

   `Not the Iron Age spade?'

   More head shaking.

   Jayne dropped her own tools and wandered over to the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

laptop and looked at what Sean had just committed sixtypounds to.

    `That?'

    `That.'

    `It's a toy.'

    `Course it's a toy,' Ben yelled as Tonio poured somemore earth into his sieve. `What else does Sean ever buyoff eBay?'

    Jayne couldn't understand it. `You mean, you spent allthat money, and seven days' frustrated watching theauction, for a mass-produced toy?'

    `Action figure,' Sean corrected her. `Limited edition.Only five hundred produced, and that was eight years ago.It's a variant paint job, y'see, she's wearing her red DarkPeriod costume instead of the traditional green one.'

    Jayne just looked at Sean. `You are an adult. You are agrown man getting excited about a plastic toy. A figure forkids. A...'

    `Don't say "dolly",' Ben muttered to himself.

    `... a dolly?'

    Sean slammed the laptop shut. `My money, my choice.You get excited about Roman pins and earthenware.'

    `So do you!'

    `Yeah, cos that's a job. That's what I do here and at uni.But in my spare time, I have other hobbies. I have...'

    `Don't say "a life",' Ben muttered to himself again.

    `... a life,' Sean finished. `You should try getting onebefore you criticise everyone else.'

    Jayne stared at Sean, then across at Ben, who madesure he caught no one's eye and started to run his finger

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

pointlessly through the dirt, in an effort to pretend he hadsomething to distract him.

   The tension was broken by little Professor Rossi,stumbling back around the tents after a trip to the town forsome milk and teabags.

   `Now, now, I could hear you up on the main road.What's going on?'

   `Nothing,' Sean grunted. `Sorry Prof.'

   Rossi shook his head, scratching the scar that created asmall slash across his cheek. At uni, everyone joked it wasa duelling scar he'd got fighting for a woman he loved,but one day someone discovered the truth that ten yearsearlier he'd been cut in the car accident that had killed hiswife. Everyone lost interest in imagining romantic thingsabout the scar after that.

   `What am I going to do with you three? I bring you outhere from university for the mid-term break, to visit thefamily home, and to give you all the chance to improveyour frankly dodgy archaeology marks. And all you do isplay with the broadband, flirt with poor Tonio there andembarrass him, or drink too much orange wine. You arehere to work, you know. Being sociable is a pleasant sideeffect but not essential. What is essential, however, isteamwork. Sean and Jayne, I don't care if you can't geton, but you will work together. Jayne and Ben, I don'tcare if you want to fight over Tonio's attention, you willwork together. Sean and Ben I don't care if you can drinkone another under the table at night, provided you turn upfresh and able the next day. Is all that understood? I amnot your parents but I am the man who will mark your

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

end-of-term papers, and you would do well to rememberthat keeping me sweet is a positive move.' Rossi put somecartons of milk on the table next to the laptop. `So, whoseturn is it to make tea?'

   Sean volunteered as Rossi scooped up the laptop.`Hopefully the Bursar has forwarded some more funds tous so we can try and trace those tunnels through the hillsacross to the lake.'

   `How far do your family go back here, Professor?'Jayne asked.

   Rossi shrugged. `I'm in the process of finding that outat the library. Certainly my paternal great-grandparentswere the ones who moved to Ipswich, but I suspect theirroots are here right back to the fifteenth century.'

   Ben headed over with his sieve. `So we are looking formore than fifteenth-century Italian pots and pans then? Isaid so! Come on, Professor, what's the big secret?'

   `Ah,' Rossi grinned. `Well, you see, somewhere in thisarea an entire Dukedom vanished. A whole town with acastle and everything was based around here, or in thehills or somewhere in the vicinity of that lake beyond theorange groves. I'm trying to find its borders.'

   `How do we know?' Sean asked as the kettle boiled.

   `It's in the records in the library,' Tonio said in goodbut heavily accented English.

   Jayne and Ben stared at Tonio in mute shock andslight horror.

   He grinned. `Oh right, you both thought I didn'tunderstand English,' he laughed, a deep bellowing laugh.

   So did Professor Rossi. `Now that,' he said, `is funny.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Did neither of you realise?'

   Dumbly, they both shook their heads as Sean busiedhimself with the tea, determined not to catch their eyes.

   `But that means...' Jayne started.

   `Everything we've said...' added Ben.

   `About you...' Jayne again.

   `You... you heard... Oh God... kill me now...' Ben puthis sieve down and sat hard on the ground.

   Tonio tousled Ben's dark hair and winked at him,before throwing a look to Jayne. `Sorry, you lose.'

   `Course I do,' Jayne said. `When does life ever goJayne Greene's way?'

   The laptop bleeped and, leaving the students to sort outthe tea and Tonio's confession, Professor Rossi accessedhis emails in response. Nothing from the Bursar, but therewas one message:

    From: Madam Delphi

    To: Rossi@Tarminsteruni.ac.uk

    Subject: SAN MARTINO

    Professor Rossi

    My congratulations, you have rediscovered yourheritage, and you are indeed in San Martino, just as youhoped. Click on this link to be taken to my site for moreinformation about this delightful Italianate kingdom andits secrets.

   The Professor was about to call the students over, butthought it would be better to check that this wasn't a hoax.(Although how did anyone know they were searching for

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

San Martino? He hadn't even told the students the nameof the kingdom). So he clicked the hotlink.

    Instead of a new webpage, the screen was instantlyfilled with a pulsating ball of bright white light,highlighted with lilac edges and spirals.

    Instinctively he let his hand reach forward to touch thescreen... to go into the screen, to go through the screen...as if his right hand was being consumed by the transfixingball of energy.

    Then he withdrew his hand, and looked at it.

    Crackling around the fingertips were the vestiges ofpurple pulses of energy, like tiny flickers of raw electricalpower. He turned his hand over, studying the little pulsesuntil they seemed to vanish for good, absorbed into hisskin. He rubbed his fingers together, and then looked backat the screen. It just displayed Sean's eBay victory again.

    The Professor stood up and turned to face his studentsand held his arms out, hands flat. `We've done it,' hebreathed.

    Instantly distracted from their own petty concerns, thefour young people walked over, Jayne and Sean taking anoffered hand each, excitedly returning the gesture, ifunsure what they were celebrating.

    After a second, they wordlessly released theProfessor's hands, and Rossi then grabbed Ben andTonio's hands. And they in turn took Sean and Jayne's, thefive now forming a circle.

    In unison, they all raised their linked hands into the air,purple electricity building and crackling around them.

    The others followed the direction of his gaze as the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Professor looked up into the sky.

   `Welcome back,' he said quietly.

Dinner was subdued in the Noble household.

    Sylvia silently put food on plates. Donna silentlypassed the plates from the work surface to the diningtable. Wilf silently poured water into tumblers threematching ones from a petrol station, and a larger one withDonald Duck on it. The Doctor had that.

    The Doctor sat there, uncomfortable with domesticityat the best of times, utterly ill at ease right now.

    `Dubai?' Sylvia said, suddenly sitting up.

    The Doctor shot a look at Donna what was hesupposed to say?

    `With the horses,' Wilf helpfully prodded.

    `Horses?' The Doctor was like a rabbit caught inheadlights. `Horses. Yes, marvellous things.'

    `The Sheikh of Dubai put us up for a couple of weeks,'Donna interjected. `Didn't he?'

    Sylvia started eating. Something cheese-y andmacaroni-y the Doctor had guessed, but he wasn't quitesure. Something that looked like this had once tried to biteoff his toes on the coast of Kal-Durunt in the KeripedesCluster.

    He gently eased his fork into it.

    `I'm sorry it's not as posh as what you get in Dubai,with horses and sheikhs,' Sylvia said. `But I had no noticefrom either of you that you were coming.'

    `Oh, well, we couldn't have Donna missing today,' theDoctor said brightly. Too brightly. Wrong occasion for

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Tigger-Doctor, better to be Eeyore-Doctor tonight.

   `I thought the Emirates were run by emirs, not sheikhs,'Sylvia said, pouring herself more water. `But what do Iknow? I just sit here every day, waiting for people to turnup out of the blue, expecting to be fed.'

   The Doctor just threw a look at Donna that he thoughtsaid `help' but Donna clearly took to mean `no, it's OK,ignore me, oh and right now would be the time to pick areally good fight with your mum'.

   So Donna did.

   `What is your problem, Mum? Most people would killto have family around them.'

   Wilf tried to intervene, but Donna was going off on onenow.

   `I mean, Mooky goes away for two weeks, her parentsthrow a bloody party to celebrate her return. And all she'sdone is go shopping in Glasgow. I get to see the gala-well, to see the world, things I never thought I'd get thechance to do, and all I get is moans.'

   Sylvia didn't look up from her food. `Yeah, but theyprobably knew where Mooky was. All I know is whenyour granddad there bothers to say he had a postcard. AndI'm never allowed to read them, oh no.'

   Donna was going to chastise Wilf for that when sheremembered that said postcards were usually sent fromanother star system entirely.

   `OK, Mum, I'll start sending you postcards too.Promise.'

   `Oh it's not just that,' Sylvia said. `It's the whole life Ihave. Your dad's gone, you've gone, and I'm stuck here as

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

nursemaid for your granddad's bit on the side.'

   Donna opened her mouth to speak, then shut it again.Then, as that comment sank in, her mouth opened again,but still no sound came out.

   `Bit on the side?' the Doctor asked Wilf.

   Wilf glowered at Sylvia. `She's a friend,' he said. `I'mnot gonna marry her.'

   `I should hope not,' Sylvia said. `Mum would turn inher grave.'

   `Ahhh, so that's what it's all about,' Wilf sighed. `Youthink Eileen wouldn't approve. You think somehow meseeing a poor, sick old lady would make Eileen sad. Well,you're wrong. She was your mother, but she was my wife.I knew her better than that.'

   The Doctor remembered why he didn't `do' families.

   `Lovely macaroni cheese, Mrs Noble,' he said, stuffinghis mouth. `Mmmmm...'

   `It's mushroom raclette,' she snapped.

   `Not macaroni?'

   `Mushroom.'

   `It's... great... very cheesy. And...'

   `So, who is this lady, Gramps?' Donna asked.

   Wilf smiled. `She's a lady astronomer I know, fromGreenwich. Helps out at the observatory there, has donefor years. But about three years ago she was... well, shefell ill and had to stop working. We chatted on the phone acouple of times, met up, had dinner. You'd think I'dstarted dating a teenage married pregnant cousin the waySylvia goes on about her.'

   The Doctor was looking at Sylvia Noble, however.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Spotting what made her flush angrily when Wilf spoke. Ithad been the word `ill'.

   He looked back at the old paratrooper. `Why'd she giveup at the Observatory then?'

   `Ask her yourself,' Sylvia said. `She'll be here anyminute. Even on Geoff's day, my daughter brings youround, and he brings her round.'

   And Sylvia was up and out of the kitchen.

   Donna sighed and went after her mum. Wilf made tofollow, but the Doctor caught his arm.

   `I'm no expert, Wilfred, but I reckon best leave theladies to it.'

   Wilf nodded.

   `And your friend?'

   `Netty. Henrietta Goodhart.'

   He smiled. `Most appropriate name I think she couldhave. But she was diagnosed with... She has Alzheimer's,Doctor. And it's not getting any better.'

   `It wouldn't,' the Doctor said quietly, just as thedoorbell rang. `That her?'

   Wilf nodded and went to let her in.

   A moment later and the Doctor was grinning at a visionof eccentricity, charm and humour that only certainEnglish women of a particular age and bearing could carryoff.

   She was dressed from head to foot in brown knee-length corduroy skirt, tan blouse, chocolate-colouredjacket and carried a tan handbag. On her head was anamazing hat with at least half a dozen brown feathers ofdifferent shapes and sizes. Wilf was removing her long

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

dark overcoat, and Netty offered her hand to the Doctorbefore Wilf had got the coat off her, meaning one sleeve,the hand-shaking sleeve, was still on.

   `Doctor, how marvellous to meet you. Hooray andhuzzah, it's a real pleasure.'

   `Mrs Goodhart.'

   `Miss, please. Better still, just Netty. Never beenmarried and, despite what Wilfred's daughter believes,have no intention to ever be married.'

   Wilf finally got the coat off her, and Netty slid neatlyinto a chair, grabbing a glass of water in an obviouslywell-rehearsed manoeuvre.

   `I never married,' she went on. `Seemed such analarming waste of time. I live in Greenwich you know, bitof a trek out here, but my local cab firm, they know meand my little ways, so it's never a problem if I forget tohave money. Or where I'm going.'

   The Doctor had taken to this gregarious lady instantly.`You can't beat a reliable taxi firm, Netty,' he said,managing to get a sentence in before she blithely carriedon.

   `Are they rowing yet? It's all they ever do. And it'sabout me. I was so ashamed to start with, now I just treatit as a ritual, and in ten minutes Sylvia's back to hernormal charming self, full of tea and crackers.'

   The Doctor smiled. `Sylvia Noble? Charming? Wordsnot often in the same sentence.'

   The look he got from Netty showed him how he'dmisjudged the situation between the two women.

   `Oh, don't disappoint me, Doctor. Not after all I've

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

been told about you. That woman out there is a saint.She's just lost her husband, she's got a daughter you draghalfway to God knows where on a whim, and has totolerate that marvellous Wilfred, who can be just asstubborn and cantankerous as her. More so in fact. I likeher a lot. Besides which, and I know she complains, butthat's just her way of letting off steam, she's bloodyterrific with my... you know...' Netty tapped the side ofher head. `My condition. Bless her, last weekend shedrove Wilf all the way to Charlton. Apparently I wasfound in someone's back garden, trying to convince themI used to live there when I was six!'

   `And did you?'

   `Good gracious, no. I was brought up in Hampshire.'She dived into her handbag and brought out an A5-sizedred notebook and showed it to him. `My life,' she saidsimply. `So I can remember things.'

   The Doctor looked her straight in the eye and saw,briefly, a very scared but very proud old lady. And heliked her even more than before.

   `Without that book, without the likes of Sylvia Noble,I'm nothing. I'd left my bag in a shop on Greenwich HighStreet, so I'm in this garden, unable to know who I am,where I'm from. Sylvia found a receipt in my pocket,found the shop, got my bag back where I'd left it, sorted itall out with the police. She wants to put me in a home,you know. The brochures are in that drawer next to thecooker.'

   `Really?'

   `Yes. Wilf won't hear of it. Says he'll have me move in

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

here first. Daft old fool, as if I'm going to go from onehouse I can barely cope with to another. But a lovelynursing home, where I'll be looked after? How marvellousis that?'

    The kitchen door opened. Donna and Sylvia trooped in,and Donna immediately introduced herself.

    As Sylvia put the kettle on, the Doctor crossed andstood behind her. `Does Wilf know all you do for hisfriend?'

    `Does Donna know you're poking your nose into herfamily's business?' Sylvia responded.

    `I'm not your enemy, Mrs Noble,' the Doctor said.

    Sylvia turned and smiled at him. The most insinceresmile possible. `For my daughter's sake, Doctor, I tolerateyou in this house. But that's all. For my dad's sake, I'll dothe best I can for Netty Goodhart. I don't think I'm aselfish woman, Doctor. I've worked hard, I built a life, Inever had much money, and I tried to give Donna a decentlife. But then one day, I lost my husband. My rock. Andsince then I've tried to do what both of us did, but with adaughter who one minute won't get a job, the next canafford to be in a different hemisphere, but can't afford astamp, and an old dad who seems to have decided it's timeto replace my mum once and for all.'

    `Are you sure you're not worried he's replacing you? Iimagine he let your mum go a long time ago.'

    The silence that followed the slap around the face hereceived seemed to go on for a few hours, but wasprobably only a few seconds.

    `I didn't mean it like that...' the Doctor started. `I

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

genuinely wondered--'

   Sylvia ignored him. `Dad,' she said. `Why don't youtake the Doctor up to the allotment, eh? Donna and I cancatch up with Netty while you two have an hour or... afew hours up there, yes?'

   Wilf took the hint and was all but dragging the Doctorout of the kitchen as the women watched.

   The last thing the Doctor heard was `Tea, everyone'from Sylvia, before Wilf had thrust them both out into thenight air.

   `Allotment. This way,' the old man said.

Babis Takis hoiked the largest bale of hay onto the back ofthe station wagon and stopped to rest. He wasn't gettingany younger, and this was really Nikos's job.

   But Nikos wasn't here, he was probably around theback of the farm, messing with that Spiros girl. Typical.There was work to be done they had to get thisconsignment over to Faliraki, where so much buildingwork was still going on. Hotels, apartments, shoppingmalls, everything the whole Dodecanese would benefitfrom because of the continued tourism it would bring.

   Babis yelled out Nikos's name a couple of times as hehauled up more bales of hay. He glanced at his watch. Itwould take an hour or so to drive across the island to thePetaloudes, where they would collect Kris, before goingon to Lindos and along the coast to Faliraki. They'd dropoff the hay at the depot, then it was off to Erik's Tavernafor the night.

   Still no sign of Nikos.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    With a sigh, Babis walked away from the stationwagon. `I am an old man, Nikos,' he called out. `I foughtin the war, you know, so people like you could beindependent and have your luxuries. Just once, it'd be niceif you could pull your weight.'

    He had reached the rear of the farm, when he heard anoise from inside one of the stables a short female gaspof surprise, almost fear. Certainly alarm.

    Babis was inside the stable in a second.

    Nikos was on the ground, holding his head in hishands, silent but clearly dazed.

    Standing over him, a shovel in her hands was a prettyyoung girl, who Babis recognised as Katarina Spiros.

    `You all right, girl?' Babis asked, reaching for theshovel.

    Katarina swung around to face Nikos's grandfather, andhe realised how scared she looked. `What happened?'Babis asked.

    He was surprised when Katarina explained. `He took acall...'

    She was pointing at Nikos Takis, who was nowbeginning to stand up, abandoning the cell phone on theground by his foot. He looked at his grandfather, causingBabis to take an involuntary step back.

    Babis Takis had fought in the latter days of the war as ayouth, kicking the Nazis out of Crete and keeping Greecefor the Greeks. He had faced the wrath and pain of hisparents, who had so hated and eventually rejected him forfalling in love, marrying and having children with one ofthe hated Italians who had occupied the Greek Islands for

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

seven hundred years before being sent packing after thewar. He had done some time in prison for a barroom brawlin Diagoras, and he had once had to face the embitteredson of a German he'd tied a live grenade to back in 1944.

   But nothing had ever scared him as much as the lookhis grandson gave him right now.

   Nikos wasn't there any more. That carefree, funny,clever grandson he had nurtured after his father's deathwas just not there.

   Babis didn't know how he knew that. He didn't knowhow it had happened. But he'd never been so sure ofanything in his life.

   He was still sure of this when a flash of purple fire,hotter than the heart of a sun, extinguished his existence inless time than it took Katarina Spiros to draw breath toscream.

   A second later, a handful of ashes dropped to theground where the young girl had stood.

   And Nikos Takis threw his arms towards the sky,purple electricity buzzing around his fingertips, as hethrew back his head.

   `Welcome back,' he yelled triumphantly.

   Donnie and Portia were on their honeymoon. It wasDonnie's first, Portia's second, but both were enjoyingthemselves enormously.

   Donnie's son had been his best man. His grandson hadbeen pageboy. Portia's granddaughter had been theflower-girl. They'd had two ceremonies, a full-on Jewishone and a simpler Christian one to reflect both theirchosen faiths. Portia had always stayed in the Jewish faith,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

whereas Donnie's family had pretty much abandoned itwithin weeks of arriving at Ellis Island a century and a bitearlier.

    They had overcome the odds a cancer scare forDonnie, some severe frowning by Portia's more traditionalrelatives and the death of their 8-year-old cat, Mr Smokey,a week before the ceremonies. After knowing each otherfor fifteen years, courting for the last six, they were finallytogether for ever.

    And here they were, in Donnie's jeep, having bombedalong the 8, passing through Danbury, before turning offthe freeway and into the Connecticut countryside for theirhoneymoon.

    They had taken a nice colonial house outsideOlivertown, thirteen miles from Danbury. The housebelonged to one of Portia's clients (she was a dog-walker,traipsing three times a day around Central Park with avariety of canines). The Carpenters were on FM radio,telling the world how they'd like to teach the world tosing, and the happy couple were singing along.

    They'd got through Abba, Dr Hook and the MedicineShow, Jo Stafford, and were nodding their heads gentlyalong to Helen Reddy singing about how good it was to beinsane: `No one asks you to explain' they sang in unisonas they pulled up outside the house they'd rented.

    Portia looked at her new husband. `Well, Mr DiCotta,we're here.'

    `We sure are, Mrs DiCotta.' Donnie winked at her.`Gotten used to that yet?'

    `Never will, I reckon,' she laughed. `But I like it just

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the same.' She leaned across the car and kissed Donnie ashe switched the ignition off.

   And the radio kept playing.

   As they separated, they both looked at the fascia of thestereo.

   `That's not good, Donnie,' Portia DiCotta said. `Mustbe a short somewhere.'

   He nodded. `Darn it, I'd better get it fixed up now, hon.Otherwise we'll have a flat battery tomorrow which wouldnot be good as I want to take you up to that restaurant inNew Preston. The food's gorgeous, the hospitality's firstclass and the view is to die for. You can look right downover Lake Waramaug and it's real romantic.'

   Portia nodded. `You sort the car, I'll put some coffeeon.'

   Donnie reached out to feel under the dash for a loosewire. There was a tiny spark of electricity and the radiofell silent.

   `Well done you.' Portia smiled. `Now you can help meget the cases out the back.'

   Donnie DiCotta said nothing. He just kept his handunder the dashboard of the jeep, staring ahead.

   `Donnie?'

   Nothing.

   Portia reached out to touch his shoulder, and he swunghis head round to face her. Portia saw his eyes not thebeautiful blue eyes that she'd fallen in love with. Thesehad been replaced by two solid orbs of burning purplelight, minuscule tongues of electricity sparking from histear ducts.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   She couldn't say a word because he grabbed her headand kissed her on the mouth. Full. Hard. But not at allpassionate.

   After a second or two, they broke apart.

   And now Portia DiCotta's eyes were blazing with thesame eerie purple energy.

   Wordlessly, they got out of the jeep and walked to theporch, studying the night sky above them, until Donniepointed up to the right, to a blazing star that, had he beenan expert in such things, he'd have known hadn't beenseen by human eyes for many centuries.

   He and his new wife held hands and stared at the star.

   `Welcome back,' they breathed together.

   The Doctor was looking down on London.

   `I can see why you like it up here, Wilf,' he said to theold man fussing beside him, sorting out a second littlecanvas seat for him to sit on. `It's terribly... peaceful.'

   Wilf Mott nodded. `Been coming here for years. Usedto stare at the sky at night when I was in the forces. Usedto navigate by the stars as well as the charts and stuff. Theother lads thought I was mad, but you know what, Doctor,we never got lost. Not once.'

   The Doctor smiled at the older man and sat on theproffered seat. `Thank you.'

   Wilf sat beside him and poured him a mug of tea fromthe thermos. The Doctor sipped it gratefully. `Used to slipa bit of Mr Daniels' finest in there,' Wilf said. `But herladyship cottoned on and that was the end of that. Bleedin'doctors told her I had to keep off it.'

   `Terrible bunch, doctors,' the Doctor laughed. `But they

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

often know what's best, however unpopular that makesthem.'

   `Subtle,' nodded Wilf. `Sylv'll come round. Probably.'

   `Really?'

   `Nah,' and Wilf roared. `Not a chance, mate.'

   The Doctor smiled again. `You don't have a problemwith me, then?'

   `Oh, you make my Donna happy. Keep that up andyou're fine with me. Do anything that upsets her, though,and you'll hear from me, even on Mars.'

   The Doctor looked surprised at this. `How much hasshe told you?'

   `Everything. Right from the off.' Wilf pointed at histelescope. `I was up here, looking up into the sky whenshe told me about you. I didn't believe her at first.'

   `Well, no one could blame you for that.'

   `Truth is, I don't think I understood what she wasactually telling me. Then I saw you after that fat business,flying through the sky, Donna waving down at me, and Irealised it was all true. She keeps me up to date when shecan. Postcards, emails. The odd gift. Still don't know whatto do with the Verron medal. Or what exactly a Verronmedal is!'

   The Doctor grinned. `Marvellous race, Verrons. Theyhave a brilliant air corps. Utterly useless, they haven'tfought a war in a few millennia, but their air corps is theirproudest achievement. It's a bit like you sending someonea three-bar DSO.' The Doctor shrugged. `Hang on, whendid she send you that, where did she get it from, and howon earth did she get it to you?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Wilf almost recoiled from the Doctor's stream-of-conscious barrage of questions.

   `Not a clue. 'Ere, you don't need it back do you? Imean, it wasn't stolen? Donna hasn't nicked anythingsince those sweets from Woolies when she was eight. Wemade her take 'em back and apologise and everything.'

   `No, no, I doubt she nicked it. Verrons are verygenerous. I just want to know when she met a Verron.'

   `I'd hate to think my little girl was not being properlylooked after, Doctor,' Wilf said, raising an eyebrow.

   `Helios 5,' the Doctor said. `Had to be there. Or Ylum.I like Ylum, so did Donna very cosmopolitan. Orperhaps from the Moulin Très Rouge. There was a streetmarket there. Or I suppose there was that day on--'

   `Anyway,' Wilf cut across him, `we came here for areason.'

   `A reason other than you wanting to check what myintentions were towards your granddaughter? And to givemy left cheek a chance to cool down.'

   Wilf laughed. `Oh, that's Sylvia's way, not mine. Iknow you're honourable. I also know Donna can take careof herself in that regard. Any dishonourability from you,you'd never hear the end of it. Literally.'

   The Doctor thought about `oi' and decided yes, Wilfknew his granddaughter very well indeed.

   Wilf adjusted his telescope. `Look though here.'

   The Doctor did, and saw a star. A tiny little pinprick oflight, flickering enough that every so often it seemed tovanish.

   `Like it? 7432MOTT,' Wilf said proudly.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `I'm sorry,' the Doctor said, staring back at him again.`They named it after you?'

   `I discovered it. I joined a node. Not long after, Idiscovered that star. The RPS are doing me a dinnertomorrow night.'

   `I node nudding anout nodes,' the Doctor said.

   `Ah, well a node is--' Wilf started, but the Doctorwaved it aside.

   `I'm joking. I know what a node is. And I'm deadimpressed, Wilf, that you have a star named in yourhonour and I'm even more overjoyed the Royal PlanetarySociety are throwing you a knees-up. And I bet youbought a new tie and everything. And I am so sorry tohave to rain on your parade, but can I just point out thatthere's another new star, just down there. It's incrediblybright, just to the left of the sword of Orion.'

   Wilf leaned down and eased the Doctor aside. `There?'

   `No, there.'

   `Oh, there. Yeah, we all like that one, too. It's verypretty.'

   `Yeah, very pretty. A very pretty new star shiningbrightly in a constellation that it shouldn't be anywherenear. Thing is, stars of that magnitude and shininess don'tjust show up for no good reason.'

   `Shininess? Is that a technical term?'

   The Doctor threw Wilf a look. `It's good enough forme.'

   `Only I know that everyone who's been talking about itcalls stars like that Chaos Bodies, apparently.'

   The Doctor thought for a second or two, then shrugged.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

`Do they? That's a new one on me.'

    `It's what they called it in the papers.'

    The Doctor nodded. `Ah, well, if the newspapers saidit, it must be true, because who on earth would argue withthe tabloids.' He looked up at the thing in the sky. `ChaosBodies. Good descriptive name though, they got thatright.' The Doctor threw an arm around Wilf's shoulder.`But you know what, who cares? You got a star, a muchless worrying star, named after you and I'm very proud.'

    `Thank you. I'm glad you said that cos you have justsolved my problem for me.'

    `What problem is that?'

    `I need someone to take me to Vauxhall.'

    `Why?'

    `The dinner.'

    `Who with?'

    `The Society.'

    `When?'

    `Tomorrow night.'

    `How?'

    `By TARDIS?'

    `Yeah, cos that's gonna happen.'

    `Well all right, on the tube, then. Sylvia thinks I'm notcapable of going by myself. I mean, I'm fine sitting in acold, damp allotment every night, which plays havoc withmy--'

    `So Sylvia doesn't want you going out late at night,right?'

    `I mean, I'm not gonna get lost, Doctor, but she'sgetting all protective and daft these days. Since she lost

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Geoff. And with Donna away so much. And now Netty...'

    `You know what, Wilfred Mott, I should be delighted toaccompany you to dinner in Vauxhall. By taxi how poshis that? I haven't had a meal at the RPS since Bernard andPaula took me there in 1969 to watch the moon landings.Do they still do that chocolate syrup pudding?'

    `I don't know. I haven't been before.'

    `Then tomorrow night, Wilfred Mott of Chiswick,assuming the menu hasn't changed in forty years, andbeing the Royal Planetary Society I think I'm on safeground there, you are in for a culinary treat.'

    The Doctor looked at the worryingly bright new starthat wasn't 7432MOTT one last time through thetelescope. `Chaos Body indeed.'

    `It is beautiful though,' Wilf murmured.

    And both men suddenly shivered. Like someone waswalking over their graves.

    Or the grave of the entire planet.

    `Beautiful Chaos,' the Doctor said quietly.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

SATURDAY

Caitlin stood waiting at Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5,waiting for flights that would once have gone intoTerminal 2. That was currently being demolished, readyfor the East Terminal that would replace the one Europeanflights used to come into. She was meeting variousinbound flights, including one due in from JFK at midday,which would arrive before the European ones. Shewatched the huge 787-9 jet come in to land, sunlightgleaming off its new fuselage as it slowly crawled to ahalt, before taxiing across to the arrival gate and beingdrawn into position by the small pilot truck.

    Caitlin was dressed in a smart Terminal Staff uniform,her access-all-areas pass, with the highest securityclearing Madam Delphi could get, dangling from the straparound her neck. She smiled sweetly at a couple of otherstaff, neither of whom challenged her even though theycouldn't possibly have ever seen her before. It was the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

pass that did that, although Caitlin's long dark hair andblue eyes would have been enough to distract anyone whowanted a closer look. A quick smile was usually all it tookCaitlin to get exactly what she wanted.

   It was actually a keen security guard who spotted her asshe walked through Restricted Access doors towards thearrivals lounge, heading to exactly where she really hadno right to be.

   `Excuse me?' he called out.

   `Is there a problem...' Caitlin screwed up her eyes toread his name tag. `Is there a problem, Keith?'

   Keith Brownlow stared at her, his head slightly to oneside as if sizing her up. `Not seen you before,' he saidquietly.

   `Not been here long,' she answered quickly.

   `Funny,' he replied. `I know everyone in this Terminal.And those I don't know, don't get in here. I need you toleave, I'm afraid, until I can verify you are who you sayyou are.'

   Caitlin paused for a moment, trying to remember aname. `I'm sure if you check with Mr Golding he'll vouchfor me. I joined his staff on Thursday.'

   Keith shrugged. `And I'll do that, but only once you goback the way you came and wait in the Yellow Zone.'

   `You're very good at this, Keith, aren't you?'

   `We take security very seriously,' he said.

   `Of course you do,' purred Caitlin. `Quite right too. Butlook, there's only you and me here, you've seen my pass,you can see I have clearance. I'm sure it's justadministration that have failed to inform you I'm here. I

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

really need to be the other side of that door to greet someVIPs.'

   Keith ignored her, his right hand resting on theholstered revolver at his hip, his left hand raising hiswalkie-talkie.

   `Oh dear, and I thought we might become friends,'Caitlin said, raising her right arm and sending a bolt ofpurple energy into Keith's chest, reducing him to ashesbefore he could even register the movement.

   She walked forward, her high heels squashing the fewashes that remained into the carpet. With a quick, deepbreath, she pushed open the VIP area doors and marchedout to greet her guests.

   They were standing, waiting for her, neither of themreally seeming to register where they were or what theywere doing. Two old Americans, in from New York.

   `Mr and Mrs DiCotta? Congratulations on yourwedding and welcome to your honeymoon.'

   Donnie and Portia DiCotta said nothing, just nodded asCaitlin led them to one of the service buggies that elderlyand disabled passengers were moved around the airportterminals in.

   A confused handler looked at her pass as she flashed itat him, but then moved on, allowing her to take the buggy.The DiCottas climbed on board as the handler turnedback.

   `Do they have luggage?' he called out.

   Caitlin smiled her sweetest smile, which she hopeddidn't suggest what she thought (`Oh, do go away, youpointless oaf'), then said aloud, `It's been delayed at JFK

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

so we'll come back for it in the morning.'

    She started the buggy up and drove forward. `You'rethe first,' she said quietly, no longer all sweetness andsmiles.

    `Where are the others?'

    `The Greek is in shortly, the Italian group, not foranother hour or so. We'll wait, collect them and then go toMadam Delphi together. She has a mission for youtonight.' Caitlin gave a little laugh. `I would ask aboutjetlag, but I imagine Madam Delphi has ensured you feelnone of that.'

    `We feel fine,' said Portia DiCotta.

    `Good,' Caitlin said. `Perfect.'

    The buggy carried on, away from the main routes andacross to another Gate where the flight from AthensInternational would arrive. `And then we're off to meetthe funky 787-3 from Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci diFiumicino,' she said. `I do hope you enjoy your stay. It'llbe brief but very dramatic.'

    The little buggy trundled on down the long corridorsready to collect more of the army that Madam Delphiwould eventually use to bring the human race to utterdestruction.

    Donna was adjusting the Doctor's tie. She'd done this ahundred times for her dad, especially towards the end,which had given him an excuse to be grouchy and feeluseless. The Doctor had no such excuse, but it hadn'tstopped him moaning about it.

    `Donna, I can tie a tie, you know.'

    `Really? Cos I've seen no evidence of that,' was her

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

response, followed by an overenthusiastic shove of theknot a bit too close to the Doctor's Adam's apple.`Whoops,' she smiled at him. `So sorry.'

    He slid a finger down his shirt collar and somehow thatsingle gesture seemed not only to loosen the knot, but alsoto undo his top button and then put creases into the shirt aswell.

    It was an art, he said. Geek chic, he said. ScruffyArthur, she called it, giving up on a lost cause.

    `How's Netty getting on?' he asked.

    `She's OK today,' Donna said. `Granddad's fussinground her. Mum's speaking through gritted teeth becauseof it, so Netty's hopped off early and said she'll meet usthere. I reckon she's gone to buy another daft hat!'

    `Your mum's worried about Wilf, that's all. Netty'sgreat fun but a big responsibility,' the Doctor said.

    `I know, but Mum doesn't have to be so negative aboutit, does she?'

    The Doctor shrugged. `She's a mum, Donna. It's theirjob to find fault with everyone in their family. It's in thehandbook.'

    `Did your mum criticise everything you do? The wayyou brushed your hair, the clothes you wore, the friendsyou hung out with, the music--'

    `Yeah, well, it was a bit different for me,' he saidquietly.

    Donna looked at him and smiled comfortingly. `Ofcourse it was. Sorry. Didn't think.'

    `Oh, it's all right. I'm just saying, give your mum somecredit. It's a lot to cope with she's looked after your

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

granddad alone for a long time. Now he has someone inhis life, she's bound to be a bit put out.'

    `Oh don't go all Spock on me.'

    `Spock?'

    `Yeah, child psychologist blokey, or whatever he was.All about relations between parents and kids.'

    `Ah. Dr Spock. Right.'

    `Why, is there another Spock that you know?' laughedDonna as she headed out of the spare room. Although shesuspected the Doctor hadn't slept a wink in there henever seemed to need sleep like a normal person.

    The Doctor glanced at himself in the mirror. He alwaysthought he looked quite good in a dinner jacket and blacktie he hated bow ties, they made him look like a waiter,going by what happened at other parties, so tonight it wasa black tie proper. Course, it meant he now looked like hewas going to a funeral, but hey-ho. And what was it withjackets, no matter how he buttoned them up, they alwayslooked like they were too small or too tight, and thetrousers never quite reached down to his ankles.

    Ah well, it was Wilf's night, not his.

    There was a knock on the door. `Yeah, I'm coming,Donna, give us a minute.'

    The door opened. It was Donna's mum.

    `Ah. Hullo,' he said. She was an intimidating womanand, like most mothers, she clearly didn't like him much.Was he imagining it or was his cheek starting to acheagain?

    Some mothers he could win over by sheer charm (ah,Jackie Tyler, what are you doing these days?), or by

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

proving that their daughter's faith in him was justified(still got a good right hook, Francine Jones, bless you).

    Now there was Sylvia Noble. Full of so much pride,tempered with so much rage, so much frustration. It wasas if she never felt quite so in control of her life as she toldherself she was, and that made her really angry.

    Of course, it couldn't have been easy losing Geoff. TheDoctor had only met him once, at Donna's wedding,where he seemed to be the more... temperate of the Nobleparents. Now poor Sylvia was trying her best to deal witha wayward daughter who was nowhere near as waywardas Sylvia imagined (she still had no idea where he reallytook Donna) and an elderly father, who was so determinednot to be a burden on his daughter that he became a biggerone by default. Wilf Mott wanted to prove he wasindependent, strong and twenty years younger than hewas, believing it would take pressure of Sylvia; he justdidn't realise that Sylvia saw through this and was twiceas worried as she would be if he just sat in an armchair allday watching Countdown.

    How long was it since the Doctor had sat down andwatched Countdown? He used to like Countdown.

    `You'll take care of him.'

    `You're not coming with us?'

    Sylvia looked as if she was about to say something, butthen she just shook her head slightly. `Not my thing.'

    `But it's your dad...'

    `We had a... discussion about that.'

    `Ah.' The Doctor could only begin to imagine how thatwent. `Are you sure? Because I'm positive he, Donna and

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Netty would love you'

   He stopped. Sylvia was one step away from flinching atthe mention of Henrietta Goodhart.

   `Look after him, please, Doctor,' she said quietly. `He'snot getting any younger, despite what he thinks.'

   The Doctor smiled disarmingly. `Course I will.'

   `There's no "course I will" about it with you, Doctor,so don't give me any of your so-called charm and flannel.I wasn't asking a question, I was telling you.'

   The Doctor tried not to smile it was like being toldoff by a headmistress. Then the glint in Sylvia's eyereminded him this was not remotely funny.

   `Promise,' he said, mentally adding, `And I'll do threehundred lines: "I will not lose members of the Noblefamily in London".'

   `They're all I have,' she said and walked out of theroom.

   The Doctor licked his forefinger and held it up.

   Yup, the room's ambient temperature had indeeddropped several degrees.

   Half an hour later, they had piled into a cab. Wilf andDonna sat on the seat, the Doctor on one of those fold-down spare seats. He wriggled uncomfortably on it for thewhole journey.

   Wilf was dressed up to the nines silk tie, good shirt,slightly tight jacket that had probably been bought in theearly seventies but was let down by the pair of trainerson his feet.

   As if sensing where the Doctor was looking, Wilf heldup a tatty carrier bag. Inside it was a pair of black dress

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

shoes. `They don't half kill the circulation in my feet, so Iwear 'em as little time as I can,' he explained.

   The Doctor nodded. `You look nice,' he said to Donna.

   `Thanks. Had to borrow something off of Veena, who'dlent it to Mooky, so she had to bring it round thisafternoon while you were out getting your suit and what?'

   The Doctor grinned. `Your friends have amazingnames.' He laughed gently. `Mooky.'

   Donna raised an eyebrow at this. `You can talk. MisterOod. Mister Matron Cofelia. Mister Ventraxian Gol-Zeeglar. Where d'you get off thinking my mates' namesare funny-sounding, eh?'

   `Fair point, although Ood isn't really a name, it's morea sort of species designation, and I... um...'

   Donna was giving him one of her `do I look like I care'looks, so he turned to Wilf instead.

   `Excited?'

   `Too right I am, Doctor. I get a star to myself. Namedafter me. How great is that?'

   `It's more than great, Gramps,' Donna squeezed hishand. `It's bloody marvellous. Spaceman over there, askhim if anyone's named a star after him.'

   `Have they, Doctor?'

   Whether they had or hadn't was neither here nor thereright now. `Absolutely not,' he told Wilf. `And I'm veryjealous.'

   `Yeah,' Wilf leaned forward, so the driver wouldn'thear him. `Yeah, but you? You get to visit 'em, don't you?You get to go up there.' He turned to Donna and nudged

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

her playfully. `You make the most of it, my girl.'

    `Oh, I am, don't you worry,' she said.

    The Doctor nodded. `Oh, she is, don't you worry atall.'

    `I mean, I've seen and done some things in my time,Doctor, but nothing can compare to what you're showingmy little girl, eh?'

    `Hey, I'm not just a passenger, you know,' Donnasmiled. `I get to make a lot of the decisions about wherewe go, who we see, how quickly we have to leave again,cos he's gone and upset someone in charge. With an army.And a big axe. And twelve legs.'

    `Ten legs,' the Doctor automatically corrected her.

    `Oooh, all right then. Ten legs, and two arms that hungdown to the ground. If you're being pedantic. Which youclearly are. Tonight.'

    The Doctor grinned at them both. `Maybe we shouldtake you with us on a jaunt one day, Wilf.'

    `No!'

    Both Donna and Wilf had said that together, thenlooked at each other.

    `It's dangerous, Granddad.'

    `You go!'

    `I'm... I can look after myself. If anything happened toyou, what'd Mum do?'

    `Kill you?'

    `Well, she'd kill him,' Donna nodded at the Doctor. `I'dget away with being skinned alive. Probably.'

    `You said "no" too, Wilf,' the Doctor said.

    Wilf looked up at the stars as they drove into South

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

London, crossing Vauxhall Bridge. `I like to look, Doctor.I like to look, and imagine and dream. But the reality? Allthem monsters and guns and stuff? Nah. I prefer myideas.'

    The Doctor nodded. `Very wise. Mind you, you'd be acalming influence on her.'

    `Oh I know. She does go on, doesn't she?'

    `I am sitting here. Right here,' Donna said.

    The Doctor was still talking to Wilf. `And there'sobviously something in her childhood about centipedes,but she won't say what. Cos we went to this one place--'

    `Oi!'

    Wilf laughed. `Oh I gotta tell you about that. When shewas about eight, her dad and I took her up Norfolk way.To the Broads? Anyway, she was paddling about when--'

    `OI!!'

    They both looked at Donna. She was pointing toherself. One finger on each hand. At her head.

    `As I said. Sat here. Listening. Not liking.' The twomen grinned at each other.

    `Later,' the Doctor said.

    `Later,' Wilf confirmed.

    Donna broke them up. `We're here.'

    The cab pulled up outside the Society, a huge red-brickbuilding built in early Victorian times, just off the maincircus by Vauxhall station.

    Donna paid the driver (`You're coughing up on the wayhome,' she told the Doctor). As the taxi roared away, shestraightened her dress, checked her heels and nudged theDoctor, who was staring up at the night sky at the stars.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    At the new star Wilf had shown him last night. Whichwas now brighter than before. And there seemed to beanother couple of stars that he didn't think should bethere...

    Donna nudged him again.

    `What?'

    She indicated with her head towards Wilf, who wasgripping a lamppost, trying to take off his trainers andhold onto his carrier bag at the same time.

    `I can't bend in this thing,' she hissed. `If I tear it,Veena will knock me into next week. She does the wholemartial arts thing.'

    The Doctor took the bag from Wilf and let the old manlean on him as he slipped his trainers off and replacedthem with the dress shoes.

    `Sylvia bought these,' he said to the Doctor. `Bloodythings are three sizes too small.'

    `No they're not,' Donna said automatically. `You're nottrying.'

    `Blimey, when did you turn into your mum?' said Wilf.Donna opened her mouth to retort, but the Doctor, sensingretreat was the better part of valour, grabbed both theirarms and placed himself between them.

    `Someone's dinner awaits,' he said and they marchedup to the building.

    The huge wooden door swung open as they reached thetop step and a smartly dressed gentleman, mid-thirties,olive skin, dark hair and eyes that twinkled, waved themin.

    `Good evening, Mister Mott,' he said in a slight

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

European accent. `Miss Noble. Doctor Smith. I amGianni, Head of Hospitality.'

   Donna pulled a `blimey' face. `He was well rehearsed.'

   `Guest of honour,' Wilf said. `I had to tell them who Iwas bringing.'

   Gianni walked them into a small area where a couple ofpeople aged somewhere between sixty and two hundredand eleventy were leaning on a bar. Or possibly the barwas holding them up. Either way, they looked like theywere part of the furniture.

   Donna wrinkled her nose at the strong smell of Scotchand looked behind them, where another door led to a vastdining area, and a hubbub of noise.

   `Do go through,' the Head of Hospitality said, soDonna led the way.

   As the trio entered the dining room, the hubbubstopped and was replaced by a round of applause led,Donna was pleased to see, by Henrietta Goodhart,resplendent in another bizarre but unusually tonally dourhat.

   She walked towards them, arms outstretched, kissedDonna, then the Doctor and finally Wilf, each of them onboth cheeks, Continental style. Then she planted a quickone on Wilf's lips and winked. `I'm fine tonight,' she saidto his unasked question.

   A man in his late fifties walked over, and shook Wilf'shand. `Crossland. Cedric Crossland. Doctor CedricCrossland. Doctor Cedric Crossland CBE. But you mustcall me Rick, Mr Mott.'

   `Oh, just Wilf'll be fine,' Wilf said, throwing a look

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

appealing for help or rescue to Donna, the Doctor andNetty.

   Donna started forward but Netty held her back. `No,no, let him go. It's his night and he has to take the roughwith the smooth, bless his cotton socks. Besides, thechocolate pudding'll make it all worthwhile.' Theywatched as Wilf got caught up in the celebrations. `Helooks so happy,' she said.

   `I understand you have a big part to play in that,' theDoctor said, adding `Not that I pretend to understandthings like that.'

   Netty grinned at him. `Course you don't, Doctor. Beingfrom outer space.'

   The Doctor stared at her, then smiled. `Actually, I'mfrom Nottingham--'

   `He's from Walthamstow,' Donna said at the same time.

   `Born in Nottingham,' said the Doctor.

   `But brought up in Walthamstow,' added Donna, a bitsheepishly.

   `Wilf told me everything, Doctor. About you. About theATMOS stuff. About where Donna is when she's withyou. No secrets, you see.'

   The Doctor blew air out of his cheeks. `Well, I'm notsure what Wilf has told you but, I'm... um... well...'

   Netty touched his hand. `It's all right. Most days I canbarely remember who I am, let alone what planet you andDonna are sending postcards from. Your secret is safewith me.'

   `I think I'll kill him this time,' Donna said, lookingtowards her grandfather who was being poured an

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

extraordinarily large brandy by a group of old men andwomen.

    Netty shook her head. `He's so proud of you both,please don't be cross with him. Besides, it gives me achance to talk to you both about the Chaos Body. Youknow, while I still can.'

    Donna frowned.

    `I'm sorry, Donna,' Netty said. `Does me talking aboutmy condition embarrass you? There's no need, there'snothing I have to hide from anyone. Least of all myself.'

    `It's not that,' Donna said. `It's just... well, a bit sad.'

    `It is. Very sad, believe me. But I have got used toliving with it and I make the most of the lucid daysbecause the ones that aren't are getting more and morefrequent.'

    `How frequent?'

    `Doctor! She's not going to tell the world about us.'

    But he shushed her. `How frequent, Henrietta?'

    `If I can get through to Friday remembering what I didon Tuesday, that's a victory.'

    Gianni was at their side, surreptitiously as a good Headof Hospitality should be, with drinks on a silver tray forthem and they grabbed the glasses quickly, as if trying tofill in a gap in the conversation.

    `So,' Netty said. `Chaos Bodies.'

    `When did it show up? The first one, I mean?'

    `Ah,' Netty said, `you've noticed the others. Only sawthem myself this evening and no one here tonight seems tohave mentioned it.'

    `That's cos they weren't there last night. Or when we

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

left Chiswick, actually.'

   Netty laughed. `I know you know more about outerspace than this lot here do put together but, scientifically,stars can't move that quickly. And if they could, thedevastation would be phenomenal.'

   The Doctor toasted her. `Ah, but then they're not stars.Not real stars. The chaos bit, though, that's spot on.'

   `What are they, then?' asked Donna.

   The Doctor shrugged. `I have a suspicion. The firstone, the original, that looks like a star certainly, and it'scertainly a ball of superheated combustible energy thatshares minor properties with a star, but the others, they'relike satellites. But not astral ones.'

   `Man-made?'

   `Well, Someone-made, yes. And somewhere at the backof my head is a little voice trying to tell me where I'veseen it all before.'

   There was a tinkle of someone tapping a glass with aspoon.

   `Ladies and gentlemen, before we eat, I should like tointroduce you to our guest of honour,' Doctor Crosslandwas saying. `In honour of being the first to spot the newstar M7432·6, officially known as 7432MOTT, I give you Wilfred Mott!'

   There was thunderous applause and even a `hear, hear',then one of the waiters led the Doctor, Donna and Netty tothe table to join the rest of the guests.

   The Doctor was nabbed by Wilf and positionedbetween him and Crossland, while Netty was on Wilf'sother side and Donna next to her.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    The Doctor looked expectantly at the empty seat to hisright, wondering who was going to sit there. It was, hethought, a bit like being sat on a train and hoping theempty seat beside you isn't going to be occupied by amadman with a loud personal stereo or a kicking child or,worst of all, some frumpy businessman who would spendthe whole journey loudly on his mobile phone. And, everytime he hung up and someone else rang, he'd let theannoying ringtone go all the way through beforeanswering.

    The Doctor often wondered these days when thesetrivial little things had begun to annoy him quite so much.Must have been hitting the big 900 mark.

    The seat was yanked back by a woman whose clothingcould at best be described as eccentric and at worst insane,a terrible clashing of colours, styles and, well, everything.The biggest crime against fashion was the blouse she waswearing, which appeared to have Galileo's Map of theHeavens embroidered on it. By hand. They were the sortof clothes you might put on if you got dressed with botheyes closed after someone had taken your wardrobe andgiven it a really good shake.

    Not that the wearer seemed remotely aware of her...unique haute couture. More alarmingly, none of the othermembers seemed to bat an eyelid either only Wilf andespecially Donna reacted, Wilf with incredulity andDonna by stifling a laugh and finding the glass of waterbefore her suddenly the most fascinating thing on Earth.

    `Ariadne Holt,' she said in a tone that suggested to theDoctor that this wasn't just an introduction but was in fact

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

a complete explanation for why she looked as she did.

   `Hullo,' he said, offering his hand. She held her ownhand up as if to suggest he kiss it or, at the very least, bowslightly. He did neither, managing instead to turn it backinto the handshake he had started.

   She gave him a look that seemed to say, `Oh, right,you're going to be like that are you?' and pulled her chaircloser to the table and very slightly further away fromhim.

   `So,' said Ariadne, `What's your field?'

   `Ten Acre,' he smiled.

   Steely glare.

   `In-joke,' he mumbled.

   `Bad one.'

   Steely glare again.

   `I'm the Doctor, by the way.'

   `I know,' Ariadne Holt said.

   `You do?'

   `Crossland told me. Suggested I sit. Here. Next to you.For dinner.'

   `Indeed?'

   `Yes.'

   `Right. Well, sorry, I don't actually know MrCrossland.'

   `Doctor.'

   `Yes?'

   `What?'

   `What?'

   `He's Doctor Crossland. Not "Mister".'

   `I see.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `You're Smith. John Smith. You write books. Withpictures. About the constellations, no?'

   `Ah, no. Not me. Sorry. Although when I was little Iused to do finger-paintings of the night sky. I used to addbits of... well, pasta you'd call it, to make the planets all3-D. And glitter. Lots of glitter. I was very... glittery.'

   Steely glare again.

   `You don't really care much about my finger-paintings,do you, Ariadne? Can't say I blame you. Not much good.D-minus. Four out of ten. Harsh, but probably justified Ialways think. So, what do you study?'

   Ariadne Holt ignored him and looked past him toDoctor Crossland. `Wrong Smith, you old fool,' she said.`This one's not the author.'

   Crossland glanced at the Doctor. `What is he then?'

   `I'm right here,' the Doctor said.

   `Ha!' snorted Donna, remembering the taxi ride.

   `A fool,' Ariadne Holt replied. `Droning on and onabout finger-painting and Italian food.'

   Donna gave the Doctor a double thumbs-up and anexaggerated wink.

   He gave her a look that should've turned her to ice.

   She grinned widely.

   Crossland looked at the Doctor, then at Wilf. `Thoughtyou said the chappie was an expert, Mr Mott?'

   Now it was Wilf's turn to look like a rabbit caught inheadlights, because he was out of his comfort zone. Thebest he could come up with was `He is.'

   Crossland harrumphed.

   `Actually,' the Doctor said, `I think you'll find "the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

chappie" is a bit of an expert, especially on your so-calledChaos Bodies.'

   That got their attention.

   The Doctor took a deep breath. `It's not a star, youknow.'

   `We know it isn't,' said Ariadne.

   `Just don't know what it actually is,' Crossland said.

   `I do.'

   Everyone turned to look at him. `It's lovely Ariadnethat gave me the final piece of the puzzle, with that...unique blouse she's wearing.'

   `Go on,' she said.

   But the Doctor stopped momentarily, because he waslooking at Henrietta Goodhart.

   Netty was not taking part in the conversation, thoughno one had noticed. Instead she was staring straight ahead,like she had zoned out for a while.

   Donna caught the Doctor's gaze and nodded slightly,and the Doctor gave a sad smile to her. Then he drew theattention back to himself, giving Donna time to standNetty up, briefly resting a hand on Wilf's shoulder to stophim following. As they began to move away, the Doctorcaught Donna's eye and he mouthed a `thank you'. Thenhe resumed his explanation.

   `It's not a star so much as a superheated ball of psionicenergy which acts as a containment protective fieldaround a malign intelligence. An intelligence that wants todominate and expand and survive. Something it's fullyentitled to do in its own little corner of space where itnormally can't hurt anyone. But when it crawls out of its

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

little dimension and enters ours, when it drags itselfhalfway across the universe to this planet, at this time,then I get interested. Interested and intrigued. Well, I sayintrigued, I mean angry. And a bit scared. You see thatGalileo star map thing reminded me of when I firstencountered it, back in the fifteenth century and foolishlybrought a sliver of it here, to Earth. Italy in fact. NearFlorence. Well, that region. Anyway, a few slivers havefound their way here now and again ever since becauseit's quite fascinated by Earth and this solar system.'

    `You. Are. Mad.' Ariadne said quietly.

    `It was the "fifteenth century" bit, wasn't it?'

    Crossland was nodding. `That. And the rest.'

    Wilf tapped Crossland's arm. `You should listen to him,Mister Doctor Crossland CBE, Sir, cos the Doctor isusually right.'

    `Aww, thank you, Wilf,' the Doctor beamed.

    `My pleasure, Doctor,' he replied.

    `So, Doctor,' said Crossland. `What do you call thisfanciful ball of energy then?'

    `Oh, that's simple,' the Doctor said. `One word.Mandragora.'

    As the Doctor said `Mandragora', the Chaos Bodybegan pulsating out in space. The other lights nearbypulsated in rhythmic response. And moved closer. On amission.

    As the Doctor said `Mandragora', seven people sat boltupright in an SUV parked in a car park at Heathrowairport, as if they'd just been switched on: the newlywedDiCottas; three students, their professor and his assistant,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

just arrived from Rome; and a Greek farmer, just in fromAthens.

   The Greek farmer was in the driver's seat. He turnedthe key in the ignition and switched on the lights, and theSUV began to move forward. On a mission.

   As the Doctor said the word `Mandragora', DonnaNoble was sitting in the outer bar at the Royal PlanetarySociety with Netty, holding her hand, when she sawGianni, the Head of Hospitality, stop pouring a drink. Heopened his mouth as if about to speak. Words were beingformed but no sound came out, until he gasped and finallyspoke. But he spoke so softly Donna wasn't even sure hehad said anything at all.

   As the Doctor said the word `Mandragora', MrMurakami was sat in First Class on a JAL plane bound forNarita, drink in hand, eyes closed, listening to acompilation of 1960s tunes by Hibari Misora he'ddownloaded onto his prototype M-TEK.

   By the time he'd realised that beneath the music therewere subliminal messages about MorganTech, it was toolate. Something in his mind was screaming, yelling,realising exactly what the amazing ingredient was withinthe M-TEK, but he also knew he'd never be able to breakfree and warn the world.

   `A drink Murakami-San?' The flight attendant offeredup a choice of wine or spirits.

   With a smile he opted for a glass of red wine. Hetapped his earphones. `Marvellous singer, died early. Ialways say it's a tragedy when so many people have to diewith so much unfulfilled potential.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   With a nod, the attendant moved on to her nextpassenger.

   Mr Murakami continued to listen to the music, hismind gradually being corrupted by all the subliminalmessages being fed into it, and there was nothing he coulddo.

   As the Doctor said the word `Mandragora', MadamDelphi waveformed into excited life in the PenthouseSuite of the Oracle Hotel beside the Brentford GoldenMile.

   `Dara Morgan,' she exclaimed. `He is aware of me!'

   Dara Morgan thought the computer would have shakenwith glee if it had been possible. `Who?'

   `The Doctor. After all these aeons, after all thisdistance, the stars were aligned exactly as I predicted.Tomorrow's horoscopes will be very different now.'

   And on Madam Delphi's website, read by people allover the world, Sunday's predictions for every sign of theZodiac rewrote themselves.

   All that they now said was `Welcome Back! Your lifewill change during the next 48 hours in ways you couldnever imagine. Embrace this change, and prepare for thenext, greatest, phase of your life as Mandragora swallowsthe skies, and smiles down upon you all.'

   Within fifteen minutes, a man in Cape Town had putthese words on a T-shirt. A woman in Paris was creating aFacebook group for Mandragora. And in Milwaukee threeyouths graffitied the word `Mandragora' across the wallsof their school.

   The Doctor was getting exasperated with Cedric

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Crossland, and that other barmy woman, Ariadnesomething, was doing Wilf's head in, so he left them to itand took a wander back to the outer bar area.

   He spotted Donna and Netty, and he knew immediatelythat Netty was gone, off into her own world. And Wilf'sheart pounded a bit harder because, although he'd seenthis a number of times, every time he did so, he askedhimself a question.

   What would he do if this was the last time? What if shedrifted away and never came back?

   Donna smiled up at him as he approached, her armwrapped tightly around this old woman she barely knewbut had taken under her wing just because her daft oldgranddad liked her.

   Wilf pulled up a stool and sat facing them both.

   `You're very good, Donna,' he said. `You don't have todo this. She's not family.'

   `Yeah, maybe not, but she's important. To you. And Ireckon, deep down, to Mum as well.'

   `Oh, you know your mum, always moaning, alwayscomplaining but underneath all that...'

   `More moans, more complaints?' Donna roared withlaughter. `God, I love her, Gramps, but there are times Icould flatten her, too.'

   `Here, I'll have none of that talk, Donna. She's a goodone, your mum. Speaks her mind, but that's no bad thing.And she loves you, too. She just doesn't know how tocope with a lot of things since Geoff... you know...'

   `Died? You can say it.'

   `Since your dad passed, yeah.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    Donna lifted her arm from Netty and reached out totake her granddad's hand in hers. `So, how'd you meetNetty then?'

    Wilf smiled. `She wrote to me after I got a letterpublished in the Journal.'

    `Ah, the Journal. They still going?'

    `Sixty years next year. This is the International Year ofAstronomy, it's all big double-sized issues. I wrote 'em aletter about the Triple Conjunction! Jupiter and Neptune!Netty saw it, disagreed with my thoughts about howdifficult it'd be to see with a telescope like mine andBANG, we had a little war across about three issues. Thenone day she phoned me up out of the blue, we had coffeein London to sort out our disagreements and a week latershe'd used her influence to make me a member of theRPS. And here we are.'

    Donna smiled at him. `So when did you find out abouther Alzheimer's?'

    `Oh, she told me on our second... meeting.'

    `You were gonna say "second date", weren't you? Ohyou sly old fox!' Donna stared at him. `I'm happy for you,Gramps. To find a friend, someone you like to be with.And I reckon Mum is, too.'

    `Oh, I know. She's just worried about her illness, andhow much strain it puts on me. She and Netty were talkingabout nursing homes, but I won't have none of that.'

    He looked at Henrietta Goodhart. `She's a great lady,Donna. I wish you could see her like I do.'

    `I did. At the house yesterday and this morning. She'slovely, and I think you should hang on to her.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    And Wilf felt so, so sad. `But one day, I'm gonna loseher. It's inevitable. I looked it up on the internet.'

    `Oh well, that must be true, then.'

    `Seriously. It's not good. I don't mean she's going todie, but I will lose her because one day she'll retreat towherever it is she goes and won't come back. We don'thave the medicines, the knowledge to cure it. It's not fair.'Then a thought struck him. `I bet out there, in the stars, Ibet they could treat her. I bet there's something...'

    And Donna squeezed his hands. `It doesn't work likethat, Gramps. God knows, with everything I've seen, allthe people I've met, there've been times I thought theremust be solutions to illness, famine, all sorts of nastythings. I thought if I shouted at the Doctor loud enough hecould find a way. But it doesn't matter if you're inChiswick or Cestus Minor, there are no easy answers. Wejust have to deal with what fate's given us.'

    `It's not fair,' he repeated.

    `No. No, it's not. And I'm so, so sorry for you. BecauseI love you, and I really like Netty and if I could find a wayto make everything easy for you both, I really, reallywould. And you know what, the Doctor doesn't knoweither of you that well, but I reckon he'd try ten timesharder than me. And it probably still wouldn't make adifference, so there's no point beating yourself up oversomething you have no control over.'

    Wilf looked at Donna, and wondered what hadhappened to that silly, flighty girl he'd loved but worriedabout all those years. Now she was a fine, brave, brilliantyoung woman. And he loved her even more.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   And then there was Netty.

   He eased his hand away from Donna's and took both ofNetty's in his. `Hey you,' he said quietly. `HenriettaGoodhart, I think it's time for a singsong, like we used to,back in the old days?'

   Donna frowned in confusion, but he just winked at her.`I know what I'm doing.'

   Softly he began to hum a tune. An old gospel hymn.

   `When the stars begin to fall,' he began to sing quietly,`Oh Lord! What a morning. Oh Lord! What a morning...'

   He glanced at Donna. `She told me that her husbandused to sing this with her, during the war.

   `I thought she never married?'

   Wilf smiled tightly. `Never let anyone know I told youthis, sweetheart. She was married. For three days. And hewas killed in Singapore, when the bombing started. Shetold me that they'd sung this at her wedding, on the wayin a big Silver Rolls. She had a photo of it and showedme, it was gorgeous. And then, when they tried to fleeSingapore, he died holding her hand and she sung it tohim as he lay dying in her lap.' He looked back at Netty.`Never tell anyone I told you that, least of all her. Promise.She really loved him so much and swore she'd nevermarry again.'

   `Course I promise, Gramps. Course I do.'

   He started again. `Oh sinner, what will you do, whenthe stars begin to fall... oh Lord, what a morning...'

   Netty's eyes seemed to focus, and she took a deepbreath, as if waking up.

   `I went, didn't I? Oh no, I've not been wandering out in

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the streets in nothing but my underwear?' She looked atDonna and winked. `Again!'

    Wilf smiled at her, a tear almost trying to escape hiseye, so he blinked it away before either of them could seeit. `I think we need to get back to the party, rescue theDoctor, yeah?'

    Netty stood up and let Wilf lead the way. She hungback a little and leaned on Donna. `I get more tired eachtime,' she said. `Oh, and thank you.'

    `For what?'

    `His name was Richard Philip Goodhart. And yourgrandfather is the only person I've ever met who comesclose.'

    By the time they'd made their way back to the mainhall, the dinner was over.

    Wilf and the Doctor were now propping up the far wall,and Wilf was apologising because Ariadne Holt andCedric Crossland had refused to take the Doctor seriously.`I'm embarrassed to know them.'

    The Doctor looked at Wilf in sadness. `Don't be. Theseare good people. Some of them are a bit odd, but at heartthey're just marvellously normal. Why should theybelieve me?'

    `Well, we have had spaceships and Sontarans and stuffover the last few years.'

    `There's no accounting for mankind's ability torationalise things, Wilf. What one group of people will bescared by, another group see no danger from because it'swithin their comfort zone. These people are marvellouspioneers, loving the stars, the constellations and just

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

watching and noting and cataloguing the heavens. Likeyou! None of that should ever stop, it's too important,even if things are unlikely to be recognised for a couple ofcenturies. Nobody took Galileo or Copernicus or Organonseriously in their own times.'

    `You take their rudeness very well, Doctor.'

    The Doctor shrugged. `It's not personal. People likeDoctor Crossland just don't want to contemplate thingsthat fall outside their sphere of reference. At worstitsfoolhardy, at best easily overlooked.' Then he looked atthe glass of lemonade in his hand. `Usually.'

    `But this Mandragora stuff, that's not usual, is it?'

    The Doctor shook his head. `It's a malevolent entity,Wilf. Last time it was here in force, a lot of people died.But it was trying to stop the Italian Renaissance, to stopscience reaching the state it's at now. I can't see what ithopes to achieve today. Go back forty years and stop thetransistor, or the microchip and yes, you'd spoil the nextgeneration of human progress. But here? Nothingparticularly special happens this year, this decade even,that can really affect Earth's future that much. You lot justplod on for a century or so. Getting out to Mars. A coupleof major space flights--'

    `Mars? We get to Mars? Do we find Martians?'

    `Spoilers,' the Doctor winked. `My lips are sealed.' Heswigged his lemonade. `So I'm not sure whether to leavethe Mandragora Helix alone up there and assume that it'sjust keeping an eye on things, or be prepared for a bigbattle.'

    `Perhaps it's got something to do with those Carnes

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

boys, Doctor. You said you thought they had aliens in thefamily.'

   `Oh yes! And how did Joe Carnes know my name?'The Doctor sighed. `Oh Wilf, Wilf, Wilf! You just ruined aperfectly pleasant evening.'

   `I did? How? And, um, sorry.'

   `Because you just spotted a chink, a tiny, tiny flaw inmy logic. Mandragora is linked, in a bizarre way, toastrology, not just astronomy.'

   `Astrology's nonsense.'

   `Well, most of it's just made up by newspapers. But itdates back to the Dark Times, so there's probablysomething in it. Go back to the birth of the universe andyou'll see every society, every civilisation has some formof zodiac, a belief in the power of ancient lights linked tosome kind of belief system based around the movement ofplanets and stars and constellational shift. Astrologers onthe planet Hynass swear blind that there's no such thing ascoincidence and have absolute faith in the knowledge thatevery event since the Big Bang has been divined, is amatter of pre-established fate that no one can ever breakout of. Now you might think it's nonsense and I mightthink it's nonsense, but Mandragora thrives on that belief,that unproven system, and uses it. Cause and effect.'

   Wilf frowned. `But it's still nonsense.'

   `Oh yes! Yeah, course it is. Nonsense! Well, probably.Doesn't stop Mandragora being able to tap into thoseenergies though.'

   Wilf shrugged. `Whatever you say, Doctor.'

   Donna walked over. `Granddad, I think Netty could do

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

with some support against that mad old witch's opinionson a woman's place in modern society.'

   Wilf nodded. `Cheers, Doctor. I hope you're wrong bythe way.' And he wandered off.

   `What was that all about then, sunshine? You upsettingmy gramps?'

   The Doctor shook his head. `No, Donna, not at all. He'sgot me thinking about coincidence and causality.' Heglanced over at Netty. `How is she?'

   `Not sure. She just drifted off for a while but then shejust seemed to wake up, all smiles and dragged me backhere.'

   `It happens, I'm afraid,' he said, still observing her asshe slipped an arm around Wilf's waist. `And don't forget,she's used to it herself.'

   Donna tapped his hand. `And there's something else. Inthe bar. That good-looking bloke who showed us inearlier?'

   `Gianni?'

   `Yeah, him. He was going on about someone.'

   `Who?'

   `Dunno, I wasn't sure he was even speaking at first butit seemed to be something about a man licking a maddolphin.'

   The Doctor shrugged. `Could be anything. Probablyhad too much to drink himself.'

   `Or working with these people has sent him nutty,'Donna grinned. `Oh well. Not sure why you'd lick a maddolphin, though.'

   The Doctor laughed. `Nor me. We should think of

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

heading off soon, though.'

   `Why?'

   `Something to do with a very old and dangerous alienentity suspended not far above your planet that is unlikelyto be there sightseeing.'

   `How dangerous?'

   `Well, it'll be waiting for something like a lunar eclipsewhich, looking at the moon tonight, doesn't seemespecially imminent.'

   `There's always the Triple Conjunction.'

   `The what?'

   `Gramps told me about it, it's why they're all soexcited by his discovery of that new star. This is theInternational Year of Astronomy, and they're all waiting tosee the first triple conjunction between Jupiter andNeptune.'

   Donna was quite proud that she'd retained all thatinformation, but the Doctor was legging it across the roomto Doctor Crossland. `The Triple Conjunction,' he yelled.`When is it?'

   `Sorry?'

   `This year, yes? But when this year?'

   Crossland sighed. `I thought you were supposed to beclever?'

   `I am. But, like all clever people, I can only learnthings when people give me straight answers to straightquestions and not sarcasm.'

   Doctor Crossland looked triumphant. He hadoutsmarted the Doctor. `Well, if you knew as much aboutastronomy as you say, you'd know it's ongoing. It started

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

a while back.'

   `When the Chaos Body was first sighted?'

   `I suppose so, yes.'

   `And when does it hit its peak?'

   `It's why we're having this dinner, Doctor. The mainevent occurs on Monday, about three o'clock in theafternoon, local time.'

   `You appear to be looking very smug, DoctorCrossland,' the Doctor said, `for a man who may well bedead in forty-eight hours. Give or take five or six hours.'

   Doctor Crossland frowned. `Is that a threat?'

   `Yes,' the Doctor said. `Not from me, from me it's anassurance. The threat is from Mandragora. From yourChaos Body. It's here to kill you all.'

   He hurried over to Wilf, Netty and Ariadne Holt. `Sorryto break up the party, Wilf, but I have to go. Can you getNetty home OK, Donna?'

   `Oh, Doctor, you go, don't worry about us. I have a cabbooked to take me home at eleven anyway,' Netty said.She touched Wilf's arm. `And don't even try to argue withme, Wilfred Mott. This is your night, so I didn't want youfeeling all responsible for me tonight.'

   Wilf looked from her to the Doctor.

   `Wilf can't leave,' said Ariadne Holt. `We haven't donethe presentation yet.'

   `It's only us that's going,' said Donna. `Granddad willstay.'

   `Like hell I will,' said Wilf. `I'm coming with you.'

   `No one's coming with me,' the Doctor said, but no onewas listening to him.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Donna pulled him closer. `Gramps, Netty has alreadyhad one... spell this evening. You have to stay with her.Make sure she gets home. Go with her in the cab, thenkeep the cab and get home, yeah?' She reached into herhandbag and took out three tenners. `Dunno if it's enough,but it should help.'

   Wilf refused the money. `I can pay my own way, thankyou, sweetheart.'

   `Yes, I'm sure you can,' Donna said. `But take itanyway, so I don't have it on my conscience that youmight've got stranded somewhere and have to drag Mumout of bed to come and pick you up, all right?'

   Wilf looked at his granddaughter, then at the Doctor,who pretended to find something interesting on theceiling. He took the cash. `Call me,' he said. `I've got mymobile.'

   `I know you have. And it'll be switched off or have aflat battery. Same as always. We'll be fine, I'll see you inthe morning.' She kissed him, then Netty and grabbed theDoctor's hand. `Come on you, time we were gone.'

   The Doctor called goodbye to Netty, Wilf and AriadneHolt as Donna dragged him through the door and backinto the entranceway, past the doorman and out into thecold night air. `I was going by myself,' he protested, butDonna had already waved down a cab (well, stood in themiddle of South Lambeth Road and whistled down onethat had made the right choice between stopping, ignoringher or running her over).

   Donna clambered in, hauling the Doctor in afterwards.

   `Where to?' asked the cabbie. `I'm off duty soon, so

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

better not be far.'

   `Chiswick High Road,' the Doctor said to him, addingto Donna, `I need the TARDIS.'

   The driver pulled out, drove under the railway bridgeand headed back towards Nine Elms and West London.

   The first report came in at 23.04. It was from theClemenstry Observatory in Western Australia. It reportedthat the new star, the one that had appeared in the heavensa week or so back, seemed to be moving in conjunctionwith another star, M84628·7.

   Which was a bit unusual, Professor Melville declared,jabbing at his computer screen with a ballpoint pen. Hewas in his office at the Copernicus Array in Essex, butprobably wanted to be in the radio telescope control roomitself. He usually did.

   `That's the problem with these new stars, these ChaosBodies,' he said to his young `assistant', Miss Oladini.`They're chaotic and make no sense, scientificallyspeaking. Don't you agree?'

   `On the nose, Professor,' she said, not having a cluewhat he was talking about. She was only here on a short-term contract from the Lovelace Agency in Brentwood,finding temporary work placements to learn new skills.`New skills' she was 25 and already needed `new skills'.Somewhat embarrassingly, she wasn't remotely interestedin astronomy but didn't have the heart to tell Melville that.Instead, she kept him fed and watered with chocolate barsand tea and listened to him talk about his cat and hismother. (He lived with one and was talking about havingthe other put to sleep as it had bad kidneys, but Miss

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Oladini still wasn't entirely sure which way round it was.She had a sneaking suspicion, however, the cat was thehealthy one.)

   Professor Melville was a sweet old man. Emphasis onthe `sweet'. And the `old'. He said he'd been a pop starback in the Sixties, but she wasn't sure she believed him.Miss Oladini certainly liked him, though she rathersuspected he was only employed at the Copernicus Array(cos surely he was way beyond retirement age) out ofsympathy. Probably why he took the night shifts, keephim out of trouble.

   The Copernicus Array itself was a radio telescope builtin the gardens of an old Georgian mansion house that hadbeen converted into the Array's offices, meeting roomsand so on. A shame, Miss Oladini thought. It was a lovelyold house she often liked visiting old houses andalthough a lot of care had been taken to preserve theoriginal fixtures and fittings, this place seemed sterile andlacking in natural character. She often wondered who hadlived here hundreds of years back, what had become ofthem all and how they'd feel about their drawing rooms,kitchens, bedrooms and ballrooms being converted intorooms full of dull scientists and administrators.

   At 23.09, the report had come in from the GriffinObservatory in Maryland. It too mentioned the ChaosBody moving into alignment with another star. But adifferent one to Clemenstry's M84628·7. This wasM97658·3. Which was patently absurd.

   `Have they all been drinking?' Melville wondered.

   That seemed like quite a good idea to Miss Oladini,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

though she only really wanted to get home to her bed. Shewasn't keen on cycling in the dark and, at this time ofnight, there were lots of people on the roads who might bea bit worse for wear.

   At 23.17, the report came in from the Tycho Project,near Beaconsfield. The Chaos Body was edging towardsM29034·1.

   Of course, this wasn't all simultaneous after all, itwasn't dark in California or Perth right now, it was justthat Melville was doing a night shift and had only justturned his computer on.

   `All we need now, Miss Oladini, is Minsk to offer ussomething daft and--'

   And sure enough, at 23.19, the Colossus in Minsk fedthrough details of how the Chaos Body was in alignmentwith M23116·3.

   Now Melville was alert and curious. Miss Oladini, too,despite her lack of interest in astronomy, because she'dbeen a mathematics student (hence her ending up here)and she calculated the odds of one Chaos Body suddenlyforming a new constellation with four pre-existing stars allon the same night to be... well, bigger odds than therewere numerical spaces on her calculator.

   Melville patched through the latest photos onto the bigscreen that dominated one wall of his office. It was indeeda big screen, and state-of-the-art technology that otherobservatories and radio telescopes around the UK wouldhave donated a lot of right arms for. All Melville had to dowas trace an invisible line from his laptop screen to thebig screen on the wall and images and words flowed from

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

one to the other like something out of a sci-fi movie.Melville was proud of the software, but hadn't a clue howit worked. He just knew it did and it meant he could moveimages around on the wall-sized screen without leavinghis chair. Which he was doing now.

   First he centred his own photo of the Chaos Star. Thenhe overlayed Clemenstry's. Then Griffin's, Tycho's andfinally Colossus's.

   `Professor...?'

   `I know.'

   `But that's...'

   `I know.'

   `I mean, how...'

   `I don't know.'

   `I've never seen anything like it.'

   `I know.'

   Melville grabbed a phone on his desk. It was red. As hestarted punching in numbers, he glanced up at MissOladini. `Have you signed the OSA, Miss Oladini?'

   She frowned. `Do what?'

   `The Official Secrets Act. Did they make you sign itwhen you got your work placement forms for this place atthe agency?'

   Miss Oladini thought for a moment. Melville wasscaring her with the question. Normally, he was a nice oldguy, bit dotty, bit rambling, smoked his pipe too often. Butnow he was suddenly alert and officious, stern and allsense of `eccentric' gone.

   And Miss Oladini realised that the silly, fussy, dotty oldman was an act. Underneath it all, Professor Melville was

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

sharp as a whistle. Maybe he really had been a pop singer.

   `Well?'

   She nodded. She had signed something that had theword `official' in it, she remembered that. Frankly shehadn't taken much notice of it when Mrs Lovelace at theagency had got her to sign. All the temps signed bits ofpaper for health and safety, insurance waivers that sort ofthing, when they got their placements. One extra hadn'tmeant much at the time.

   Now it seemed big and scary.

   `Why?'

   `Because without your signature on the bottom of thatform, what I'm about to do and what you're about to hearwould have us both in jail for the rest of our lives if youhaven't.'

   And Miss Oladini thought hard. Her brain was goodwith numbers. `Form KD62344,' she said suddenly. `Isigned it twice and initialled a box, bottom left.'

   Melville winked. `Thank you.' He punched a finalnumber on the phone. `Aubrey Fairchild, please. This isthe Copernicus Array, Code 18. My name is Melville.'

   Miss Oladini looked back at the assembled collage ofimages. The Chaos Body plus the other stars on displaymeant nothing individually. But now that Melville had putthem together, they formed a picture. And not just someabstract nonsense that people saw as a couple of fish, or aplough or a rollercoaster.

   This was very clearly, distinctly and sharply a face. Aface with a mouth twisted into a laugh.

   Miss Oladini shivered because that laugh wasn't a

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

happy laugh. It was pure malevolence.

    `Prime Minister? Melville, Administrative Professor atthe Copernicus Array. I'm sending you a Code 18 image.'There was a pause. `Yes, sir. No, sir, the images have onlybeen combined here, it's still a UK threat but give it a fewhours...'

    Professor Melville looked across at Miss Oladini. `No,sir, just myself and my assistant. We'll stay put until wehear from your people, Prime Minister. No, absolutely,total lockdown, no communications in or out of theCopernicus Array under any circumstances. Goodnight,sir.'

    Professor Melville replaced the phone.

    `That was really the Prime Minister?' Miss Oladiniasked.

    Melville nodded. `I'm sorry, my dear, but I think we'rein for a long night here. Could you check where we areregarding tea and milk?'

    Miss Oladini started to leave the room, then turnedback to see Melville take a mobile phone from his jacketpocket. She hadn't even known he had a mobile phone.`Professor? Didn't you just promise Mr Fairchild thatwe'd have no communications?'

    He smiled. `That's why I need you to check on the tea.If you are not in the room, you can't be held responsiblewhen I break that promise, commit treason and quiteprobably professional suicide. Now, for your sake, off yougo.'

    Confused, Miss Oladini left the office. But she waitedjust outside the door, to see if she could hear who he was

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

calling.

   She heard the tell-tale electronic beeps of the keypadthen, after what must have been quite a few rings, hespoke. `Good evening, my name is Professor Melville.May I speak with the Doctor, please?'

   The cab was about halfway down Prince Albert Drive,between Vauxhall and Chiswick, doing nearly 20 becauseof the speed humps.

   In the back of the cab, Donna took out her ringingphone and stared at the number, but didn't recognise it.With a shrug, she pressed accept. `Hallo?'

   She listened and then passed it over to the Doctor.

   He smiled. `I had the TARDIS routed to your number.Should've told you. Sorry.'

   `How did you cope before mobiles?' she sighed. `AProfessor Melville, apparently.'

   The Doctor grinned. `And there's another coincidence it's one of those nights, isn't it,' he said before speakinginto the phone. `Ahab! What can I do for the CopernicusArray tonight? As if I can't guess. Does it involve thephrase Chaos Body?'

   Miss Oladini was having her fill of surprising thingstonight. First the stars making pictures. Then dotty oldProfessor Melville having hotlines to the Prime Minister.Then discovering that the milk in the kitchenette hadn'tgone off for once. Oh, and then her boyfriend phoning atnearly midnight.

   `Spencer? What do you want?'

   `Don't tell me you haven't used that bloody greattelescope to look at the sky?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Miss Oladini crossed to the kitchen door, the one thatled outside, not into the corridor and peeked out into thecold night air, not really thinking she'd see anything withthe naked eye.

   So she was quite surprised when she could.

   `Is it some kind of firework display?' Spencer asked.

   She wondered what to say. Ten minutes earlier, theskies had been clear and the laughing face could only beseen in photographs. Now it was very visible across theheavens, and if her daft old boyfriend had spotted it andnot written it off as a lager-fuelled trip then somethingneeded to be done. She remembered the Official SecretsAct and told Spencer that yes, it was probably justsomething being projected from the roof of one of thecinemas down Dagenham way. `A movie promotionalthing,' she said, adding `and they phoned and warned usabout it yesterday,' which was an awful lie, but seemed tomake Spencer happy.

   After he'd rung off, it crossed her mind that the rest ofBritain might not be quite so ready to believe her story not least because she couldn't phone each personindividually and tell them.

   Maybe the Prime Minister would. Or Patrick Moore.

   `How's the tea coming?'

   Miss Oladini turned to see Melville in the doorway, abig smile on his face. She mentioned that the face fromthe photo was now visible in the sky, and Melvillewandered over to the window and peered through.

   `Not to worry,' he said. `An expert's looking into it.'

   `From Downing Street?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    `Oh no. Someone far better equipped than anyonethere.' He glanced out of the window. `Horrible-lookingthing, isn't it?' he said, as the kettle began to boil again.`Milk no sugar wasn't it, Miss Oladini?'

    She nodded mutely.

    `I'm not worried now,' he added. `The Doctor will sortit all out.'

    There was a flash of lights from outside, and they hearda couple of cars pull up in the staff car park.

    `That was quick,' Melville muttered, frowning slightly.

    `Downing Street or your Doctor friend?' she asked,trying not to sound nervous. `Or maybe someone elsefrom round here, concerned by the thing in the sky?'

    But Melville wasn't listening, really. He was watchingto see who was in the cars.

    The headlights were left full on, beaming in throughthe kitchenette window, so they couldn't see who got outof the car, just heard the sounds of doors opening andslamming.

    Miss Oladini shivered. This felt... wrong.

    Melville presumably agreed, because he suddenlydashed for the outside door, as if to bolt it. He was toolate. Someone shoved the door open.

    Melville stood in front of Miss Oladini, chivalrouslyprotecting her from whoever the newcomers were.

    There were... well, a lot of them, different ages, notlooking especially... government-ish. Or terriblythreatening.

    But there was something about them, Miss Oladinithought, something about the way they looked around the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

kitchenette, their heads moving unnaturally as if they wereseeing the inside of a kitchen for the first time.

   An old, fat man was at the front, a middle-aged manbehind him. Behind them were an old woman and a trio ofstudent-types, two men and a woman.

   `Where are the others?' the first old man asked in anAmerican accent.

   Professor Melville cleared his throat. `This is privateproperty. This is the Copernicus Array. You can't just turnup at gone midnight and--'

   The young student woman pushed past the others,looking at Melville as if she couldn't quite understandwhy he was standing there. `You... work here?' she said.

   English, that one.

   He nodded. `I am in charge of the radio telescope, andthis evening I am in charge of the whole project. I shouldwarn you that you have tripped an alarm and the policewill be here in minutes.'

   Another student spoke. His voice sounded European,Spanish or maybe Italian. `I cannot detect any such alarmsystem. The human is lying.'

   Human? What a strange expression.

   But Professor Melville seemed unfazed by the choiceof words, indeed, he almost relished them. `What planetdo you represent? Are you connected with that Chaosconstellation?'

   The large American spoke again. `You may be of use tous.'

   Without missing a beat, Melville pointed to MissOladini. `And my assistant. If you need my help, you'll

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

need hers, too. Everything at Copernicus requires twoexperienced operators.'

    Was he mad, Miss Oladini wondered.

    `She's a highly qualified physicist and is an expert inthe field of the cosmic sciences.'

    Definitely mad.

    `Something is wrong here,' said the older woman, alsoan American, walking forward. Without warning, shereached out and touched Professor Melville's shoulder. Atfirst Miss Oladini assumed they'd both been electrocutedas a fierce purplish spark shot between them, and Melvillestaggered slightly, gasping in pain.

    `Professor?' Miss Oladini found her voice, butimmediately regretted it.

    Melville turned to look at her and, for a second, shecould still see vestiges of that purple light in his eyes. `Allright, I lied. She's my temporary assistant,' Melville saidbreathlessly. `She has no understanding of the CopernicusArray and is harmless.'

    `We can absorb her.'

    `Let her go, please...'

    Melville collapsed, and the three students stepped overhim as they headed towards her.

    Miss Oladini did the one thing no amount of chats withMrs Lovelace in Brentwood, or Health and Safety formsor 100 words per minute could have prepared her for. Shespun round and ran for her life, clattering out of thekitchenette and back into the heart of the corridors andoffices of the Copernicus Array. Somehow she knew shewas running for her life.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   The cab was driving along past the Earls CourtExhibition Centre when the Doctor tapped on the glassand asked the driver, `Can you pull over for just oneminute, please.'

   `Well?' Donna asked the Doctor, as the cab sloweddown.

   `Ummm, well... Actually you need to head home,because I'm going to ask this nice man to drive mesomewhere else.'

   `Chiswick High Road?'

   The Doctor frowned, then remembered where theTARDIS was parked. `No. No actually, bit further thanthat.'

   Donna realised. `You're going to see matey boy on thephone, at that telescope place. Copper Knickers orwhatever it was called.'

   `Where to then, mate?' the exasperated taxi driverasked.

   `Essex. Just off the A127.'

   The driver snorted. `At this time of night? I live inBounds Green. I told you I was off home.'

   `Then it won't take you as long to get home from there,will it "mate",' Donna snapped. `How much will it cost?Cos I guarantee the Doctor's not got much cash on him.And as I already subbed Granddad tonight, I might as welldo him too.'

   `One hundred.'

   `OK,' the Doctor said.

   `OK?' squawked Donna. `How is a hundred quid"OK"?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   The Doctor ignored her and leaned towards the driver.`But I need to get there a bit quick.'

   `Hundred and twenty, then.'

   `Whatever,' the Doctor sighed. `Donna, I'll see youtomorrow. You can get another cab home from here, yes?Oh, and Donna?'

   `Yes?'

   `You got that hundred and twenty pounds on you?'

   Donna looked like she was going to clobber him, thenspoke to the driver. `Essex,' she snapped. `Via a cashpoint,please.'

   The Doctor raised an eyebrow. `Donna?'

   `Sunshine,' Donna grinned. `If I'm giving you ahundred plus to go to a snazzy radio telescope, I'mcoming along for the ride.'

   The Doctor beamed. `Hoped you'd say that.'

   And the taxi drove up towards Kensington as theDoctor and Donna made plans.

   Wilf and Netty were saying their farewells, apologisingfor bringing the night to a premature end.

   `We'll do this again soon,' Ariadne Holt told them.`And have the actual presentation.'

   `I'm so sorry to have to dash off,' Wilf lied, `butsomething has come up. I need to see Miss Goodharthome. Please forgive me.'

   `Nothing to forgive,' Crossland said, slapping his back.`Any excuse for a dinner party, eh? Next week'smeeting?'

   On his face, Wilf had a fixed smile, but his eyes told adifferent story. `I'd really enjoy that,' he said.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Netty leaned in and whispered to him. `They'll be allright. The Doctor knows what he's doing.'

   Wilf smiled at her, trying to look more reassured thanhe actually felt.

   He wondered if he should have gone with them.

   And he wondered more what Sylvia was going to saywhen he turned up just after midnight without them.

   The Copernicus Array was in darkness when the cabpulled up in the public car park. Donna paid the grumpydriver, who headed Londonwards as quickly as possible.

   `Can I just ask how we get home from here?' she hissedto the Doctor as they snuck about in the darkness. `It's along way back.'

   `Walk?'

   Donna poked his shoulder, and as he looked at her, shemotioned downwards, implying he should look at herclothing.

   `You look lovely,' he smiled, putting his brainy specson.

   `Well thank you, Casanova, but that wasn't my point. Iam dolled up to the eyeballs in a party frock that isn'tdesigned to be worn on a forty-mile trek across England.'She sighed. `I had to borrow this, you know. Veena's notgoing to forgive me if it gets damaged. And if she doesn'tforgive me, God knows what she'll do to you when I tellher who it was that made me walk all that way in it.'

   `Don't tell her, then.'

   Donna gave up and tried a new tack. `OK, so why arewe here and why are the lights off? Surely, if it's anobservatory and it's night time, this place should be at the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

height of its working day?'

   `Good point, well observed. And that's why we'recrawling around in the car park and bushes and notmarching up to the front door.'

   `But I thought your mate worked here.'

   `He does.'

   `So why aren't we marching up to the front door andsaying, "Hello, mate of the Doctor's, you called, wecame"?'

   The Doctor was staring at a car parked across the lawnin the staff car park. `What's wrong with that car?'

   Donna peered through the gloom. `They don't knowhow to park straight?'

   `And?'

   `They'll ruin the grass?'

   `And?'

   `And... the lights are dying?'

   `That's the one.'

   `So?'

   The Doctor grinned. `Think about it. How old does thatcar look?'

   `New. So it should've beeped to tell them they'd lefttheir lights on. So they ignored it. And if it's that new, thethingy wotsit that makes the lights work shouldn't losepower so soon. Dad left the lights on overnight a couple ofyears ago and they were still on the next morning and thecar was fine. And his car was ancient.'

   The Doctor walked towards the car, sonic screwdriverin hand, and scanned the vehicle. `Huge energy drain,locally,' he muttered.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Donna tapped his arm. `Hey, you seen that?'

   The Doctor followed her view. Up in the sky was agrinning face made of stars. `City glow must've hiddenthat on the drive out here,' he said quietly.

   `Fireworks?'

   `Let's hope most people think so,' he replied.

   `Not fireworks, then.'

   `Not fireworks,' he confirmed. `A Chaos Body atwork.'

   `What's a Chaos Body when it's at home?'

   The Doctor shrugged. `No idea. Your granddadintroduced me to the concept last night. But a new starthat can draw other stars across the sky into an alignmentlike that? Pretty chaotic I'd say.'

   `Me too.' Donna wandered up to the front door of theCopernicus Array building. `Well, we're not gonna learnmuch out here, are we?' She found a number of bells andrang the one that said EMERGENCY ONLY.

   Nothing happened.

   `Local energy drain, I'd guess.' Donna smiled at him.

   The Doctor sighed and caught up with her, zapping thedoor with the sonic and pushing it open.

   Total darkness.

   `So, who's this Professor matey of yours, then?'

   The Doctor was using the blue glow of the sonic as atorch, trying to identify office nameplates. `Met him yearsago. One of a number of people on this planet who I canturn to from time to time if I need specialist help. Andthey can call me if they need me, vice versa.' He pointedupwards. `Professor Melville's office is one floor up, the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

array's control room is out the back, across the gardensand turn left.'

   `Dull office or exciting telescope?'

   The Doctor grinned, looking slightly spooky in the bluelight of his sonic. `Are you trying to influence my choices,Donna Noble?'

   `Course telescope not, Doctor. I wouldn't telescopedream of trying to telescope tell you what to do or whereto go.'

   The Doctor gave her a look at the last comment, andshe laughed. `Well, all right,' she said, `but not in thatsense.'

   `For some reason, I think we should investigate thetelescope.'

   `It's like Derren Brown's in this very room,' Donnalaughed.

   They followed the corridor from the front door till theyreached a set of French windows leading out to a patio.The Doctor sonicked them open, and they went back outinto the cool night air.

   `We're being watched,' Donna said after they'd beenwalking for a couple of minutes.

   `How do you know?'

   `My hair is curling,' she replied. `That and the fact thatI can see them ahead of us.'

   The Doctor peered further into the gloom.

   There was a group of men and women standing by theentrance to the Array itself.

   Donna looked up at the cold metal structure of stepsand walkways leading to a cabin that was dominated by

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the bowl-shaped radar dish that made up the Array.

   `I'm impressed,' she said.

   `By them?'

   `No, by the Array. Never seen a radio telescope before,except on the telly. Nice.' She suddenly called out to thegroup. `Nice dish you've got, thanks for letting us comeand view it. Is there a gift shop? Love to buy my granddada mug with a picture on it. Or a fridge magnet.'

   `Or,' the Doctor joined in, `a tea towel. Do you do teatowels? Everyone does tea towels these days. Never beensure why you'd buy a tea towel of somewhere, but thereyou go.'

   No response from the group.

   `I'm actually looking for a Professor Melville,' theDoctor continued. `Is he here? Is he all right?'

   A small man with a scar on his cheek stepped forward.

   `Is that him?' Donna whispered.

   The Doctor shook his head. `Nope. Shame.'

   `Excellent,' the man intoned, a slight accent marringhis otherwise precise English. `You are the Doctor.'

   `What makes you say that?'

   `We can sense that you are not... entirely human.'

   `"Entirely"?' The Doctor seemed affronted. `I'm notremotely human, thank you. Dreadful species. Alwaysfighting and grumbling.'

   `Oi!' said Donna.

   `See what I mean? Barely raised themselves above theuse of guttural noises and, blimey, that stuff they call popmusic. I mean, I know I'm getting on a bit, but it comes tosomething when you really can't tell the boys from the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

girls or understand the lyrics, doesn't it? Then of coursethere's the food. Have you ever had one of theirhamburgers?'

   The older man raised his hand to stop the Doctor'sgabbling, so he did, but smiled. `I could go on all night,but I'm guessing that might annoy you, so what do yousay we just chat instead about why you've taken overthese poor people's minds?'

   `It's lineage,' the little man replied.

   The Doctor threw a look to Donna, and she could seethat wasn't an answer he'd been expecting. `As ingenealogy?' he called back.

   `Four of the humans here can trace their families backto one specific place in time. That gives me power overthem.'

   `And the others?'

   `Drones. Slaves. Willing servants.'

   `Willing? Really? That's nice. Not really true, though,is it? But if you want to believe it, fair enough.' TheDoctor started walking towards them, so Donna had tofollow. `OK then, where are you from originally?' Hepointed up to the face formation in the skies. `Somethingto do with that, I'm guessing.'

   The small man with the scar shrugged. `All in goodtime, Doctor. Madam Delphi needs to speak with you.'

   He raised his arm in the Doctor's direction and, beforeDonna could so much as gasp, a thick, crackling blast ofpurplish-red light shot out from his fingertips, smackingthe Doctor straight in the chest and knocking his bodyback a couple of feet.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    He was almost unconscious by the time Donna reachedhim. `Get away... warn people...' was all he managedbefore his eyes rolled back and the rhythmic rising andfalling of his burned chest slowed to an unconsciouscrawl.

    Donna knew there was nothing she could do right awayother than what he'd asked of her. She had to find help.

    `And the human?' asked one of the others in the group.

    `Kill her,' the man replied, and Donna saw the othersall raise their arms in similar gestures.

    `Not today, thank you,' Donna yelled and ran backtowards the French windows, zigzagging as she ran, awareof bolts of purple energy crashing into the trees on eitherside of her.

    She was almost at the French windows when theyexploded into metal and glass around her.

    Throwing her arms over her face, Donna ran straightthrough the debris and into the darkened mansion. Shemade her way into a hallway, where a huge woodenstaircase went to the upper levels.

    `Seen the movies,' she muttered. She headed to the rearof the steps where, sure enough, there was a doorwayleading to a cellar.

    She wrenched it open, counted to three and slammed itshut, really loudly.

    She then tiptoed to one of the offices and slipped insideit.

    Seconds later, alerted by her ruse, a small group of thepeople from outside arrived at the cellar door. Shewatched as two of them walked down the steps, leaving

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

one on guard. Damn, she had hoped they'd all go downand she could shut them in down there.

   The one on guard seemed to be looking around and fora second Donna thought he'd work out where she washiding. Then another person she'd not seen beforesuddenly crashed into the man, sending him flying heavilyinto a wall.

   The newcomer rammed a chair against the door handleof the cellar, trapping the two inside as Donna hadplanned and then yelled straight at her: `Come on!'

   Donna ran straight to her new ally and allowed herselfto be led down a corridor.

   `Kitchen...' the newcomer breathed. `This way...'

   There was a small explosion and Donna guessed theduo had blasted their way out of the cellar. `Good ideawhile it lasted,' she grinned. `I'm Donna Noble.'

   `I'm Miss Oladini,' said Miss Oladini hurriedly. `Niceto meet you. Car?'

   `Came by cab.'

   `No, their car?'

   `Worth a try.'

   They crashed through the kitchenette door and into thestaff car park, straight towards the abandoned car. Donnatook the driving seat.

   `Keys?' asked Miss Oladini.

   `No keys,' Donna said. `Cos life's never thatconvenient.'

   Miss Oladini reached down under the dashboard andyanked out some wires. `Misspent youth,' she said.

   The engine turned over sluggishly, and then died again.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    `Once more,' Donna urged. `But if it doesn't work, giveup, cos they'll know where we are by now!'

    Miss Oladini tried the hotwiring again, with no luck.

    Two of their pursuers appeared at the kitchen door,arms raised.

    `Run!' Donna screamed and threw herself out and awayfrom the car as the purple energy smashed into it and thecar exploded.

    Donna was lying in some bushes, Veena's dress intatters. `Oh I am so dead,' she muttered.

    There was no sign of Miss Oladini, but it was difficultto see anything with the burning car blotting out her view.Donna looked around and saw a bicycle propped upagainst a far wall.

    `You have got to be kidding me,' she muttered, thenlooked at her clothes. `Nothing ventured, nothing gained.'

    Hoping the same flames that were hiding her attackersfrom her would keep her out of their point of view, sheslipped across the lawn to the bike.

    With one last look around for Miss Oladini, and a sadrealisation that the car had most likely become her funeralpyre, Donna grabbed the bike and clambered onto it. Shewobbled slightly, slowly getting used to riding again, andthen shot off down the pathway and then onto the mainroad.

    No way was she going to get back to Chiswick by bike,she didn't have three days spare, but it might get her to thenearest town.

    As Donna pedalled furiously, the burning car lit up thefront of the Copernicus Array behind her, flames

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

reflecting off the mansion's huge windows. But of peopleshe could see no sign.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

SUNDAY

When she was growing up, Donna had heard the phrase`the shot that was heard around the world' used todescribe the effect the assassination of US President JohnKennedy had on the whole of western civilisation. Peoplealways said they could remember where they were when ithappened.

   As a child of the 1970s, she grew up hearing aboutthings like the moon landing, the murders of bothKennedys and Martin Luther King, and WinstonChurchill's state funeral, but never wholly understoodthem. In a childhood of spacehoppers, Donny Osmond,chopper bikes and Green Shield Stamps, words like `Blitz'and `rationing' and `bubble and squeak' just meant the oldpeople were reminiscing about twenty years previouslyand probably moaning that the youth of today never knewwhen they had it so good.

   The first time Donna had found herself saying that to

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

one of the neighbourhood kids who'd scratched her latefather's car she was appalled at herself. She had finallybecome exactly what she'd derided in her parents andgrandparents when she was their age. Nowadays there wasnothing she liked to hear more than Granddad Wilf go onabout the war, his life in the parachute regiment or NannaEileen's days as a Land Girl.

   Today was a day like 22 November 1963 a day whenanother shot would be heard around the world.

   Sunday had, to be honest, started pretty badly. Donnahad woken in her bed (this was a good thing), althoughshe'd only had about two hours' sleep (this was a badthing).

   Veena's tattered dress was chucked on the floor (badthing); next to it, a receipt she had got from the minicabdriver (bad thing who was she gonna claim that backfrom?) who had driven her from somewhere called SouthWoodham Ferrers back to Chiswick. The receipt was for£225 (very, very bad her account had to be empty bynow). Wilf had been awake when she got back in (verygood thing) and had listened as she told him everythingthat had happened at the Copernicus Array. He had heldher tight, promised that they'd find a way to rescue theDoctor and sent her to sleep it all off.

   Donna had been furious with herself she'd left theDoctor there, she'd abandoned him in a way he'd never doto her (bad thing). But she was also practical. He'd toldher to go, and that had been right because otherwise she'dhave been killed (definitely a bad thing).

   Donna felt like death but needed to get help and go

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

back to the Array.

   Perhaps she could track down Martha Jones and hermates at UNIT she liked Martha and knew she'd dropeverything to help.

   As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she picked upthe Yellow Pages and was already halfway to U when sherealised that UNIT was unlikely to be there, filed underMilitary Organisations Dedicated to Wiping Out Martians(neither good nor bad, just a bit trigger-happy).

   `Well good morning, madam,' Sylvia Noble snappedacross the hallway. `I was worried about you last night.'

   `Why?'

   `Oh, I don't know. Crawling back in at the crack ofdawn after a night clubbing with the Doctor? At your age?I mean, clubbing's great when you're 21, but when middleage is only a few birthdays away--'

   `Oi!'

   `Whatever. Point is, it's time to grow up, young lady.'

   `Thanks, Mum. Too old to go clubbing, not too old tolive with my mother. Great.'

   `No one forces you to live here,' Sylvia said, putting acup of tea in Donna's hands. `Not that you do much thesedays. Off with Daddy Longlegs for weeks on end.' Sylviatugged at Donna's dressing gown, tightening the belt,straightening out the collar. `And where's he today, then?Dragged your granddad off up the allotment, no doubt.And it's not a warm morning, and he's left his thermoshere.' Sylvia licked her forefinger and de-smudged a markon Donna's left cheek. `Still, I imagine they'll both beback for lunchtime. Sunday roast and all the trimmings?

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Ha! They wish. Tell you what, it's a trip to the Jolly LockKeeper and the all-you-can-eat for a tenner today, my girl.Those days of my slaving over beef and Yorkshirepudding went with your dad, let me tell you.' Sylvia easedDonna's red hair behind her ears and flicked her fringe.`And there was a note left for you last night, found itwhen your granddad woke me up, staggering in afteryou'd dropped him off. I didn't read it, but it's from thoseCarnes boys the Doctor was on about.'

    Donna wanted to ask how she knew who it was from ifshe hadn't read it, but that way led to whole kettles of fishabout notes from headmasters when Donna was twelve toletters from Martyn Hart when she was fifteen and whohad opened which of those when they were addressed tothe other, so she kept quiet.

    Donna also had a pang for roast beef and Yorkshirepud, conjured up by her mum, covered in fantastic gravy.Dad carving. Granddad and Nanna over for the day,blathering on about train times and the car collectors cluband long walks in Windsor Great Park. Suddenly shewanted to be ten again.

    And wanted to cry.

    `Mum?'

    `What?'

    `I miss Dad.'

    And Sylvia Noble hugged her daughter in a way shehadn't for quite a long time. Then pulled away, almost asif she'd remembered that Sylvia Noble's preset was to begrouchy and uncompromising and not tactile and warm.Especially with her wayward daughter.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   But it was enough of a moment to make Donna happy.Because it had been a real instinctive gesture.

   `Can you call your granddad, please, find out whenhe's back and whether your Doctor is joining us at thepub.'

   `And Netty?'

   (Ooh, very bad thing)

   `If we must.'

   Eager to change the mood, Donna opened the frontdoor to check on the weather.

   `Mum, why d'you say Granddad's gone to theallotment?'

   `What else does he do? It's either the veggies or Netty.When they're not one and the same.'

   Donna shot her a look and Sylvia had the decency toapologise. `Sorry. Get used to being on my own so much,I forget that I shouldn't say to other people things I sayout loud to myself.'

   `We'll worry about you and Netty later. Granddad'staken the car. Which he doesn't need for the allotment.'

   Sylvia frowned. `He didn't say he was taking it. Saidhe was going to meet the Doctor.'

   `So you assumed it was at the allotment?'

   `Like the other night, yeah.'

   Donna was dialling her grandfather on her mobile, butit was switched off. The silly beggar was on his way toCopernicus, wasn't he? And he'd left Donna behind.

   At which point that `shot heard around the world'moment occurred.

   Donna would always remember that she was in her

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

dressing gown, standing at a slightly open door, a notefrom the Carnes boys in her hand (unread, by her at least),staring at a space where a car should have been, her mumjust behind her. There was a fresh mug of tea by theYellow Pages. Over the road, old Mister Lyttle waswalking his dog. A small black thing of indeterminatebreed that always smelled of wet fur. To the left, a realperipheral vision type thing, a blue van was parked.

   And dominating the blue sky was a massive,ferociously awful pillar of pure bright light, the very edgessuffused with a faint purple glimmer.

   Donna heard her mum say, `Oh my God, not again, notthe sky on fire again.'

   But it wasn't entirely on fire. Just this one column,accompanied by a sound like a gas flame on the cooker,but ramped up by ten thousand decibels.

   Donna just knew that something awful was happeningwhere that column of light hit the ground, somewhere tothe west of Chiswick. Although she didn't know it then,all around the world, no matter what time zone, similarcolumns of heat energy were doing the same.

   And in the sky, that leering face of stars was still upthere, the hideous grin seemingly wider and broader thanever before.

   `Mum, inside, now. Lock the doors, let no one inexcept me. Or Granddad. Or the Doctor. Especially theDoctor.'

   `And why is he so special?'

   `Oh, just say you'll do it, will you.'

   `All right,' Sylvia muttered. Then: `And where are you

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

going?'

   `I need to try and find him. Both of them actually.'

   `Aren't they together?'

   `That's what I'm worried about.'

   `Well, you can't go out like that.'

   Donna realised she still wasn't dressed and ran upstairs,throwing off her dressing gown when she was barelythrough the door of her room.

   `Don't leave that lying on the floor,' Sylvia called.Donna picked it up, hung it on the door hook and sighed.`Priorities, Mum,' she muttered.

   Dressed in a T-shirt and an old tracksuit she couldn'tbelieve she ever wore but knew would be warm, Donnaheaded back downstairs, grabbing a heavy coat.

   Out in the street, she could hear people and carsrevving up. Everyone had seen the pillar of light and nowthey were seeing that awful face in the sky.

   Give it half an hour and it'd be panic on the streets,rioting, looting and police everywhere. She had to get outof London fast.

   `No car,' she cursed to herself.

   She opened the front door that blue van.

   So wrong. So wrong, Donna Noble. So wrong.

   Then she was at the driver's window, looking at theseat. The dashboard. The lack of keys. The locked door.

   Poor Miss Oladini had made it look so easy when she'dhotwired that car, but Donna didn't have a clue where tobegin.

   Great.

   She tried the door just in case.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   It was open.

   She glanced up the street but no one in the mêlée ofpeople was yelling at her or claiming the van as theirs.She hauled herself into the driver's seat and put her handunder the seat to adjust it. God knew why she wasn'tgoing anywhere, because no one in this day and age wasstupid enough to put their keys under the seat of anunlocked van.

   She brought up her hands, a bunch of car keys in them.

   `And I want a tricycle and a pony and a lifetime'ssupply of milk chocolate,' she said aloud, putting her handback under the seat just in case her Christmas wishes fromwhen she was eight came true too.

   No ponies, no bikes, not even a melted chocolate bar.

   But the keys that was good.

   She ramped the van into reverse, and seconds later shewas on her way back down towards Chiswick High Road,planning her second journey out towards Essex in twelvehours.

   She threw a last look in the wing mirror at her house asshe swung the van around and then shot off, hoping thather mum hadn't seen her do this. Cos then there'd be hellto pay. And quite right too!

   Before she had even got to the main road, the crowdswere in the street, staring and pointing, and she could hearsirens from ambulances, police and fire engines all aroundher, all heading down towards the west, towards the M4.Towards where the pillar of light had struck the ground.She was heading towards London and that side of thestreet was relatively empty, even for a Sunday.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Donna's attention was drawn by the number of peopleoutside the various electrical shops that dotted both sidesof the street. Chiswick High Road had mostly been cafésand show shops when she was growing up, but thisinvasion of gadget shops was weird. She remembered theDoctor saying he'd met the Carnes boys in one.

   All this went through her mind in a brief second,probably because there on the streets in front of her wereLukas and Joe Carnes.

   Like they'd been waiting for her.

   Literally.

   Standing in the street. One minute, the road had beenempty. The next, two lads were right in front of her.

   Donna hit the brakes, and just avoided skidding to ahalt, actually making quite a graceful stop, although a manbehind her hit his horn.

   `Yeah? What else didja get for Christmas, sunshine?'she screamed back at him. `Shove it up yer--'

   The passenger door opened, and Joe and Lukasclambered in.

   `Joe says we need to be somewhere called Copernicus,'Lukas said quietly. `He also knew you'd be here. At thistime.'

   `Course he did,' Donna replied, driving forward as theirate driver overtook her, one hand off the wheel andgesturing at her. Shrugging, Donna continued drivingtowards Hammersmith. `Morning, Joe,' she called to theboy, who was now in the back.

   Joe didn't reply but got something out of his pocket.

   `What's that then? New MP3 thingy?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    `It's an M-TEK,' Lukas replied on Joe's behalf.

    `You what?' Donna tried to sound interested, butwasn't. She was more focused on how they'd known shewould be there.

    `It told him where you'd be,' Lukas continued. `It talksto him.'

    That sort of answered her question, Donna decided, butannoyingly threw up a couple of dozen other ones. `Is thathow he knew the Doctor's name the other day, then?'

    Lukas shrugged. `Dunno. Man in the shop gave it tohim. Said it was a demo version. Gave out about ten of'em. Said Joe was the right person to have one. He didn'ttell me till we'd got home and I found him downloadingmusic onto it.'

    That made sense to Donna, although it didn't reallymake any sense at all. When you travelled with theDoctor, you began to accept that things that didn't makesense really did make sense in a not-making-sense-to-normal-people kind of way.

    So this M-TEK thing made Joe Carnes know things. Orit told him things. Things to attract the Doctor's attention.

    `Didn't your dad ever tell you boys about acceptinggifts from strange men?'

    `My dad did,' Lukas said, glancing at Joe. `Joe's daddidn't stick around long enough.'

    Well, thought Donna, that's a conversation killer. Shemade a sudden turn into the Hammersmith roundaboutthat caused someone to toot their horn. Maybe it was thesame driver as before, but she didn't know or care. Sheturned onto the Talgarth Road.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   It was empty. Really empty. This was a big six-laneroadway towards Central London, via Earls Court thenKnightsbridge, then Hyde Park and eventually intoPiccadilly. It should've taken twenty minutes, maybethirty to get to Piccadilly on a Sunday lunchtime, and thatwas without any road works. Donna did it in ten and shewasn't exactly speeding.

   It was as if all the people in London were goingaway... no, going towards something. That light. Theywere all heading towards that.

   Rubberneckers, eager to take photos on their mobilesand say `oh look, we saw the carnage!' or something moresinister? In which case why wasn't she affected?

   `Scuse me, boys, more law-breaking...' Donna got outher mobile as she drove and called her mum. No reply.That wasn't good news.

   So here she was, in a stolen transit van, driving througha deserted London, off to darkest Essex to rescue hergranddad and her friend from killers, unable to contacthome, complete with the Children of the Damned at herside.

   `Cheers, Doctor,' she said to no one in particular.

   Some twenty miles away from Donna and the boys,there was a massive police and ambulance presencearound the Ruislip Woods area, with even moreemergency services arriving from nearby RAF Hillingdon.

   The massive bolt of white energy had struck thewoodlands one of Britain's first protected woods although there wasn't too much to protect right now. Ithad created a massive bowl-shaped crater about a quarter

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

of a mile wide, decimating the trees, grasses andshrubbery. A small waft of smoke drifted on the morningair and crowds of startled onlookers huddled close by,partly out of amazement, partly out of shock, but mostlyout of fear.

    Was it a plane crash? An al-Qaeda bomb? Somethingfrom the RAF base gone wrong? Casualties? Oh my God,my kids were playing here? Has anyone seen my dog, alab cross? Excuse me, have you seen my husband, he wasout jogging? Have you seen that awful face in the sky? Isit a movie stunt? I never trusted that IRA ceasefire...

    Police Sergeant Alison Pearce was trying to control thecrowds and her own officers and get the emergency crewsthrough. The Sunday morning shift had seemed such agood idea. Three kids meant that doing night shifts wasout, but her mum could babysit on a Sunday while she didher shift. Normally, she'd be home by ten, see them asleepand get them off to school in the morning. She'd alreadycalled home and warned her beloved mother thatgrandparental care might be the order of the next coupleof days. The paperwork alone on this would keep herbusy. And that's assuming she ever actually got away fromthe site.

    `Oi, you, excuse me?' she yelled out to a young guywho was trying to get under the red and white tape. `Sir?You can't come through...'

    The man ignored her. Sergeant Pearce grabbed herradio and called a couple of colleagues over as shestepped under the line herself and hurried over to him.

    `Welcome back,' he said to... well, to nothing. Just to

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the fine white ash that had once been trees and goodnessknows what else.

   `Sir, I must ask you to get back behind the line. This isa crime scene.'

   The man continued to ignore her, and Pearce noticedthat five other people had done the same thing all aroundthe perimeter. `Guys,' she said into her radio, `what'sgoing on?'

   One of her constables reported back. `We couldn't stopthem, Sarge, they just got away from us.'

   Pearce sighed and reached out to the man, but he wason his knees now, reaching out to the ashen ground.`Welcome back,' he said again.

   And his fingers connected with the ground as SergeantPearce reached out to his arm.

   She felt a shock, small, electrical, but powerful, andfound herself a good couple of feet away, flat on her back,shaking her head to clear it.

   The man was standing now, back to the crater of ash.Pearce realised that the other people, now seven in totalhad done the same. It was like they were guarding the site.

   The young constable who had spoken to her over theradio was at her side. `You OK, Sarge?' he said, helpingher up.

   She pushed him away. `I'm fine, Steve. What the hell isthis?' PC Steve Douglas shrugged. Sergeant Pearce triedher radio but all she got was static crackle.

   PC Douglas tried his. Same result. `OK, this is deadweird,' he said.

   Sergeant Pearce walked away and back under the line,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

telling Douglas to stay put and keep an eye on them. `Butdon't go near them.'

    She hurried over to a growing group of fire and policeofficers, which now included her superintendent. `Sir, wehave a problem,' she reported, and explained that sevenpeople were guarding the crater.

    Superintendent Shakiri frowned and started to moveforward, towards the perimeter. `Get the public furtherback, Sergeant. Move the line another six metres.'

    She nodded, but still her radio wasn't working. Shakiritried his. Nothing.

    `It was working ten minutes ago,' he muttered.

    `So was mine,' Pearce said. `It must be somethingelectrical.'

    `Why'd you say that?'

    She told him about being touched by the man and theshock she'd had.

    `Get yourself seen to by one of the paramedics,Sergeant.'

    `I'm fine, sir...' she started, but he waved her away.`Delayed reaction, Sergeant. You'd tell anyone else to dothe same. And if they say you're fine, I'll see you in fiveminutes.' He smiled at her. `Please?'

    Sergeant Pearce shrugged and walked towards one ofthe ambulances, while she listened to Shakiri yellingorders that the line was to be manually eased back.

    As she reached the waiting paramedic, something...something instinctive made her look back. It was like aslow-motion moment in a movie, so much happened atonce, she couldn't tell whether she saw it all or her brain

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

pieced it together later.

   A flash of purple light, like a bolt of electricity shotthrough the crowd of onlookers, flooring each and everyone of them.

   PC Steve Douglas vanished, although, for a splitsecond, Pearce was convinced she saw him throw his armsup to protect himself from the purple flash, and she couldsee him no, his skeleton just for a second, then he wasgone.

   The seven `guards', no longer hidden by the crowds,had stretched out their arms towards one another, and thepurple electricity was connecting them all, like a rope.

   Superintendent Shakiri threw himself down, dragging acouple of other officers with him in a rugby tackle,probably saving their lives.

   There was a flash in the sky, like a sunburst, just for asecond, and Pearce swore the whole sky flashed purple.

   And then it was over. Sort of.

   People were getting up and running further away. Noone wanted to be near the electrical whatever-it-was. Thiswas good in the sense that the public were going, but itwas disorganised, and that was dangerous. If just oneperson fell... She remembered the story of a disaster in anEast London tube tunnel during the war when it was beingused as a shelter to hide from air raids. As the panickingpublic had scampered down the steps, one woman fell,bringing the whole crowd to the ground, killing almosttwo hundred people in the crush.

   The panic going on right now, whilst not as confined,could be just as deadly. She saw Shakiri haul himself up,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

shouting to the officers around him to try and help thepublic. He threw a glance at where Steve Douglas hadbeen standing so he'd clearly witnessed it, too andthen back at her.

   Waving the paramedic away, she ran over to join him atthe scene. `What the hell was that?' she breathed.

   He pointed at the seven `guards' around the crater. `Iimagine they wanted us all to go away.' He looked at thefleeing crowds. `Any casualties?'

   Pearce just looked at where her young PC had been.`Would we know?' she said. `There's nothing left of SteveDouglas.'

   Shakiri caught her eye. `And that's why we need toknow if there are others. If we hold them accountable forone death, we need to hold them accountable for anyothers.'

   Both their radios crackled into life.

   `Good morning everybody everywhere around theworld.' It was a female voice, speaking clear, preciseEnglish. `My name is Madam Delphi and I am the onlyvoice you need ever listen to. I'm speaking to you all onevery wavelength, every radio, TV, PC and PDA the worldover. You have now seen what I can do and will continueto do. This planet is mine. You can all go back to yourdreary little lives and wait for me to tell you what to donext. I now return you to your scheduled programming.Oh, sorry, except for those countries currentlybroadcasting any version of Big Brother. Sorry, all thecontestants and presenters of that show, wherever they are,are dead. You can thank me later.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   The two police officers looked back at the seven peopleguarding the crater, that purple electricity still bindingthem together.

   `Tell you one thing, sir,' Alison Pearce said, as shelooked upwards to where it had all begun.

   `What's that, Sergeant?'

   `That scary face in the sky has gone.'

   Miss Oladini was seriously thinking of handing in hernotice. This was not a good enough job to be worth all thisaggro.

   Last night she'd been chased, had electricity chucked ather, been nearly blown up in a car and, worst of all,someone had nicked her bike. She hoped it was thatredheaded woman who had been with her in the car,because that would mean she too had escaped the blast.

   Miss Oladini wasn't entirely sure how she'd done itherself, but knew it had involved a lot of rolling along theground, ignoring the heat and running into a bush andholding her breath for what seemed like an hour but couldonly have been a minute or two before her pursuersassumed both women were dead.

   She had no idea what was going on at Copernicus, buther body had given in to the shock and she'd fallenunconscious in the grounds of the old mansion house,eventually waking up again, cold, damp and very hungry.And minus a bicycle.

   She waited a while to see if anyone was watching her,then made her way back inside the house for warmth.After a couple of minutes, she found a couple ofabandoned coats. She knew she was in shock. Her body

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

needed protection and warming up.

   She put on the coats, one on top of the other, thenheaded for a tiny closet. She could hide there, and itscramped conditions would help retain the heat sheneeded.She found a half-drunk bottle of water on a tabletop and took that with her, too.

   After a couple of hours, she felt strong enough toventure out of her closet and see if the people were stillthere, see if Professor Melville was still with them.

   She'd been creeping quietly down a corridor when shejumped, because a load of radios and TVs and a couple ofdesktops burst into life, and she listened to MadamDelphi's portent of doom, feeling cold again.

   Now she had recovered enough from last night'sordeal, now it was daytime, it was time to get away fromCopernicus. Forget Professor Melville and those people,this was too much for her to deal with, and she suspectedthat radio broadcast was connected. The police, maybe thearmy, they needed to know that something was going onhere. She began to creep slowly towards the big staircasewhen a hand came out of nowhere and wrapped aroundher mouth, cutting off any noise she could make.

   Miss Oladini thought this was it, she was going to die.

   `Please be quiet, sweetheart,' said a voice in her ear.`My name is Wilfred Mott, and I don't want to hurt you.'

   He moved his hand away from her face, and MissOladini pulled away. She looked at the man, old, but notweak, clearly. His eyes burned with intelligence, but therewas nothing threatening.

   `Why are you here?' she asked bravely.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    `My granddaughter was here last night. She told meabout things going on here. I'm looking for the Doctor.'

    `Granddaughter? Redhead?'

    `That's Donna. You must be Miss Oladini? She thoughtyou were dead, she'll be so pleased you're OK.'

    Miss Oladini wasn't sure about this. Those people thathad attacked her could know all this. But would theyknow about...?

    `How did Donna get away?'

    `On a bike. Was it yours? She left it near a policestation somewhere. South Woodham Ferrers, that was it.'He smiled at her. `She got home so late last night and I'dbeen waiting up. She told me everything that happened,and after I got her off to sleep I decided to check on thisplace myself.'

    Miss Oladini frowned at him. `You didn't believe her?'

    `Course I did! Donna doesn't make things up. But Iwanted to find the Doctor and keep Donna safe at thesame time. She'd been through enough. So I left hersleeping and crept out of the house this morning.' Heglanced at his watch. `Right now she'll have worked thatout and be creating merry hell, I reckon.'

    Miss Oladini still wasn't convinced, but he didn't seemto have the zombie-ish approach of the rest of the peoplehere. `You're looking for a doctor? Which one? They'reall doctors and professors here.'

    `He came with Donna. Tall bloke, daft hair. Talks a lotof rubbish.'

    `Sums up most of the Copernicus workers, frankly, MrMott.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `Wilf. And no, he doesn't work here. He was asked tocome here by a Professor Melville. That's why he andDonna turned up so late.'

   `I spent most of last night hiding and being blown up, Ididn't see Donna till we escaped. No idea if there wasanyone with her at all. Sorry.'

   Wilf seemed to deflate. `Oh. I was so sure he'd be here.I think he's the only one who can save us from all thatMadam Delphi stuff we just had to listen to.'

   `Why'd you think that?'

   `It's the sort of thing he does. Save us.'

   `Some sort of vicar is he?'

   Wilf laughed. `No, no, not at all. So, where iseverybody, then?'

   Miss Oladini shrugged and explained she was thinkingof getting away.

   `Give me fifteen minutes,' Wilf said. `If we don't findmy friend, I'll drive you back home, how's that?'

   Miss Oladini weighed up her options, and then agreed.There was, after all, no other way home as easy as this.And Wilf Mott didn't seem to be very threatening.

   She led him down the stairs, through the shatteredFrench windows and out into the back garden, pointingover at the radio telescope, explaining that was what thewhole place was about.

   Wilf nodded. `That face in the sky, that was made up ofstars, right? I reckon that observatory thing is where theDoctor would be.'

   Miss Oladini shivered and pulled her coats tighteraround her. `I'm not sure,' she said quietly. `I don't want

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

to go back there.'

    `Why not?'

    But Miss Oladini couldn't explain. There was justsomething about it, something about the way the telescopehad always seemed a safe place to work but now...

    Wilf gripped her shoulder. `All right, you wait here andI'll pop over and see if the Doctor's there. Won't be long.'

    Miss Oladini watched as he wandered off. She shiveredagain. For one brief moment she had felt safe with thisstrange old man, and now she was alone again, she...

    She caught up with him in seconds. `Entrance, thisway,' she said.

    He smiled at her. `Good for you, girl,' he said. `Didn'tfancy going in alone. To be honest.'

    They smiled at each other.

    `So, Donna's your granddaughter, then?' Miss Oladinisaid. `Glad she got away.'

    `Me too. Be lost without her. Family's an importantthing to keep a hold of.'

    Miss Oladini considered this. `I don't know where myfamily are,' she said. `Probably back in Nigeria.'

    `How come you lost touch?'

    She smiled. `Oh, you know how it is, came to the UKfor university, lost my status, stayed hidden here, signedon to the agency to find me work under a false name,usual stuff.'

    `That's very brave of you,' Wilf said. `Risky, too,working here.'

    `Right under the government's nose,' she replied.`Easiest way to disappear off the radar is to hide in plain

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

sight. That's what my dad said last time I spoke to him.'

    Wilf agreed. `Used to say that about spies, during thewar,' he said. `Best way to infiltrate was to be seen, so noone got suspicious. Just become a member of society.'

    `That's what I did. Look where it's got me. Frightenedfor my life.'

    Wilf winked at her. `You'll be all right.'

    They were at the door of the radio telescope. It wasslightly ajar and they crept in.

    Professor Melville was dead. There was no doubtingthat, his neck was at such a strange angle, and althoughMiss Oladini had never seen anyone dead before, she justknew it. Her hand was over her mouth, stifling the cry inher throat. Wilf checked the poor man for a pulse, butgently lifted his hand away.

    It looked like he had been working at the guidancesystems for the array when he'd died. When he'd beenkilled, Miss Oladini thought. After all, people didn't breaktheir own necks.

    Wilf was climbing up the small ladder that led to theupper deck, where the telescope itself was housed. Itwasn't an old-fashioned tubular telescope, but a series ofcomputers arrayed across the room, linked to the radiodish on top of the building.

    That had always disappointed Miss Oladini when shefirst came to work for the poor Professor. Somehow agiant telescope seemed more romantic than a computerbank.

    She glanced back at his body, eyes staring open at theceiling, and thought about his old mother. And his cat.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

And how scared she'd been of him the last time she hadseen him. And now all she could think about was his cat.

   And she began to cry for the first time since everythinghad gone wrong.

                           ***

Donna punched at the radio buttons until she got a station.She didn't want music, she wanted news. It wasn't hard tofind. All over the globe, massive beams of light had struckdown, and been surrounded by people. Some observerswere saying they were terrorists guarding a bomb site,some thought they were religious fanatics guardingsomething holy and special. Others reckoned it was aliens,coming to get those who had claimed to have beenabducted and then returned with microchips in their headsover the last fifty years. The strange message from`Madam Delphi', which everyone assumed was just aninternet hacker trying to be funny, had started that oneoff...

   `Irony is,' she said to the radio, `that's the one thatmight be right!'

   There didn't seem to be too many casualties but no onecould get near the people actually guarding the craters.Britain, America, Russia, the Middle East, Asia, NewZealand, Africa, Greenland, nowhere was untouched.There seemed to be no connection between the peoplegathering to guard those craters: different ages, sexes,politics, backgrounds.

   `Wonder if the Poles got attacked,' she mumbled after

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

listening to the reports for a bit longer as they drove pastthe Tower of London.

    `There was a mention of one in Germany,' Lukas said.

    Donna smiled. `I didn't mean Poles in Poland, I meantthe North or South Poles.'

    `Does it matter?'

    `Yeah, it probably does. They seem to be heavilypopulated areas, rather than desolate. So there's somethingsignificant about that.'

    `What?'

    `No idea. But I'm thinking.' She looked at a signsaying A13 Tilbury. `Essex thataway.' Then she shrugged.`Not that I know exactly where I'm going. It was dark lastnight and I was thinking about the Doctor too much tonote landmarks.'

    `You want to take the A127,' Joe piped up. `Threemiles along that after the M25 junction, then left intoMeadow Lane, half a mile further on and right intoGorsten Road. Stay on that for six and a half miles, thenleft towards South Woodham Ferrers.'

    `Oh yes, I remember that name,' Donna said. `How doyou know?'

    `After passing under the railway bridge, you need to goeight miles on Tributary Road and as you get to theB8932, turn right into Allcomb Lane. Copernicus is twomiles along there.'

    Donna looked at Lukas, who just shrugged. `He knewwhere to find you,' he told her. `And what van you'd bedriving.'

    `That's creepy,' Donna said quietly, glancing at Joe in

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the rear-view mirror.

   `That's Joe,' Lukas said. `Thank God we're only half-brothers.'

   `Don't say that,' Donna chided him. `He's still yourbrother.'

   `Yeah,' Lukas agreed. `But if we were full brothers,maybe we'd both be weird. This way, I can translate if hestarts speaking Italian.'

   `Why would he do that?'

   `Cos that's where his dad was from, according toMum.'

   And something flashed through Donna's mind.Something the Doctor had said at the dinner the nightbefore, when she was helping Netty out and old manCrossland had thought he was barking. When he wastalking about that Mandragora thing.

   I first encountered it in the fifteenth century in Italy.

   Something in Donna's head sparked. Mad dolphins!Course! It couldn't be that simple, surely... but then, hesaid it was five hundred years ago. Plenty of time forpeople from Italy to travel the world, have generations ofkids... That man, last night at the telescope who zappedthe Doctor, his accent could have been Italian. And he hadgone on about genealogy...

   `Any idea where in Italy?'

   `Nah,' said Lukas.

   `San Martino,' Joe piped up.

   `Thought you might know that,' Donna said.

   `Why?' asked Lukas.

   `Cos I don't think him being all Super SatNav in the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

back there is a coincidence. I think something is using himto get us to that telescope thing for a reason.'

    `You mean my little brother is an alien?'

    `Don't sound too excited by that idea.'

    `Nah, it's dead cool.' Lukas leaned closer. `I alwaystold Mum he was weird.'

    `He's not an alien. But there might be something in hisbackground that'll help the Doctor sort this out.'

    Lukas glanced back at his brother, who was nowlistening to his M-TEK again. `I don't want anything tohappen to him though.'

    Donna smiled at him. `It won't, the Doctor'll makesure he's safe.' But inside, she wasn't quite so sure shecould guarantee that.

    The Doctor's eyes opened and Wilfred Mott swam intoview.

    He grinned. `Hullo, Wilf.'

    `Hello, Doctor,' said the old man, hauling him up.`What you doing on the floor?'

    `I was dumped. Deposited. Abandoned. How rude!' theDoctor mumbled. Then he grabbed Wilf by both arms.`Where's Donna?'

    `She's fine. Safe at home with Sylvia, thinking we'reboth up at the allotment.'

    `Good. Excellent. Brilliant even. Now then, why didthey leave me here?'

    `That weird lot with the purple electricity?'

    `Yes, that's them. Blimey, Donna doesn't miss muchout, does she?'

    `I made her tell me everything. Doctor?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `Yes?'

   `There's a dead man out in that officey area.'

   The Doctor opened his mouth to speak, then stopped. `Iwas afraid of that.' He followed Wilf out of the controlroom, casting one last look around, and squinting at somenumbers on a screen. A moment later, he was layingMelville's dead body out on the floor, checking him.

   `You must be Miss Oladini?' he said.

   Miss Oladini nodded. `How...?'

   `I knew they were searching for you. ProfessorMelville asked me to try and find you. Keep you safe. Andsomething about a cat?'

   `Professor Melville was alive then?'

   `Oh yes. They were forcing him to move the radiotelescope into alignment with the Chaos Body up there.'

   Wilf filled him in on the developments around theworld.

   `Madam Delphi?'

   `She writes astrology columns in the papers,' MissOladini threw in.

   The Doctor gave her a look.

   `Sorry,' she said. `Pointless information, I know.'

   `Oh no it wasn't, Miss Oladini. Brilliant info, actually.Explains so much. If you are an alien super-being whosehelix power is governed by the stars, then who better thanan astrologer whose words are read and devoured bymillions to use as your medium. We need to find thisMadam Delphi and ask her where she gets her informationfrom.'

   `Why'd they kill Professor Melville?' Miss Oladini

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

asked quietly.

   `Mandragora is a great one for tools. All those peopleyou saw last night? Tools. Tools to be discarded oncethey're of no use. I imagine poor Professor Melville didwhat he needed to do for them and they merely tidied upafter themselves.' He put a hand of Miss Oladini'sshoulder. `A stupid, pointless waste of a good man and afriend. I'm sorry.'

   She smiled at him. `Is there anything I can do to helpstop them?'

   The Doctor looked back into the control room. `Wilf,any sign of anyone else here?'

   `No one.'

   `I think they all left about nine o'clock this morning,'Miss Oladini added. `I couldn't see much, but I heardthem speak.'

   `Car, Wilf?'

   `Out the front.'

   `Good, give it to Miss Oladini.'

   `Why?'

   `Yes, why?'

   `Because you are alive, Miss Oladini, and I made apromise to a man to keep it that way. Go home. Wilf,phone?'

   `It's dead, I never recharge it.'

   `Phone?'

   Wilf dug it out of his jacket pocket, and the Doctorsonicked it, then dashed back into the control room. Amoment later, he returned and gave the phone to MissOladini. `Recharged, should last a couple of weeks. Wilf,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

sorry, had to wipe the sim card.'

    `The what card?'

    `If you don't know, never mind. Miss Oladini, storedon that sim card are the coordinates the telescope iscurrently positioned to. I've also done a bit of nifty-swiftykinda stuff, meaning that when I call you on this phone,you are not to answer.'

    `How will I know it's you?'

    `Cos no one else is likely to ring it as they know its daftowner always keeps it off and lets the battery go flat.'

    Wilf harrumphed.

    `So,' the Doctor went on, `when I call you, don'tactually answer, but instead, press the hash key. Andwhatever happens, don't accidentally press it before I callyou.'

    Wilf wanted to know why, but the Doctor shook hishead. `Safer all round if you don't ask. Miss Oladini, doall that, and you may be responsible for saving the world.Possibly the entire universe. Wilf, keys.'

    Wilf reluctantly handed them over and Miss Oladinigently put the phone into one of the pockets of her manycoats.

    `Good luck, Miss Oladini. And thank you,' said theDoctor. `Off you go.'

    She gave a last sad look at Melville. `He was lovely,'she said simply.

    `I know,' the Doctor said. `Met him in 1958. He had askiffle band, called The Geeks I played washboard forhim. Joe Meek was gonna produce the album. We calledhim "Ahab" cos his surname was Melville. To this day, I

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

don't know what his real first name was.'

    `Brian,' Miss Oladini said. `That's what his personnelfile said.' She smiled a sad smile at the Doctor as sheheaded off.

    `Brian,' said the Doctor to the body. `Goodbye, Brian.'Wilf looked after Miss Oladini. `Will she be OK? If thosepeople are still watching us?'

    `Nah, they've gone. She'll be fine, only lives locally,you'll be able to pick the car up next week. If we're allstill alive.'

    `Charming.'

    `Always a risk.' He glanced up at the clock. `I reckonwe have about an hour to find out why they left me alive.'

    `Then what happens?'

    `The cavalry.'

    Dara Morgan was standing in the penthouse of theOracle Hotel, staring down at the elevated motorwaybelow.

    `They look like ants.' Caitlin was at his shoulder.`Which is pretty much what they are.'

    Dara Morgan opened his mouth, as if to speak, thenshut it.

    `You OK?' Caitlin asked.

    He shrugged. `I... I seem to remember something. Toycars. I can see loads of little metal cars being played withby a child. The boy seems...'

    `Familiar?'

    `I was going to say "happy", actually.' Dara Morganmoved away from the window. `Madam Delphi,' he saidto the computer screens assembled across the desks lined

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

up along one long wall. `How are we doing?'

   `It's fantastic,' the computer replied, waveformspositively glowing. `All over the world, the children ofMandragora are linking up, protecting the sites of arrival.And MorganTech now controls eighty-seven per cent ofthe world's computer franchises.' Madam Delphi giggled.`Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, William HenryGates III.'

   Caitlin started reading off some internet reports.`There's a new cult of Mandragora in South Americanow,' she laughed. `How far did Mandragora go backthen?'

   Madam Delphi's screens flashed. `We went a long way.Ooh look, a whole lineage trace in Norway. Is therenowhere we haven't reached?'

   Caitlin tapped a few more keys. `And another in Zaire!'

   `This truly is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius!'Madam Delphi cheered.

   Dara Morgan was watching the cars again. And on thewindow, he was subconsciously drawing letters with hisfinger.

   Caitlin glanced up. And frowned. Dara Morgan wasdrawing a C. And an F.

   She was up and beside him instantly. `Hey you,' shesaid, drawing him back. `Madam Delphi has something toshow us. A tenth of the world's population are joining ustoday. And when the M-TEK goes on sale this week, we'llhave six times that many! Already the free prototypes wegave away have activated our sleeping brethren.'

   Dara Morgan gave a last glance back towards the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

window, towards the M4 motorway and then down at thepotential M-TEK sales. `Once Murakami has sorted thingsout in Tokyo...'

    `This world and all its people will belong toMandragora!' said Madam Delphi. `Oh, and I've justuploaded a whole new batch of horoscopes. Howmarvellous!'

    Wilf had rescued an old coat from a room and broughtit over to the observatory to cover Melville's dead body.

    `Why'd they kill the poor man, Doctor?'

    The Doctor was in the small control room, carefullystudying the readouts, equally careful not to touchanything. `He probably set all this up for the MandragoraHelix, then they didn't need him any more. It takes apercentage of its power to control people better to saveit for those it needs long term.'

    `Such as?'

    The Doctor turned away from the controls and usheredWilf back towards the dead body, sonicking the doorbehind him. `No one gets in or out until I say so,' hemuttered. Then he smiled at Wilf. `I wish I had an answerfor you, Wilf, but truth is I've not got a clue. There'salways a link between the people it enslaves and thepeople they enslave in turn. Right now, I have no ideawhat that is, or how your Madam Delphi fits in but I'mguessing she is linked to Mandragora.' Suddenly theDoctor slapped his hand to his head. `Oh of course! I seeit now! Wilf, what's the time?'

    `Twelve thirty-five.'

    `And you arrived here when?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `About nine, I wanted to get here because--'

   The Doctor held up a hand to quieten him. Then hecounted down. `Five. Four. Three. Two. And... one!'

   At which point the outer door to the observatory waswrenched open, flooding the room with daylight.

   Standing there, framed in it, was Donna Noble.

   `The cavalry, as promised.'

   Wilf hugged Donna. `How'd you know we were here?'

   The Doctor was leaning against the wall, arms folded,all nonchalant, but so proud. `Aww, cos she's yourgranddaughter, Wilf, and she's brilliant.'

   Donna ignored the compliment. `I know what thatbloke meant last night. And he was Italian. It's theItalians!'

   Wilf looked from one to the other. `What?'

   `He said something about a man who licks maddolphins.'

   The Doctor nodded. `I know.'

   `Oh.'

   `But let's see if we agree, go on.'

   `Or,' Donna grinned, `if I'm righter than you?'

   `Improbable, but always possible. Fire away.'

   `What he said was "The man. He licks mad dolphins."But he didn't say "mad dolphins", he said "MadamDelphi".' Donna smiled. `Yeah, you'd guessed that, hadn'tyou?'

   The Doctor nodded.

   `I'm still working on the bit about him licking her,'Donna went on.

   The Doctor smiled at her. `Helix. It's the Mandragora

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Helix, Donna. But I don't know why the Italian bit isimportant... Oh, oh, yes, of course!'

    `Fifteenth-century Italy. San Martino, perhaps?'

    `What are you two talking about?' asked Wilf.

    The Doctor looked at him. `Potted history, Wilf. 1492, Imet up with this alien energy from the Dawn of Time.Mandragora Helix, always striving to dominate the lesserspecies.'

    `Who you calling lesser?' asked Donna.

    `Fifteenth-century humanity, Donna. Not like twenty-first century humanity, oh no. You're far moresophisticated.' He smiled in a way that suggested thiswasn't exactly how he perceived things, but she let it go.

    `So, anyway,' he continued, `I accidentally brought afragment of the Helix energy to a small Italian principalitycalled San Martino. I defeated it, very cleverly, byearthing it. Or so I thought. But that's quite literally what Idid, shoved it into the ground, where it survived, trying torepair itself. Got into the land, into the water andultimately into the people. A tiny biological entityattaching itself to chromosomes, DNA, whatever.Transferred from generation to generation until the wholekit and kaboodle of Mandragora shifts itself halfwayacross the universe and links up. Last time, it wanted tohalt human progress. This time, Mandragora's realisedthat there's no stopping you, you'll be out there, floodinghumanity across the stars in no time, colonies, empires,wars and peacetimes, until the end of time. SoMandragora says, "I'll have a bit of that, thank you," andglues itself to you for eternity. Great plan, it can

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

manipulate you all for millennia to come.'

   `So all over the world,' said Donna, `diluted throughbreeding and whatnot, there are these descendents fromSan Martino all over the world. Thousands of them now,probably unaware half of 'em that they even have Italianblood in them. And Mandragora is controlling them.' Sheturned back to the Doctor. `That's how Joe Carnes knewyou were who you are. His dad's from San Martino.'

   `How'd you know that?'

   `Joe told her.' Lukas Carnes poked his head through thedoor. `He's finished in the toilet, Donna,' he added as thetwo boys walked in.

   `Oh yeah,' Donna smiled weakly at the Doctor. `Say hito my team of helpers.'

   The Doctor was overjoyed to see them. `That's howyou found us, wasn't it? I thought it was unlikely you'dmemorised last night's taxi route.'

   `Like a guide dog, Joe is,' Donna said.

   The Doctor put a hand on Wilf's shoulder. `We're donehere. Let's go home. Via Greenwich.'

   `Greenwich?' Wilf frowned. `Oh no. No, Doctor, don'tinvolve Netty. Please!'

   `I really think she can help, Wilf. I'm sorry.'

   `Who's that?' Lukas was pointing at the coat-coveredbody in the corner.

   The Doctor took a deep breath. `A good mate of mine,Lukas. He died.' And he threw a look at Wilf. `But he'sthe last friend who dies at the hands of the MandragoraHelix, I promise you.'

   Donna took this in, remembering her promise in the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

van to Lukas about Joe. She hoped the Doctor wouldn't letthem down.

   As he passed her, he winked and smiled.

   What was she thinking? This was the Doctor.

   Of course everything would be OK.

   How could it not be?

   The journey back to London was uneventful, to say theleast. Wilf sat in the front seat next to Donna, wincingoccasionally as she almost clipped wing mirrors on parkedcars. The Doctor and the two boys sat in the back oncethey'd shifted blankets, a water bottle and a toolbox.

   The Doctor had found a paperback book under a seatcalled A Dark and Stormy Night, all about rich kings,pirates, frightened maids, strong cattle herders and ayoung girl found in the snow. The Doctor sympathisedwith the story's hero, a young hospital intern who tried topiece the disparate elements together.

   After a while, he'd given up and thrown it to the boys.Lukas had eagerly started reading it, at the same timekeeping a protective eye on Joe as the Doctor asked himabout his long-lost dad.

   He got no useful answers. Joe couldn't really remembergoing to the electrical shop on Friday afternoon if ithadn't been for the free M-TEK prototype, he'd nevereven have known he'd been there.

   `He has days like that,' Lukas muttered.

   `What's an M-TEK when it's at home, then?'

   Lukas turned back to the book while Joe showed theDoctor the small portable device. `It's like an MP3 playerthat plays movies as well,' said Joe. `It connects to the net,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

it's a phone and it's got a 160-gig memory, so you cankeep stuff on it. It runs Windows and OSX 6 really fast.'

    The Doctor nodded, impressed. `Great things come insmall packages,' he said, and promptly got out his sonicscrewdriver and zapped the M-TEK with it.

    Recognising that noise, Donna yelled back, `Hopeyou're buying him a replacement.'

    But the Doctor was frowning. The sonic had doneabsolutely nothing. Not even scrambled the stored music.`That's...'

    `Weird?' Donna offered.

    `More than weird,' he agreed. He scrambled to the backof the van, found the toolbox, took out a hefty hammerand brought it down on the M-TEK. The crash of thehammer, the yell of outrage from Joe and Lukas's veryloud curse nearly caused Donna to mount the kerb as theyturned into the Blackwall Tunnel.

    `Well?' asked Wilf.

    The Doctor held the M-TEK up. `Not a scratch, not adent, nothing. That's good tech. Alien tech, but good tech.It's also impossible.' He smiled at the somewhat shakenboys. `Oh, I do like a bit of impossible.'

    `Anyone noticed anything odd?' Donna asked.

    `We're still alive after you driving for an hour?' Wilfsuggested.

    `No traffic,' Lukas suggested.

    The Doctor looked up. `That true?'

    Donna nodded. `Loads of parked cars. I've seen threeother cars actually moving since we left Copper Knickers.One of them kept flashing me, I thought he was cross

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

about something.'

   `Probably was,' said Wilf. `You cut him up.'

   `But I think he was trying to flag us down,' Donnaignored her granddad. `Cos this is just mad. Where iseveryone?'

   `It's Sunday?' the Doctor suggested.

   `It's South East London,' countered Donna, `and we'renot in the tenth century. There should be hundreds ofcars.'

   `I quite like it,' Wilf said. `Everything peaceful. Takethe next junction, sweetheart, Netty lives just off the mainroad.'

   They pulled up outside Netty's house in silence.

   Wilf got out and rang the doorbell, but there wasnothing. He called for her through the letterbox and, aftera second or two, the door opened and he was yanked in,out of sight.

   Donna, in the front of the van, glanced at the Doctor.`Didja see that?'

   `It was Netty,' the Doctor said.

   `How'd you know?'

   `Aliens would never wear hats like that.'

   The door reopened and Wilf emerged, followed byNetty in a green felt hat with a peacock feather in it, allvery 1950s.

   `You seen the news, Doctor?' asked Netty, haulingherself in and sitting herself next to Wilf.

   He said he hadn't.

   `Then the best thing we can do is drive through CentralLondon.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Intrigued, Donna restarted the van and off they went.

   Through Greenwich, past the rebuilt Cutty Sark and allthe markets and shops. Through New Cross, down the OldKent Road, around the Elephant and Castle and overBlackfriars Bridge.

   `Not a single soul,' Wilf said. `No one.'

   `The BBC were telling everyone to stay indoors.Fairchild has declared a state of emergency.'

   `Fairchild?' asked the Doctor.

   `Prime Minister,' Lukas said with a sigh. `Don't youknow anything?'

   `I know lots of prime ministers,' the Doctor said. `Butin this century they come and go annually, I think. Thisone clearly makes no impression on history.'

   Donna brought the van to a sudden halt and, veryquietly, said, `Oh.'

   Those in the rear of the van leaned forward. `Ohindeed,' the Doctor said.

   Because they could go no further. They were on theEmbankment, just down from Charing Cross station.

   As were possibly a million other people. Standing.Still. Arms reaching up to the skies.

   And all chanting quietly. `Helix. Helix. Helix.'

   `That's not good,' Donna said.

   The Doctor passed her Joe's M-TEK. `Call your mum,please.'

   `Why?'

   `Let her know we're safe and we'll see her tomorrow.'

   `Priorities?' asked Donna.

   `Keeping on the good side of your mum is a priority,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Donna. For both of us. She'll be worried.' He turned to theCarnes boys. `Then we'll phone your mother, she must beworried sick.'

   `Won't be,' said Joe quietly. `She'll be one of this lot.'

   Wilf was about to ask why, but the Doctor shook hishead. `Now, Joe, just cos she's your mum, she's not in anydanger. None of these people are, by the look of it.'

   `She gave birth to him. Maybe she's got this Helix genething?' said Lukas. `Thank God I'm the older one.'

   Joe stared out of the van. `What do we do to rescue her,Doctor?'

   The Doctor smiled. `That's the spirit, boys, rememberwe can save her. We can save all these people.'

   Donna passed the M-TEK back. `She says Chiswick'sempty. I told her to stay indoors, drink tea and keep theTV on. I said to do whatever the BBC says unless itinvolves leaving the house or stopping drinking tea. Shedidn't see the funny side.'

   `I'm not surprised,' said Wilf. `Well, Doctor, what dowe do?'

   The Doctor was looking at the M-TEK. `They gave thisto you, Joe, yeah? Have they given loads of free onesout?'

   Joe nodded. `On the forum, they said they were givingout a million free ones before tomorrow's launch.'

   `I bet the target audience was of very specificgenealogy, too. So, this thing goes nationwide tomorrow?'

   `Worldwide,' Netty put in. `I'm going to get one. I likethings like that. Was going to wait a month or so, see if thehome shopping channel did 'em cheap.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `Oh I like that,' Donna said. `Well, used to. When I hadtime. That Anis Ahmed did things for me...'

   Netty laughed. `So sexy...'

   Wilf coughed. `Anyway, getting back to the matter inhand. Doctor, we can't just park here.'

   The Doctor was still playing with the M-TEK.`Nothing is that well protected... If I can just rewrite someof the software...' The sonic flashed a couple of differentshades of blue, the M-TEK gave a ping, and the Doctorcheered. Then stopped. `I appear to have accessed ahoroscope website. Ah, our old friend Madam Delphi.'

   `She works for the people who made the M-TEK,'Lukas said. `She writes her horoscope things for some oftheir papers.'

   The Doctor stared at the youth. `You what?'

   `MorganTech, they make everything these days. RunTV stations, newspapers, the works.' Lukas shrugged.`Think a cross between Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch andRichard Branson and you have Dara Morgan.'

   `And who's he when he's at home?' asked the Doctor.

   `He runs MorganTech. Been around for a few yearsnow. We did some research on him at school, but there'snot that much out there. He's not keen on unauthorisedbiogs.'

   The Doctor looked at the group in the van. `So let meget this right. We have beams of light hitting the ground,hypnotised people chanting to the stars thanks to anewspaper astrologer telling you she's changing theworld, new gadgets given away free to people who are ofItalian descent and no one thinks to tell me they're all

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

connected?'

   The others looked at each other. Donna spokeeventually. `We can't be expected to make the leaps oflogic you do, you know.'

   `They're not leaps, they're clearly defined paths ofevidence and... oh, never mind. Where do I find thisMorganTech?'

   `Near where we live,' Lukas said. `In Brentford.'

   `Oh that's right,' Wilf said. `They have that big officeand hotel complex on the Golden Mile.'

   `And the guy in charge is called Dara Morgan?'

   `Yup.'

   `Course he is,' the Doctor muttered. `He would be.Lukas, I want you to try and remember everything youcan about him, all right?' The Doctor chucked the M-TEKonto the floor, and Joe went to scoop it up. `Leave italone, Joe it's dangerous.'

   He sonicked the back of the van, and the doors sprangopen. `Come on, we're not going to get past this lot, weneed to walk and find new transport.'

   `Doctor,' Wilf protested. `Netty's...'

   `Hey,' Netty said. `I can walk as well as you can,Wilfred Mott.' She linked her arm through his. `We cansupport each other.'

   He smiled down at her.

   And Donna was going to do the same until she saw thelook on the Doctor's face.

   Like it had been at dinner the night before.

   He was looking at Netty... strangely.

   Donna pulled the boys closer to her. `Stick with me,'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

she told them, `and we'll help the Doctor put an end to allthis.'

   `Donna,' the Doctor said suddenly, and in a way Donnahad got used to. It was his warning voice.

   Between them and the chanting crowd was a group ofpeople. People Donna recognised from the night before, atthe Copernicus Array.

   `Not good?'

   `Not good.'

   `How did you reprogram the M-TEK?' asked the littleman at the front of the group. Donna remembered him,too. He had led them, and she realised from his accent hewas, of course, Italian.

   `Talent,' the Doctor said.

   `That is not part of the plan,' the little man said. `Wecannot allow a weak link in the chain.'

   `Oh, sorry,' the Doctor said, indicating with his handfor the rest of his group to move away, slightly behindhim, leaving him stood between the Mandragora-poweredgroup and the van. `I left it in the back. Do you want meto get it?'

   `You will leave it,' the Italian said, as he pushed pastthe Doctor and clambered into the van.

   The Doctor smiled at the rest of the group. An elderlyduo to one side, four younger people at the back, a heavilybuilt man to the left.

   `I wonder how many of you are actual San Martinodescendents, and how many are just their... slaves?Helpers? Unwitting participants in the murder of innocentprofessors at observatories? If you can fight Mandragora,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

maybe we can--'

   The Doctor hit the tarmac hard as the blue vanexploded into flames and debris.

   Donna and the boys were already running, Wilf andNetty, staggering after them.

   Good.

   He glanced at the funeral pyre for the little Italian manthat had once been a van.

   `That's one way of eliminating the weak M-TEK, Isuppose,' he said. `Bit OTT if you ask me though.'

   And he got up, to be surrounded by the group. Theburly man seemed to be their new leader and when hespoke, the Doctor recognised a strong Greek accent.`Madam Delphi wants to see you.'

   `Well, all right, but I want to check my friends are OK.'

   `They're coming too.'

   `Aw, I'm not sure I agree to that part of the deal.'

   `Or we kill you now,' the Greek added.

   At which point Wilf, Netty, Donna and the boysemerged from hiding and were quickly rounded up.

   The Doctor sighed. `I think that was probably a bluff,'he said to Wilf. `They wanted me alive, remember?'

   `We're in this together,' Wilf said. `When I was in theparas, we never left anyone behind.'

   The Doctor nodded. `Oh well, now we're all here. Gota firm's coach?'

   `We walk,' said one of the older people, an Americanwoman.

   `It's a long way,' Donna said.

   One of the younger men shrugged. `It'll keep us all fit,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

then.'

   And they began the walk across London.

   Everywhere they went, little groups of people weretogether, chanting to the skies.

   Others could be seen, hiding, scared, occasionallylooting shops, probably assuming this wasn't going to becleared up any time soon, and that food would becomescarce.

   `It's like the Blitz,' Netty said at one point, as theywalked through Leicester Square.

   `Without the bombs and collapsed buildings,' theDoctor said. `Thank goodness.'

   The Doctor allowed his group to separate slightly,Donna noted. She was bringing up the rear with the boys,and Wilf was getting tired, and was only a few stepsahead. Behind her, the Greek man and older Americans.Ahead of the Doctor, the four younger people.

   The Doctor was with Netty, having swapped placeswith Wilf, his arm now linked with hers.

   Donna couldn't hear what he was saying, but Donnacould tell from the urgency he gave off in waves and thelack of response from the old lady other than the odd nod,that they weren't really discussing London's architecture.

   She almost asked her granddad what he thought it wasabout, but didn't. Because if it went wrong, if it all turnedout bad, she didn't want him blaming the Doctor foranything.

   Donna realised this was the first time she'd actuallyfound herself questioning the Doctor's actions for quitesome time. And she didn't like it.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   A couple of hours passed. They had been allowed tostop occasionally, the younger people sorting out food(usually by using their Mandragora powers to blow doorsoff shops and nick stuff).

   At one point, the Doctor and Netty had sat together in adeserted burger place, while the boys munched on coldchips and muffins. Netty had found some paper on aclipboard and was writing something on it, and the Doctorwas nodding.

   Wilf asked Donna whether there was any point intrying the microwave ovens, and when she glanced backNetty was alone, and the Doctor was trying to talk to theGreek man.

   There wasn't time for microwaving burgers, as theywere told to start walking again, despite the Doctor'sprotestations.

   The boys were soon tired again. Netty and Wilf werevery tired indeed. Donna was utterly exhausted, but theDoctor... he just kept going. He had Lukas and Joe upfront with him now, trying to take their minds off it all bygiving them a history of Cromwell Road and the variousbuildings as they marched along it.

   The old American couple by rights ought to have beendead on their feet, but no, they were always there, one orother, sometimes both, with their arms pointing forward,ready to use their Mandragora power as she'd seen at theCopernicus Array the night before.

   It was dark by the time they reached Hammersmith,and Donna reckoned it would take another hour or so toreach Brentford. Possibly longer, as Netty and Wilf were

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

stopping more and more often.

   `My granddad is very old,' she said at one point to theGreek man, eliciting an outraged, if exhausted, `Oi, I'mfine' from Wilf.

   The Greek man just shrugged and said that MadamDelphi would not be kept waiting.

   It wasn't a cold night, but neither was it the height ofsummer and, by the time they started walking down thecarless, people-free Great West Road, it was nearlymidnight.

   Donna was with the Doctor. Wilf and Netty were withthe Carnes boys.

   Wilf tried to keep their flagging spirits up with tales ofhis exploits in the parachute regiment, like he'd done forDonna when she'd been their age, albeit on long car tripsrather than painful hikes across scary cities.

   `Why don't you let these people go home?' the Doctorsuggested, stopping suddenly. `Madam Delphi only wantsme, I'm sure. Look, we're in Chiswick. Let Donna takeWilf and Netty home. And let the boys head off, too.Please?'

   The Greek ignored him and kept going.

   `Not that Gramps or I would leave you for a moment,'Donna hissed at him as she walked to catch the Doctor up,`but why do you think they do want all of us?'

   The Doctor looked her in the eye. `Insurance,' he saidsimply. `Threaten to hurt me, no use. Anyway, they needme alive for whatever reason. Threaten to kill you, it'sleverage. Sorry.'

   `Don't be,' Wilf said. `We chose to get involved with

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

all this. I'm proud to stand beside you, Doctor. So are mysoldier boys here.'

    The Carnes lads nodded, Lukas a little moreenthusiastically than Joe, it had to be said.

    The Doctor looked at Netty. She was starting to walkerratically, drifting towards the central reservation ofbushes.

    `It's the exhaustion,' the Doctor said sadly as Wilfheaded over to guide her back to the group. `Her mind'sgoing again like last night.'

    `Then why'd you bring her?' Donna said a little moreaggressively than she'd intended.

    `I didn't expect to be walking,' the Doctor said. `I'msorry.'

    Donna let herself drop back a couple of steps.Something in the Doctor's plan had gone wrong, and hewas actually worried.

    That wasn't a good sign.

    Suddenly a set of headlights flashed ahead of them and,as one, the Doctor's group shielded their eyes. A smallminibus screeched to a halt in front of them.

    `Hey,' Donna yelled. `You gotta help us!'

    The Doctor went to stop Donna, but it didn't matter.The minibus door opened and a woman called out.

    `Hop in, folks,' she said in a cheery Irish accent.`Madam Delphi's waiting.'

    One by one, they piled in.

    `You couldn't have come about three hours ago?' Wilfgrumbled as he helped a confused Netty up the steps intothe vehicle.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    The woman laughed. `I'm Caitlin and, on behalf ofMorganTech, I apologise for your discomfort. But that'snothing to what's coming. And no, Madam Delphibelieves exhausted prisoners are far more malleable thanfit and able ones. The only reason I'm here is it's nearlymidnight. And time's getting on. Hold tight!'

    Caitlin did a U-turn and roared off down the A4,towards the Brentford business area known as the GoldenMile.

    `Here we are,' Caitlin said, slowing down.

    Ahead, Donna saw the Oracle Hotel loom out of thedarkness, lights on in every window.

    `Ha!' the Doctor laughed. `We're going to see theDelphi at the Oracle. Very witty. Not.'

    `It's midnight,' Caitlin announced as she pushed theminibus doors open. `Today is now Monday. The universewill never be the same again.'

    And she smiled.

    And Donna shivered.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

MONDAY

The Doctor, Donna, Wilf and their friends were led up tothe penthouse suite by Caitlin, who kept her hand restingon the butt of a revolver tucked into the waistband of hertrousers.

   As the Irishwoman pushed the penthouse doors open,the Doctor marched in and glanced around. He beganclapping slowly when he saw what was inside.

   `Madam Delphi, I presume?' he said. `Of course.You're not a real person, are you? You're a computer!Well, I say a computer, more of an artificial intelligence,housing an ancient malevolence that should never reallyhave been freed from its dimension. How are you,Mandragora? It's been a few centuries.'

   `This... form is oh-so much more capable than a fleshyhuman body, Doctor,' Madam Delphi said. `As a TimeLord, as someone who can stand so much more spatialand temporal trauma, your body is just what, if you'll

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

excuse the excruciatingly bad pun, the Doctor ordered.'

   The Doctor said nothing.

   `You've heard that one before, haven't you?' MadamDelphi asked.

   The Doctor and Donna now stood at the front of theirexhausted group, Wilf, Netty, Lukas and Joe hovering afew steps behind. Facing them, in a protective circlearound the Madam Delphi computer, were Dara Morgan,Caitlin and the Mandragora converts who had walkedthem there.

   `Oh, hullo,' said the Doctor, as if addressing a meetingof the WI. `This all looks very impressive. Nice room.Nice hotel. Nice gesture.' He pointed to where the oldAmerican lady had raised her arm in the now-recognisableMandragoran position to fire a bolt of lethal Helix energy.`Although a bit unfriendly.'

   `I do apologise. You just can't get the staff,' thecomputer's feminine voiced boomed out from speakersdotted around the room. `Welcome to my hotel. Can Irecommend the gym? Great pool, I understand.'

   `What's the bar like?' Donna asked. `I mean, notexactly five-star without a good bar, is it?'

   `Ah, Donna Noble, welcome to you, as well. I thinkyou'll find we offer four bars, three restaurants and an à lacarte room service 24/7.' Madam Delphi then chuckled.`Gotta say, though, we aspire to a greater recognition thanjust five stars.'

   The Doctor nodded. `Well, I reckon you're looking forabout five million. What do you think, Donna?'

   `Gotta have good service to get five million stars,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Doctor. Do you remember that hotel on Cassius? That wasa proper five-star hotel.'

   `Oh yes!' the Doctor grinned at her. `And theyunderstood customer relations, too. Remember when wehad that little problem with the lizard?'

   `Do you get lizard problems in Brentford, MadamDelphi?' Donna asked. `Cos if there's lizard problems tobe solved, I don't think it's that great a hotel.'

   `The Oracle is--' started Dara Morgan, but MadamDelphi shushed him.

   `The Doctor and his sweet friend are just playing fortime, Dara. Trying to figure out how to stop us, how to getout of the Oracle alive, how to "help" their precious planetEarth.' Madam Delphi took a beat then continued, moresilkily and thus slightly more menacingly. `But you reallyaren't going to stop us, Doctor. I offer no guarantees aboutpeople getting out alive. And, from my perspective,helping Earth is precisely what we are doing.'

   The Doctor walked towards the group, and they parted,almost reverently, so he was now looking straight at thescreens of the computer.

   `Last time we had a chat, I sent you into the darkness,licking your wounds. Remember that?'

   `Of course.' Madam Delphi's sine waves pulsatedferociously. `I have waited so long for a chance to get toyou personally. To make you pay.'

   `Oh, not the old revenge on the poor Time Lordschtick, Mandragora? I mean, you're better than that. Goon, give us a better reason.'

   Madam Delphi giggled. `It's not the first time since

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

1492 that the Mandragora Helix has been to Earth, youknow.'

   `Yup, that I do know. The Sacred Mountain of Xi'an, ifI remember? Then there were the Orphans of the Future,all that white and crimson cowl stuff. Oh and theMandrake nightclub stuff, now that was pretty good, Ihave to say. But each time, it's just been a fragment ofHelix energy, hasn't it, a little sparkler sent out to test thewaters. This time, we've got the whole bonfire. So whynow? Why send me little psychic-paper messages to getme involved, to bring me here... ahhh... Yes, you wantedto get me here. This exact day, this exact time. Why?'

   `The stars are aligned,' Dara Morgan said.

   `I'm talking to Madam Delphi, thank you, not the hiredhelp.'

   `How dare you--' Dara Morgan began.

   `Oh, do belt up,' the Doctor snapped. `I mean, who areyou anyway?'

   `I am Dara Morgan. I set up MorganTech. I created theM-TEK, I devised--'

   `Oh please, you did nothing that the Mandragora Helixdidn't tell you to. No, who are you really? Who did theHelix take, distort, manipulate and totally screw up beforereimagining you as Dara Morgan?'

   `What?'

   `Lukas?' the Doctor barked. `My research assistant,' heexplained quietly to Madam Delphi. `Donna was busy.Family matters.'

   Donna frowned. Not that he was getting Lukas Carnesto do his research, but why he'd said `family matters'. She

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

threw a look at Wilf but he shrugged. Then she glanced atNetty, staring intently at the stand-off before them. WhenDonna looked back at the Doctor, she recognised a look inhis eyes. A look that, if given voice, would have beensome variation on `I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry.'

   `No,' she mouthed. `Don't you dare!' but the Doctor'sattention was back on Dara Morgan.

   `All over the world, Dara Morgan, billions of peoplewill fall victim to this alien consciousness you've givenaccess to the world. And that's going to happen today.'

   `I know,' smiled Dara Morgan. `How brilliant is that?'

   `Well, it's brilliant from the point of view of your M-TEK being a pretty damn brilliant piece of technology,augmented by alien know-how and distributed quitemagnificently to people who, I imagine, had no idea whatit would do to them today.'

   `Not a clue.'

   `There's a lot of blood on your hands, Dara Morgan. IfI were a policeman, I'd have you arrested but, as Lukaswill now explain, that's not possible.'

   `Dara Morgan came to prominence eight years ago,making his first claims about MorganTech on a newsspecial, broadcast live on 31 December 1999.'

   `End of the millennium, neat.'

   `Before that, there's no trace of any such person.MorganTech was registered as a private limited companyat 5.29pm that same day.'

   `So who were you before Mandragora got hold of you?Before reimagining itself as a human, becoming theanagrammatical Dara Morgan?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `Oh, I get it now,' Wilf called out. `That's very clever.'

   `Yes, thank you, Granddad,' Donna hissed. `But let theDoctor focus.'

   Before anyone could stop him, the Doctor put his handsto either side of Dara Morgan's head, fingers pressedagainst his temples and whispered, `Open the lockeddoors, and let yourself out.'

   The assembled acolytes took a step towards the Doctor,and Madam Delphi pulsed menacingly. `Stop him,' shesaid.

   In his mind's eye, the Doctor could see an image. Adark night, cold, damp. He was walking down a lane,hedges high on either side, rain trickling down his neck.

   He shivered. He was angry... No, not angry. Hurt.Bewildered. She'd said no. No to what? Who was she? Inhis hand was a box, soft, velvety. And inside it, yes, hecould imagine it. Silver band, plain diamond. All he hadbeen able to afford. And she'd said no. Said that sheneeded to get away from Derry, wanted to go to Sydney.Or San Diego. Or anywhere other than close to him. Howhad he got her so wrong? How hadn't he seen thiscoming? How was it possible to love someone that much,so that every time she walked into a room, every time shespoke, smiled, laughed, his heart would leap. That justknowing she was in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in thehallway was enough to send those fantastic, amazing,wonderful thoughts rushing through him? Yet when itcame to it, when he'd said `I love you', she'd said shewanted to get away. No `I love you too, but...' No `Thankyou, but I'm sorry.' Just an `Oh my God, are you for real?

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

No, I'm getting away from Ireland as soon as possible. Idon't want to be tied to anything here!'

   It was as if someone had ripped everything out of himthat mattered and walked all over it.

   You're not the first person to fall in love and berejected, he told himself rationally.

   But he didn't want to be rational. What was rationalabout being in love anyway? What was rational aboutoffering yourself up to someone only to be squashed?

   And here he was, lost and alone. Everyone had said shewasn't interested. Everyone had tried to say he waswasting his time. But when you're in love, you grasp atanything, you believe that one day you'll wake up andthey'll say, `You know what, I'm wrong, you're right, youare the person for me.'

   But that hadn't happened.

   It never happened.

   Instead he'd seen the lightning ripping across the nightsky as he stumbled along the road, tears mixing with therain, thinking that all he wanted to do was be home now.

   Home.

   Ten minutes' walk, max.

   More lightning. Blue, white and purple... Purple?

   It struck the ground in front of him, knocking himbackwards.

   He remembered seeing the little box with the ringvanishing in a sudden conflagration, literally andmetaphorically drawing a line under that part of his life.

   He felt as if he were on fire, too. All he could see waspurple light, surrounding him now, blotting out the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

hedges, blotting out the road, the darkness, the rain.

   And then the voice. All around. In his head. Comingfrom the sky and his heart at the same time.

   `It is your time. Callum Fitzhaugh is no longerrelevant. Now you have a greater cause.'

   The voice stayed with him long after the purple fire hadgone, over days and weeks as he willingly gave himself anew purpose.

   The next morning he touched the keypad on acashpoint machine and it spurted out two hundred pounds.Eight more cashpoints that morning. Then more indifferent towns. Then he set up an account. Hemanipulated the online banking, untraceable movementsbecause he fed figures into the computers that erased alltraces of his actions.

   Within three weeks, he was a multimillionaire. He hadbuildings all over the world. He owned companies whichhe then closed or merged and, within a month,MorganTech had come into existence due to themanipulating influence of the voice in his mind that toldhim how to do it.

   Next he had put together the computer system thatwould change his destiny. Somehow the voice guided himas he built Madam Delphi, felt that voice in his headtransfer into the hardware, somehow, creating artificial lifeon a scale unheard of before now.

   `I need you,' the voice had soothed. `Now and for ever.I need a human interface, a connection to the world offlesh and blood. An avatar in reality.'

   So Dara Morgan had been created.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   He remembered coming from a rich family of bankersand investment traders. His parents died in a private planecrash, and MorganTech had passed to him when he wasjust 21.

   He remembered more false memories, events, people,qualifications and parties. None of them real, but eachtime he imagined a part of the fictional history, it cametrue. The voice showed him how a society that relied oncomputers for information, that no longer used paper andink to keep records, could so easily be manipulated inaccepting the history, the lies, the fabrications you told itvia the keyboard were true.

   He remembered the voice telling him how to developthe M-TEK over a few years, so that the market wouldtrust in it. Trust in MorganTech. This was a long game.

   And he remembered seeing her in a street in Dubai oneafternoon.

   She was with a couple of men, going through a sheaf ofdocuments in a roadside café.

   He had listened as the men had explained that theyneeded to think about whatever deal they were doing andmoved away. Then he went to sit beside her.

   She looked up, initially intrigued, then surprised andthen shocked. Eventually she found her voice. `Cal?'

   `Not now,' he said. `Dara Morgan.'

   She laughed, a soft, gorgeous, beautiful laugh thatbrought back all that love he'd felt years earlier.

   But the voice in his head hissed, `No. Remember thering. Remember the tears and the pain. Do not give innow, Dara Morgan.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `You do look like him, Cal,' she said. `What brings youto Dubai?'

   `Mandragora will swallow the skies,' he said. `Let meshow you, Cait.'

   He took her hand, and her eyes flashed with violetMandragora energy. Then she had opened the folders shehad been going over with the businessmen earlier. `Signhere please, Mr Morgan.' And he did, because the voicetold him to.

   Within an hour, MorganTech owned a chain of five-starhotels across the world, and Caitlin had become his firstconvert.

   With a gasp, the Doctor pulled away from DaraMorgan, who immediately collapsed to the floor.

   The whole thing had taken less than a second in realtime but, to the Doctor, it had seemed like for ever.

   He staggered away from Dara Morgan as the rest of theMandrogara-influenced group turned on him, arms raised,ready to deliver the death blast.

   `No!' Madam Delphi's sine waves were bouncing upand down on her screens. `No, I need that body. It's why Ihave waited these long centuries for the Doctor to presenthimself. The last of the Time Lords, possessed byMandragora Helix energy, animated by me!'

   The disciples lowered their arms.

   And little Joe Carnes wrestled away from his brotherand ran to the Doctor. `No,' he yelled. `Leave him alone.'

   Lukas was at his side in a second, and then Donna andWilf were there, too.

   They stood between him and the Mandragora-

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

possessed computer.

   `Yes, thank you all,' the Doctor said. `But not reallynecessary.' He smiled at Madam Delphi. `So what a lot ofchoices. Kids no one would take seriously, an old manwith a heart condition who could drop dead at a moment'snotice, his friend Henrietta, an expert on the stars...'

   He threw a look behind them all, a look only observedby Donna.

   Henrietta Goodhart was still by the door, as if trying tomake sense of what was going on.

   The Doctor was looking at her with a mixture ofsadness and... what was that, Donna wondered. Panic?Desperation? As if he were willing her to say or dosomething?

   But it was no good. Netty wasn't with them at themoment.

   `The lights are on, but no one's driving.' The sort ofthing Donna could imagine her mother saying. A horriblephrase, but one Donna couldn't disagree with right now.And it was as if the Doctor thought Netty had let himdown, somehow.

   `Donna,' the Doctor hissed. `Your mobile. Now.'

   She pushed it into his hand and, keeping an eye onMadam Delphi, he expertly scrolled through her addressbook.

   `Donna?'

   `Yes?'

   `Why isn't your granddad's number in here?'

   `Cos he never turns the bloody thing on. What's thepoint?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `Oh great. Thanks.'

   `Why are you ringing him? He's standing here.'

   `His phone is in Essex. I need to call it.'

   Donna closed her eyes, imagining her fingers on thekeypad and hissed the numbers at him. As she said eachnumber, he pressed the key. When he heard the call gothrough, he hung up.

   `I hope you're right, cos if you're not...'

   `Someone just got a strange call?'

   `And the world will end. But hey-ho, it's been fun.' Hepassed the phone back to her.

   `You won't get him,' her grandfather was saying to thecomputer. `This man is brilliant, he's saved this planet, thewhole universe, probably, more times than we've had hotdinners. You'll have to go through us to get him!'

   God bless Granddad, but Donna seriously doubted thatwas going to stop Madam Delphi. The Doctor neededsomething from Netty, Donna was sure of that. So heneeded to be bought time.

   `You want a body to inhabit that's been round thegalaxy, lady,' she said, `take mine. Oh, I might not havetwo hearts or hair that defies fashion, but this body's seena bit of outer space action.' She pushed the Doctor rightbehind them now, so he was closer to Netty.

   Madam Delphi's screens pulsed again. `Noble byname, noble by nature, is it?'

   `Oh, like I haven't heard that before. One night whenNeal Bailey decided to get frisky at the Odeon, hemuttered in my ear, "Now cracks a noble tart, how about agood night sweet Donna." I clumped him one where it

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

hurts and walked out. Mind you, I reckoned he knew hisShakespeare and should've got Brownie points fororiginality. My dad didn't agree and bopped him on thenose down the pub the next week.' Donna smiled sweetlyat the computer. `Ever had a bloke come on to you? No,course you haven't, cos you're all electrics and wires andstuff. All alone, aintcha? That why you're doing all this, isit? Looking for love? Should've gone for the LonelyHearts angle, instead of the astrology bit.'

   Wilf tugged his granddaughter's arm. `You'll make itcross.'

   `Really, Granddad? That had never occurred to me.'She winked at him. `I know what I'm doing.'

   Madam Delphi pulsed angrily. `Wish I could get myhead around why the Doctor always surrounds himselfwith silly humans. I mean, what purpose do you serve?Other than sacrificial lambs. How many travelled in hisTARDIS before you, Donna Noble? And what happenedto them? I mean, you reckon you're going to travel withhim for ever. You think you're the first to believe that?Course you're not. But you're here and they're not.Wonder what happened to all of them, then?'

   Donna wasn't going to let this get under her skin mainly cos that was a question she'd asked the Doctorbefore and she'd been more than satisfied with hisresponse.

   But it clearly struck a chord with her granddad.`Sweetheart, that's a good question.'

   `Really, it's not right now, is it?' she snapped back.

   `Is there a churchyard with tombstones, all lined up

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

with their names on them, d'you think, Donna?' saidMadam Delphi. `Got a plot of land saved for you, has he?'

   `Maybe,' Donna replied. `I don't much care, to behonest. I live for the here and now. And right here, rightnow, all I can be bothered to worry about is stopping youand your little army of zombies here.'

   `Destroy them,' Madam Delphi said, so matter-of-factly, so casually, that it took Donna a second for it tosink in.

   But sink in it did when the disciples, as one, raisedtheir arms, ready to fire their bolts of energy.

   Nothing happened.

   `Destroy them!' shrieked the computer.

   Still nothing happened.

   `Destroy him,' Madam Delphi demanded, but thedisciples did nothing except frown and look aroundthemselves in surprise. It was as if they'd just awokenfrom a dream.

   `Ah,' said the Doctor, `that'll be me. Well, actually ifI'm being honest, it'll be a lovely lady called Miss Oladini never got her first name, very rude of me. Anyway, she'sjust knocked your alignment off a bit, cancelled out all thepower you have over the descendents of San Martino, enmasse. Clos, kaput.'

   `Finito,' Donna said in a cod Italian accent.

   `And that's not all!'

   Donna looked to her left. Dara Morgan was standing toone side, a laptop in his hands, his fingers flying over thekeys as he typed one-handed. `I've sent out a cancellationsignal via the net to the M-TEKs everywhere. As soon as

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

they are synched with computers, instead of downloadingyour orders, they'll install a virus, which will defrag theplatform, and erase their memories completely.' DaraMorgan tapped the return key one last time. `And I'vepassword protected it.'

    `I'm a megalomaniac supercomputer, linked to billionsof electronic outlets throughout the world, you silly littleman. You really think you've stopped me? I'mdisappointed in you, Dara Morgan.'

    Dara Morgan shrugged. `Stopped you for good? Doubtit, but I've certainly slowed you down, so the signal won'tbe activated in ten minutes. Probably not for a few daysnow plenty of time for the Doctor to stop you.' DaraMorgan smiled. `And my name is Callum Fitzhaugh.'

    A deep electronic sigh came from Madam Delphi.`Caitlin?'

    And the Irish girl, Callum's beloved who had rejectedhim nearly ten years before, drew her revolver from herwaistband and raised it.

    `Caitlin, don't,' Callum yelled. `Fight the Mandragorainfluence. Remember who you really are!'

    Caitlin frowned. `Cal?'

    `Yes, it's me!'

    Caitlin shrugged. `Never liked you then, don't muchlike you now.'

    And she fired one bullet that went through CallumFitzhaugh's brain and out the other side.

    He was dead before he hit the carpeted floor.

    The newly awoken disciples screamed and yelled inconfusion and started to run out of the room.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    `Go with them,' Donna hissed to the Carnes boys. `Getout of here Lukas, you get Joe home. Don't stop runningtill you get there.' She turned to Wilf. `You too.'

    `Blow that, Donna my girl. I'm too old to run and I'mhere with you to the end. Told your father I'd look afteryou, and by God I will.'

    It occurred to Donna that the Caitlin woman could haveopened fire by now, so she looked to see what she wasdoing. She had placed the gun on the desktop and now satfacing Madam Delphi's screens.

    The Doctor walked past Donna, almost incidentallyeasing Netty into Wilf's arms, muttering, `Hold her tight,Wilf. Like your life depends on it.' He then croucheddown beside Caitlin, snaking his hand out for the gun.

    `Take it,' she said quietly. `Callum and I have doneenough damage to warrant what I did.'

    `You were under the control of Mandragora,' theDoctor said. `I broke him free of it, he broke you free.'

    And Caitlin looked him in the eye, a tear rolling downher cheek. `Madam Delphi never controlled me.Mandragora never controlled me, it didn't need to.'

    `Then who told you to shoot Dara Morgan or whateverhis name was?' Donna asked.

    `His mind has been... slipping for days. He wasbeginning to remember things... he was a weak link. I hadto eliminate him.'

    `You had to what? Why? He might have just saved thehuman race! Is that what this has all been about?'

    And Caitlin suddenly looked the Doctor straight in theeye. `I don't know,' she said, a tear starting to well up.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

`What have I become? What has working for this thingdone to me? I just killed someone. Oh my God... I justshot him without thinking.'

   `Bit late for tears, chum,' Donna said. `Working withMandragora, you've probably killed loads of people.'

   `I know,' Caitlin said quietly. `I was out of control,hungry for... for power. I wanted control over my life.'

   `I control everything,' Madam Delphi pulsed back.`Including your life!'

   `No you don't, you stupid box of wires. I chose this lifebecause I thought I wanted it. But you know what, I got itwrong.' Her fingers were flying over the keyboard now.`I'm shutting down the wireless, putting up yourfirewalls.'

   `That won't stop me.'

   `No, But it'll isolate you for a bit.' Caitlin looked sadlyat the Doctor. `I've done my bit Mr Time Lord. It's up toyou now.' And she pushed her chair back and knockedinto the Doctor. Apologising, she moved around him andwalked over to Callum's dead body. `We could've had theworld,' she said as she knelt beside him.

   The Doctor tried to make sense of Caitlin's words.Wireless. Firewalls. Pointless things, Madam Delphi was afar more powerful computer than that. He tapped thekeyboard and a blast of purple Mandragora energy nearlytook his fingers off. `Now now, don't get grumpy.'

   `I will still destroy you, Doctor. You will be--' And shefell silent.

   Then he saw what Caitlin had really done. She'd talkednonsense, knowing that Madam Delphi would waste a few

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

subroutines tracking down what she'd claimed to havedone. Having found the firewalls and wireless untouched,the computer was now looking elsewhere. It would keepher silent and occupied for... well, not long, frankly.

   But there was a calculation going on, he could see it onone of the screens, it was like a mini-virus itself, a self-replicating mathematical equation that was using up byteswith each passing second as, by trying to solve theequation, it actually multiplied it. The Doctor grinned.Caitlin was good at what she did, even if it would onlytake Madam Delphi another few seconds to counter it. Heglanced towards Callum's body, expecting to see Caitlin.

   The body was alone.

   The Doctor felt his pockets. The revolver was stillthere. But something else wasn't.

   `Donna,' he hissed. `Donna, I want you to get down tothe lobby. All those people will be confused, disorientated.Half of them might not even speak English for all weknow. They need someone cool and rational to sort themout, explain things to them.'

   `But as no one fitting that description is available,'Donna said, `I'll have to do it.'

   The Doctor grinned at her. `Oh Donna, you're the bestthere is. Now, off you go no, not you, Wilf. You andNetty stay here.'

   `Why can't they come with me?' Donna asked sharply.

   `Family matters,' the Doctor said. `Trust me, they'llboth be downstairs safe and sound with me in a fewminutes.'

   `But...'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Wilf stepped up to the plate. `Go on, Donna, don'targue with the man. When's he ever let you down?'

   Donna went.

   `Might not have been the best choice of words,Wilfred.'

   `You ever let her down, Doctor?'

   `Well...' the Doctor considered. `No, actually, but it'sbeen close once or twice.'

   `Cos if I ever thought you'd let my little girl down,you'd have me to answer to.'

   Their eyes met, across the room and, for the tiniestsecond, a fragment of eternity, the Doctor knew never,ever to let Donna Noble down.

   `I won't,' he said. `In fact, Wilf, I should say "we"won't, cos you're important right now. To Donna. To me.To the whole wide world. And most of all, to HenriettaGoodhart.' He suddenly stood up. `Don't do it, Caitlin.'

   Wilf realised the Irish girl was over by a wall, next to ajunction box, holding a silver pen. With a blue tip that wasglowing. `What's she up to, then?'

   `You don't know how to use it, Caitlin,' the Doctor saidslowly. `And Madam Delphi's gonna be up and runningagain in a second. She'll stop you.'

   `Let her try,' Caitlin said. `And you're right, I don'tknow how to use it, but I reckon if I push this, twist thatand shove it all in there...'

   `Cait, no!'

   It was too late. As the sonic screwdriver suddenlyshrieked with power, too much power, mishandled, usedby untrained hands, Caitlin shoved it into the now-

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

exposed junction box, and right into the fibre-optic cablesthat Johnnie Bates had died linking up only a few daysearlier.

   There was a flash of purple fire and Caitlin was gone,reduced to atoms along with a chunk of the wall, thecabling and the Doctor's sonic screwdriver.

   `Right idea,' the Doctor said mournfully, `but there hadto be a better way.'

   `That computer's gone off,' Wilf said.

   The Doctor looked at the screens, and dived down toexamine the server. `Dead as a doornail,' he confirmed.

   `We won?'

   `Oh, not at all.' The Doctor looked at Wilf. `I lied toDonna,' he confessed.

   `I know,' Wilf said. `But you made sure she was safe.Thank you.'

   `Caitlin cut off the Mandragora energy from thecomputer. To all intents and purposes, Madam Delphi isgone. Erased. Destroyed.'

   `But that Mandragora energy stuff, it's still there, isn'tit?'

   `Trapped.'

   `Where?'

   `In this room. And right now, it's looking for a newhome. I reckon we've got about three minutes.'

   `It won't choose me, that's why you kept me here. Iheard what you said. I have a heart condition. I'm gonnadie.'

   `What?' The Doctor frowned, then remembered whathe said earlier to Madam Delphi. `Wilfred, I have no idea

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

about the condition of your heart one way or another.You've could have a couple more decades in you at least,for all I know. I was just saying that because well,doesn't matter right now.' He glanced at the missingchunk of wall where Caitlin had been standing. `Now, Idoubt it can bring back the dead, so I'm hoping it goes forthe easiest target, the path of least resistance.'

    Wilf followed the Doctor's point of view to Netty,stood smiling serenely beside him.

    `No...'

    `It's the most likely vessel.'

    Wilf was shaking with sadness. `But it's my Netty. Wewere going to see the world, go on a cruise, do SouthAmerica, Canada, the Indian Ocean. Doctor, she's my life.I never thought anyone could replace my wife, God resther soul, but Netty Goodhart came along and showed methat there's more to living than sitting in a vegetable patchlistening to Dusty Springfield. I can't lose her. I can't loseanother lady from my life. I love her!'

    `I know you do, and I'm really sorry to ask this of her,but I have to.'

    `You can't ask her, she's... she's shut off right now. It'sthe illness, the dementia. She can't speak for herself.'

    The Doctor reached into his pocket and took out apiece of paper.

    Wilf looked at it.

    My Darling Wilfred.

    You told me once you trusted the Doctor with Donna'slife. Now trust him with mine. I don't know what he'sgoing to do, nor what state I'll be in when he does it, but if

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

you trust him, that's good enough for me.

   HG

   `It's your special paper,' Wilf said. `Shows me what Iwant to see. Donna told me about it, ages ago.'

   The Doctor mouthed a silent `oh thank you very much,Donna', then produced his leather wallet with the realpsychic paper in it. `No, Wilfred, the letter's genuine.When we were at that burger place I explained to Nettywhat might be needed. Why she was a potential target anda potential--'

   The Doctor broke off, and Wilf saw a momentarypurple flash of fire shoot through his eyes. He thenscrewed them tight and opened them again. Brown. Asalways.

   The Doctor blew air out of his cheeks. `That wasn'tfun, but it won't try me again.'

   `No need,' said Henrietta Goodhart, quietly but with afamiliar menace to her tone. `I have a new home. A newbody. One that can move, and talk, and feel.'

   `Get out of my lady-friend,' Wilf snapped.

   Netty just laughed. `You poor pathetic deluded man.This is my vessel now. Mandragora lives. I shall reigndown destruction upon this world, I shall have myrevenge. This entire cosmos will fall into ruin and chaosand I shall feed off it for centuries. Beautiful chaos!'

   Wilf took a step towards Netty, but the Doctor pulledhim back, gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.

   `Wait.' The Doctor looked over at the burnt wall whereCaitlin had died. Then at the computer, now useless anddead. At Callum Fitzhaugh's body, so consumed by rage

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

and despair once upon a time, he had given succour to auniversal blight that was about to destroy Earth, given achance. And at Henrietta Goodhart's body, inhabited nowby an alien power so great, it had survived since the DarkTimes and was now ready to wreak a wave of annihilationacross the known galaxies.

   Unless he had got his calculations right.

   Netty walked around the room, as if nothing werewrong with her, a strong, fit woman in her late sixties,who should have been yomping across the YorkshireDales or sunning herself on a Caribbean cruise, WilfredMott as her companion, at her side.

   Instead, she coughed. She staggered.

   Wilf went to help, but the Doctor yanked him back.`I'm sorry, I can't begin to imagine how hard this is foryou,' the Doctor told him, `but you have to let it play out.'

   Netty, or rather the alien life force currently inhabitingher mind and body, grinned at them. It was a grin neitherof them liked much. It twisted Netty's face in a way thatdemonstrated absolutely that this was not Netty at all.`Thank you, Doctor,' she gloated. `You have given me awhole new lease of life. I always knew the computer wasa means to an end, that one day the right host would comealong. Having studied this ridiculous planet, I'd ratherhoped it'd be a young, sexy, male body. Like a TV soapstar or a sportsman. But hey, little old ladies will do fornow. When this one is burned up, I'll move on to another.'

   `Burned up?' Wilf looked at the Doctor, but the TimeLord's gaze was firmly fixed on Netty. Whether this wasfor a reason other than not being able to deal with Wilf's

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

accusatory stare, Wilf had no idea.

   `Oh, didn't your alien mate here tell you about that sideof things? I wonder if he told Henrietta Goodhart when hemade the deal with her. You see, Wilf I may call youWilf, mayn't I? Only Netty is terribly fond of you, and Ithink it makes things easier if we communicate casually.Mr Mott is terribly formal.' The rictus grin got wider.`Anyway, the human body can only withstandMandragora energy for a short time before it evaporatesand I have to find a new repository. Ultimately, it will bethe Doctor.'

   `Will it? Oh joy.'

   `You know it will.'

   `But you need to weaken my defences first, of course.Batter me down, break my spirit. How're you going to dothat, then?'

   Netty laughed it was a sound utterly devoid ofwarmth or genuine mirth. `By destroying everyone youknow.'

   She suddenly looked unsteady on her feet, and reachedout to Wilf for support. He was about to supply it whenthe Doctor bounded across the room, knocking Wilf's armaway.

   `Oi!'

   `Oh, don't you start,' the Doctor muttered. `Let herstand on her own two feet.'

   Netty was steady again. `Starting with this old manwith the bad heart.'

   Wilf was about to speak and then it dawned on himwhy the Doctor had made up the stuff about his heart.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

He'd wanted it to take Netty's body, not Wilf's.

     Why?

     `Once upon a time, Doctor, we saw this world as athreat, it had so much potential. We tried to stop itdeveloping, hold back its early sciences. But look at itnow! We were wrong, we should have encouraged itfurther. It has the ability to communicate. With one tinycomputer virus, Mandragora can touch the world. Thereare almost seven billion people on Earth, Doctor. In acouple of years, two billion homes will have a personalcomputer within them, accessed on average by threepeople. Add to that infiltration into the workplace and itwill take Mandragora less than an hour to effectivelydominate the majority of people in this planet, to usehuman technology to spread Mandragora across thegalaxy far more efficiently than I can do it alone. Intwenty years, I could have humanity building farms onMars. In a hundred years' time, we could colonise AlphaCentauri. A new Mandragoran Empire, combining Helixenergy, human physicality and communications science.And then... then...'

     `It's impressive, I'll grant you. Then what?'

     `What does any species do? It flourishes, it dominatesit... sort of... keeps going.'

     `Oh, "sort of keeps going", that's very scientific.' TheDoctor sat on the chair in front of the now useless MadamDelphi set-up. `And? Tell me more of your plans. Wilfredhere is desperate to know. So am I. And Donna, she's justoutside the door hello, Donna, come back in I'm sureshe wants to know, too.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Donna showed herself. `I thought I could be more helpup here. All those weirdos, I ushered into the staffrestaurant, told 'em I'd be back in a minute.'

   `Umm, Donna,' the Doctor cautioned, `what's to stopthem running away?'

   Donna held up a little silver key and waved it in frontof his nose. `Cos I'm brilliant and locked 'em in.' Shegrinned. `Oh, but I sent the Carnes boys home.'

   `Good, good. Mandragora here was just telling me howhe/she/it is going to create a whole new empire. Like theByzantine Empire, or, um, what was that other one?Greek? No... Oh, what was it?'

   Donna opened her mouth to suggest `Roman' but theDoctor stopped her.

   `Now, now, Donna, let Mandragora work it out. Comeon, you've got all that information at your fingertips,what's the empire I'm thinking of? Something to do with aDecline and a Fall, wasn't it?'

   Netty/Mandragora paused. Then: `Roman. The RomanEmpire.'

   `Oh yes, very good. How many billions of computersare there on Earth now? What was the market infiltrationof the M-TEK, by the way?'

   Netty/Mandragora frowned, and turned to Donna'sgranddad. `Wilf? Help me...'

   `Netty...?'

   `No, Wilfred,' the Doctor said loudly, his voicesuddenly like a gunshot. `Sit down, leave Netty to work itout. Now!'

   And Wilf settled next to Donna, on the floor.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    `Where is Mandragora from?'

    Netty/Mandragora smiled. `A nebula, Doctor. Weescaped the Dark Times and created a new home in theheart of beautiful chaos.'

    `Of course you did. What was it called?'

    `The...    it    was...    I     can't    remember...'Netty/Mandragora staggered slightly. `We can'tremember...'

    `Come on, focus,' the Doctor yelled suddenly, and hewas up, circling Netty/Mandragora, firing questions as hewalked around.

    `Tell me the speed of light? How many years did theCarrionite-Eternals war rage? Where is the home world ofthe Judoon? What's the Twenty-Third Convention of theShadow         Proclamation?       Who        won        theBendrome/Sendrome War? How many beans make five?Come on, come on...' he clicked his fingers impatiently. `Imean, you can hardly take over the universe if you can'tthink for yourself, can you?'

    `Give me a moment...' Netty/Mandragora spat.

    `Give you a moment? Well, I could give you a moment,I s'pose, I mean, I'd give Henrietta Goodhart a moment ortwo happily, because she's not well, is she? Oh, didn't yourealise? Hadn't you sussed that bit out?' And the Doctorroughly grabbed Netty's shoulders and swung her roundso they were face to face, noses almost touching. `You'vetaken on the body of a rather amazing lady, Mandragora,and you've locked yourself away in her mind, spreadingout into her synapses and everything. Trouble is, thesynapses are failing her. Each and every day the neurons

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

and synapses in her cerebral cortex are atrophying. Andyou're speeding the process up in your hurry toacclimatise yourself and, sadly, you're already breakingup. I mean you can't think of words that's a touch ofparaphasia coming on. Unsteady on your feet? Well, Ithink that's apraxia. Temporal lobe, parietal lobe, decayingaround you.'

   `You... you did something... tricked... you trickedme...'

   `Well... yes, I think I did. And the more you fight it,the more Mandragora energy you spend trying to repairthose bits of brain, the more you're actually losingyourself, because this lady has Moderate Alzheimer's andthat's not curable, even by you.'

   `Then I shall, you know, change... move, swap bodieswith... I shall...'

   `Yes? What? What will you do? Go on, tell me.'

   Donna joined in. `Or you could tell us all about thestars, all those marvellous constellations, all the thingsthat Netty knows about. Tell us where the Dog Star is? Orhow to find the Big Dipper. What direction will I seeVenus in at this time of year?'

   Wilf grabbed Donna's arm. `Stop it, Donna, you'reconfusing her.'

   `That's the idea,' she told him. `That's what theDoctor's doing this for, speeding up the confusion.'

   `But it's Netty... you're hurting Netty!'

   Wilf couldn't move. He knew that Donna and theDoctor knew what they were doing, but it didn't stop himwanting them to stop. Wanting to do anything other than

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

have Netty used and abused in this way. But he didn't.Because, as he'd once read in a newspaper advice column,`sometimes the greatest good can come out of the smallestpain.' Actually it had probably said `life's full of hardknocks', but that was how he'd chosen to interpret it.

    He just hated it.

    For one teeny tiny second, he almost hated the Doctorand Donna for doing it so... easily.

    And then he made a decision.

    `When the stars begin to fall,' he began to sing quietly,`Oh Lord! What a morning. Oh Lord! What a morning...'His voice cracked slightly, so he cleared his throat andbegan again. `When the stars begin to fall, Oh Lord! Whata morning. Oh Lord! What a morning. When the starsbegin to fall...'

    Gently, quietly, Netty's voice responded. `Oh sinner,what will you do, when the stars begin to fall... Oh Lord!What a morning...'

    Wilf reached out and took her hand, trying to hide histears as he did so.

    This time the Doctor didn't pull him away. Wilf startedslow, stumbling dance steps with Netty, as the two of themsang quietly together the song that she so loved.

    The Doctor eased Donna back. `It's up to yourgranddad now,' he whispered.

    `D'you remember where we first heard this song?' Wilfsaid to Netty as they danced. `Who sang it? What was thename of the man who brought us dinner? Can youremember the car, all silver and shining? And was that thefirst time you'd ever been driven in a Rolls Royce? And

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

what I said at the end, as we drove through the streets,looking up at that clear, beautiful sky? And can you--'

   `I... I can't... I can't remember... I am Mandr...Mandragora... I will rule the universe... somehow... Ican't...'

   `You are Henrietta Goodhart,' Wilf said gently. `Andyou are ill, so terribly, terribly ill, and I'm so scared I'mgonna lose you and I don't want to lose you. Please stay.'

   `Wilfred?'

   The Doctor and Donna immediately perked up as Nettyspoke his name.

   `You're Wilfred... and I'm Netty... no, I'm theMandragora Helix, and I... Oh Lord! What a morning...'

   Wilf pulled her tightly to him, and hugged her morethan he had ever hugged anyone since his beloved Eileenhad passed away. `Oh sinner, what will you do,' he sangback.

   `My head... I don't understand... I can't rememberanything...' Netty pushed him away. `Why can't Iremember? It's not fair... It's not fair! I can't rememberanything... it's not fair!!'

   Netty's head dropped backwards and she looked up atthe ceiling, bringing both her hands up to point in thedirection she was looking. The others watched asscreaming purple, blue, red light roared from her body,utterly vaporising a space in the ceiling as the Mandragoraenergy erupted from Netty's human form and streaked upinto the sky.

   Then the noise and light cut off.

   Mandragora was gone.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Netty's hands fell limply to her sides, and her headlolled forward.

   Wilf went to catch her, but Netty just shook herself andlooked up at him, a huge smile of recognition on her face.

   `Wilfred?' She looked around the hotel penthouse, sawthe perfect hole in the ceiling, then spotted the Doctor andDonna.

   `Blimey O'Reilly,' she said. `Have I been Sundowningagain? Where on earth have I wandered off to this time?'

   `You, Henrietta Goodhart,' the Doctor smiled, `justsaved planet Earth. You're brilliant.'

   Donna nudged him. `Yeah. And you're not so uselessyourself, spaceman.'

   A hundred miles. A thousand miles. A million miles.Moving almost at the speed of thought, the fractured,disembodied Mandragora Helix shot across the universe,screaming inside, its mind falling apart, trying to find itsway home.

   But where was home? Surely it was... No, it was...Where was home? Where was here?

   Who am I? What am I? Why am I?

   Who... what... where... how...

   I think therefore I am...

   I think therefore...

   I think...

   I...

   What is `I'...

   Nothing...

   `I' is nothing...

   I...

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   I...

   i...

   ...

   ..

   .

   In the canteen, Donna had taken charge, and she soonhad everyone relaxed and sorted out, which was a relieffor the Doctor she was much better at this humantouchy-feely stuff than him. More importantly right now,she could lie far more convincingly, tell them it'd all beenpart of a computer virus sent out by MorganTech and thatthey could go back home as soon as it was daylight.

   The Doctor had made a couple of quick calls to peoplehe knew in high places (or maybe low ones) andannounced that someone would be arriving very soon togive everyone air tickets and first-class reservations towherever they wanted to go.

   `This is England,' the old American man had muttered.`I always wanted to come to England. How on earth did Iget here?'

   The Doctor couldn't answer that one but instead fobbedhim and his lovely wife off by saying he'd arranged forthem to stay in a hotel (not this one, thank God) in thecentre of town, and they had a seven-day pass to explorethe city. `Take the train out, go visit Bath, or Warwick orthe Isle of Wight.'

   `Or Hull,' Donna had added.

   `Donna, why would they want to go to Hull? What's inHull that they could possibly want to see?'

   `I dunno,' she said. `I've never been to Hull. But I

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

always thought it sounded interesting.'

   `Hull's lovely,' Wilf joined in. `Went there for a longweekend once, to see a match. Went out on a boat.'

   The Doctor gave in. `All right,' he said to theAmericans. `Go to Hull, too. It has boats. Apparently.'

   The elderly couple went off muttering about Hull, andthe Doctor turned his attention to the students. Three guysand a girl.

   `What happened to the Professor?' asked the girl.

   The two guys at the back (oh, so a couple, Donnadecided) nodded, but the other man looked downcast. `Hedied, didn't he?'

   The Doctor nodded. `Italian man? Yes, I'm sorry.'

   The students all stared at each other. `I don't see anypoint in going back to Italy.'

   `I do,' said the smaller guy at the back, looking at theother.

   Ahhh, thought Donna.

   `We should at least tie up loose ends out there,' thethird guy said.

   And the group wandered off, muttering together.

   The Greek man was apologetic, saying he had norecollection of what he'd done, but guessed it hadn't beengood. The Doctor explained it wasn't his fault and that heshould go back to his family and forget about London.The man wandered off, muttering.

   `Suppose he did something back in Greece? Supposeany of them did? Or all of them?' Donna said.

   `I can't sort everything out, Donna.' He sighed. `Wecan only hope that whatever has happened in their pasts, if

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

anything, they can come to terms with it. And they'reunlikely to actually remember.'

   `You're thinking of your friend at Copernicus, aren'tyou?'

   `One of them killed him. Broke his neck. Our Greekfriend seems the most likely, but I'm not a policeman. AndI can't prove anything.'

   Donna pondered on the morality of it when her mobilephone bleeped. A text.

   `Miss Oladini,' Donna waved her mobile at him. Sheread the text.

   `Is she all right?' the Doctor asked.

   `She's ecstatic. What did you do?'

   `Dunno what you mean.'

   `Doctor?'

   `Well, perhaps while I was sorting things out withUNIT for that lot, I may possibly have mentioned howindebted we all were to her, too.'

   `She says here,' Donna smiled, `that she's had hervisitor's status upgraded and can now come and go as shepleases. No more hiding. Oh, and she also says to tell youshe has a cat called Dolly, and that you know what thatmeans.'

   The Doctor beamed. `Good for them both.'

   `Thought you didn't like cats much?'

   `I always liked Dolly. And she deserves a good home.'

   `Doctor? How many other people did Madam Delphiuse and then chuck away?'

   `Mankind were just tools to the Helix, tools to be usedand abandoned.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `Like Netty?'

   The Doctor visibly winced.

   `I'm sorry,' Donna said. `That was below the belt.'

   The Doctor looked at his friend. `But true, and honest. Ihad to take the risk, Donna. Once, I might've done it withless conscience.'

   `My God,' Donna said in mock horror. `What have Idone to you?'

   The Doctor was serious. He took her hands in his.`Made me a better person.'

   Donna pulled her hands away, resorting, as always, toher standard jokes. `Now then, don't touch what you can'tafford, spaceman.'

   They watched as Wilf and Netty started walkingtowards the main reception area. `Let's get them back toyour mum, eh?'

   Donna nodded. `You coming too, then? I mean, youknow what she's like.'

   The Doctor nodded. `Yeah. An older version of herdaughter.'

   `Oi!' Donna laughed and linked arms with the Doctor.`Come on, spaceman. You've stared down Sontarans,Pyroviles and the Fishmen of Kandalinga. I don't reallythink my mum's that scary.'

   `You don't?'

   `Nah. Unless it's Monday. Mondays, she gets one ofher 'mares on. Is today Monday?'

   `Today is indeed Monday.'

   Donna held him a bit tighter. `My turn to protect youthen, eh?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

FRIDAY

A few days later, and mankind had, as it always did, copedand moved on. MorganTech had officially crashed andburned, it's CEO and executive staff declared bankrupt inabsentia.

   The M-TEKs had been recalled and destroyed and awarrant was sent out for the arrest of Dara Morgan, untilthe truth was established about his identity (or at least thefact that he wasn't Dara Morgan), at which point thewhole MorganTech affair came under the jurisdiction ofUNIT and vanished from public view. The peopleguarding the craters had woken up, completely baffled asto why they were there. They were arrested, but would nodoubt all be freed once UNIT got involved.

   The Noble family were heading to the RPS Wilf wasfinally getting his dinner and the Naming Honour. Nettywas with them, bustling around with Sylvia, getting ready,trying on hats with alarmingly larger feathers and

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

laughing at silly little things along with Donna's mum.

   Wilf and the Doctor had sensibly escaped to the backgarden, drinking tea and discussing in hushed tones theDoctor's various adventures with `the outer space robotpeople', with each tale usually ending in uproariouslyraucous laughter.

   Donna wandered through the patio doors to hush them.`You'll have Mum wondering what you're talking about,and then the game's up.'

   `Not gonna tell her the truth, then?' The Doctor raisedan eyebrow at both of them.

   A quick look shot between grandfather andgranddaughter, followed in unison by `Are you mad?'

   `She'd definitely kill you this time,' Donna said.

   `After killing me for keeping secrets,' Wilf agreed.

   The Doctor shrugged and changed the subject. `So,tonight's little shindig. What time are you heading off?'

   `We are heading off at seven,' Donna said.

   The Doctor opened his mouth to protest, to say the lastthing he wanted was another RPS dinner, another chanceto be pooh-poohed by Doctor Crossland or get into a long,dreary, conversation with Ariadne Holt about finger-painting or her terrifying lack of sartorial elegance.

   `Brilliant,' he said unenthusiastically. `I may need tonip back to the TARDIS to, um, change my suit.'

   Donna shook her head. `You are staying right here,Sonny Jim.'

   `Here?'

   `Here.'

   `No TARDIS? No suit?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `No TARDIS, no suit, no emergency calls fromPrincess Leia suggesting you're her only hope.' Donnaswept up the tea mugs. `More tea?'

   The Doctor nodded.

   Sylvia emerged, phone to her ear. `Really?' she wassaying. `Well it must've been stolen in all that kerfufflewith the lights and everything... Oh, right. Well that's abit dodgy, hoping someone will steal your van for theinsurance. Oh well, all right, I'll see you later. Bye, love.'She switched the phone off. `Mr Webb's blue Transit gotstolen turns out he wanted it to go, left the keys in it andeverything, so he could claim the insurance. Apparently itturned up, burned out, somewhere in the East End. Idunno, some people...' She had something else in herhands and she dropped it in front of Wilf.

   It was the pile of pamphlets for the nursing homes, tornin half. `I think Netty should move in here. With us.' Shetouched Wilf's cheek. `With you.'

   Wilf stood up and hugged his daughter.

   `No,' said Netty from behind them all, lookingmagnificent in her latest hat. `My mind is clearer now forthe first time in ages. But I can't move in here, Sylvia.'

   `Why not?' asked Wilf.

   `Oh, you dear, sweet man,' Netty winked at him. `Youmake me so happy, but I'm not a fool. It'd be good to staywith you while I'm compos mentis. But if...when I slideagain, you two aren't equipped to deal with me. Thestrain, the pressure, it's not fair on you. On either of you.'

   She scooped up the ripped pamphlets. `If it's all rightwith you both, though, I could do with a lift to some of

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

these, see if we can't find one we all like.'

    Sylvia touched Netty's arm. `That's a huge decision,'she said. `Are you sure, because I wasn't just saying whatI said to be nice. I think you should be here, part of thefamily.'

    Netty looked at the Doctor. `What do you think,Doctor?'

    The Doctor looked at Sylvia, then Donna, then Wilf.Then finally back at Netty. `I think, Henrietta Goodhart,that you are a wise, sensible, strong lady who knows herown mind better than we all realised and will do what'sright.' He swiped the tea mugs from Donna's hands. `AndI'm not family, and I really want to bow out of thisconversation gracefully, so I'll go and put the kettle on.'

    He quickly walked back into the house, washed out themugs and filled the kettle, looking out of the kitchenwindow at the group in the garden and smiled to himself.

    `Chicken,' said a quiet voice in the doorway.

    `It's your mum and granddad's life, Donna,' he said.`Not anything to do with me. Families. So not my thing.'

    Donna joined him by the sink, looking out of thewindow. `She seems so... in control now. So...'

    `Normal?'

    `Well, I might not have used that word exactly, butyeah.'

    `It won't last.'

    Donna didn't look at him. `Why not? Maybe storing allthat Mandragora energy cleared her neural wotnots, sortedit all out.'

    `It's at least second-stage Alzheimer's, Donna. That's

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

decay,' he replied quietly. `It doesn't get better, it mostlygets worse. There's no miracle cure, I'm afraid, no magicsolution for Netty. Her mind is a bit like a car windscreen.In some respects, the Mandragora Helix was the carwash,cleaning it up for a while. But it won't be long before allthe dirt and insects and dust and scratches come back. I'msorry.'

   `It's so wrong.'

   `Yup, it is. But life is never as convenient as we'd like.There's a million ailments, illnesses and diseases in theuniverse. If I believed something as malign asMandragora could erase just one of them, I'd let it. I'dhave allowed it to remain, doing some good. But there'snever any miracle cures for things like that. Life's not likethat. But it shouldn't stop people looking because one day,they will find an answer.'

   `And that'd mean you were wrong.'

   The Doctor laughed. `Yup. It happens sometimes. Andsometimes I like it. I wish I could find a way to help her,but I can't.'

   `What about Granddad?'

   `He's a grown man. He's made a rational, adultdecision to look after her for as long as he can. Thatmakes Wilfred Mott a Very Good Man in my book.'

   `Mine too.'

   `Perhaps we should stay for a while, help Netty getsettled in somewhere. You could spend some qualityfamily time with your mum?'

   Donna shook her head. `We're fine at the moment.Another week, we'd be under each other's feet, fighting,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

yelling, sniping.'

    Through the window, out in the garden, they watchedSylvia and Netty going through the brochures.

    `Where's that tea, then, eh?' said Wilf from behind theDoctor and Donna.

    `Granddad,' Donna said suddenly. `Maybe I should putyou and Mum first. Perhaps I should stick around, helpyou out with Netty.' She looked at the Doctor. `Godknows, I'd miss you and all... that...' She pointed towardsthe sky. `But maybe it's time to grow up a bit.'

    Wilf hugged Donna. `Sweetheart, what makes youhappy?'

    Without missing a beat, Donna looked at the Doctor.

    `And you think I'd be happy knowing I wasresponsible for you giving all that up? Think Nettywould?'

    `But you and Mum, you need me...'

    `Maybe, but we've managed OK for a while now. I'drather know you were out there with the Doctor, doing toother planets and people what you did for Earth the otherday.'

    `And Netty?'

    Wilf smiled sadly. `She's ill, and eventually she'll go.So will I. And your Mum. And none of us will have seenand done all the marvellous and thrilling things you have.All them memories you'll have. Netty's illness could takeher in five years or next Thursday. She could also walk infront of the Number 18 to Kew Gardens. I won't let herillness, or our sadness at you not being around, stop youliving the life you've chosen. Out there. With him.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    The Doctor put an arm around Donna. `I'll look afterher.'

    `Too right you will, mate, or there'll be trouble,remember?' Wilf switched the kettle off as it began toboil. `Listen, I promise me, your mum and Netty we'llstill be here next time you visit. I'm not letting Netty goanywhere, someone's gotta keep me on the straight andnarrow.' Wilf began making the tea. `You're a smashinglady, Donna Noble,' he said. `And I'm proud to know youand love you.' He kissed her cheek. `Now, go call a cab,I'm not risking your mum's driving after she's had acouple of sherries tonight.'

    He passed a mug of tea to them both, and raised his in atoast.

    `To family. And bonds that can never be broken.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

ONE DAY ... (Reprise)

It was raining up on the hill, the steady patter-patter-patterhitting the vast golfing umbrella like bullets on tin. Truthbe told, it was raining everywhere, but up on the hill, herein the allotment, that was the only place Wilfred Mottreally cared about it raining right now.

   He stared up at the stars, up at his star, still there, nolonger heralding the destruction of Earth, humanity oranybody.

   Not even Netty.

   `How was she?' he said, hearing footsteps trudgingthrough the soggy allotment behind him.

   Sylvia sat beside him, gripping his thermos, testing tosee how warm the tea inside was. `I should've broughtyou up another one,' she said. `We didn't go to see her.Donna's out with Susie Mair, and I couldn't face it.'

   Wilf looked at his daughter. There was something...

   She was holding an envelope out to him.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    `Bit late for the post, darlin',' he said.

    Sylvia didn't say anything, she just waggled theenvelope at him.

    Wilf took it. No stamp, hand delivered, addressed toMUM.

    `Lukas Carnes delivered it this afternoon. He said shetold him to do it six weeks after he last saw Donna, nomatter what.'

    `Did Donna see him?'

    Sylvia shook her head. `She was upstairs on the net.Didn't even hear the bell. Lukas lives in Reading now. Ithink the Doctor must've sorted it for them. Lukas thinksshe's still...' Sylvia pointed to the stars. `He thinks she'sstill out there, with him. No reason to spoil his dreams, isthere?'

    Wilf gave his daughter a hug. `We'll get through allthis, love.'

    `We have to, don't we? For Donna, I mean.'

    `And for the Doctor.'

    `Who looks out for us now, Dad?' Sylvia suddenly said.`I mean, I never liked the man, but even I know when I'mwrong. He saved the world, he made Donna happy. Hekept us alive more than once. But if she's not with him,his link to this planet, what makes him come back here, tocare about us?'

    `Because he's good like that,' Wilf said. `Because he'sthe Doctor and when we need him, he'll be there. It's whathe does.'

    `But what if he isn't? I mean, I felt safe before. I didn'tknow about Sontarans and Mandragora and Daleks. Not

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

knowing kept us all safe. But now we all know theuniverse is so much bigger than us. Than you, or me. Oreven Donna.'

    Wilf looked up at the stars again, just in case thatmarvellous old TARDIS flew past.

    Nothing.

    `Well, there'll always be someone.'

    He opened the letter.

    Sylvia stood up. `I'll go get you another thermos, OK.Back soon.' And Sylvia reached down to kiss his cheek,but instead gave him a massive, and frankly too tight, hug.`I love you, Dad,' she said quietly.

    Then she was gone.

    Donna wasn't the only one the Doctor had changed,Wilf thought a little sadly and, at the same time, a littlehappily. Sylvia Noble was a more stable person, all told,these days. So what was in this letter that had made herso... touchy-feely tonight, then?

    He reached into his bag and got out a little halogentorch he used to read his astrology books by when he wasout at night.

    He recognised the writing, of course.

    Donna's.

    His lovely, clever, brave, beautiful Donna's.

    Dear Mum

    You asked me what I do. What the Doctor and I do.And I lied. I'm sorry. I told you he was a fixer, that wenipped around the country and fixed things. That I was hisPA. Not true. Well, of course it isn't and I'm not sure youbelieved me anyway, you're my old mum, you're sharper

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

than that. Remember what Nanna Mott always said? Youcan't hide secrets, cos there's no such thing. Someonealways knows otherwise who told you the secret in thefirst place? So true.

    Well, a couple of years ago, I was drifting. Job to job,place to place thank God I took that job at H.C.Clements. Thank God I let you nag me into it (even if itwasn't actually the job you wanted me to do) not that Itold you that then of course, oh no. That would've let youoff the hook too easily.

    But I am glad you did, Mum. Cos that's how I met themost fantastic man (and no, not poor Lance. One day,promise, I'll tell you the true story of him).

    I met the Doctor. He's an alien, Mum. But I think youguessed that. I'm not sure why you don't like him much,but I often wonder if it's cos he took me away, and I thinkthere's part of you that can't accept that he's the one whoreally changed me. Made me happy. Made me a betterperson.

    I'm sorry, that came out wrong, I'm not blaming you.You gave me the best life. Really you did. But he showsme there's more.

    You asked how long I plan on staying with him. ForEver. Which, in his line of work, could mean anything. ButI'm not coming home any time soon. I promise I'll visitmore and write more cards. I'll try and phone more often,too. You wouldn't believe what he's done to my mobile makes the rest of them look like tin cans and a bit ofstring.

    No, we're not a `couple' there's nothing romantic in

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

him. He's my friend. He's my best friend. I hope I'mexplaining this to you properly. I couldn't say it to yourface, I had to write it down.

    I was going to do it as a speech but then thought as youlike letters, I'd actually write one. First time I've written aletter that didn't end `yours faithfully' since AuntieMaureen's Christmas blouse. What was I, 14? And youknow how that turned out don't think I've written thismuch since then!

    He looks after me, Mum. You have to trust him. I do.And I hope that if I trust him, you will too. Granddaddoes. He knows and please don't yell at him, it was mewho made him promise not to tell you what we do.Because you'd worry.

    Oh Mum you should see what I see. We've been toplaces, to worlds, to futures and pasts you could onlydream about. I think half of them I dreamed up cos theycan't be real. But they are. And everywhere we go, wemake a difference. We put things right, we make peoplehappier. That's what the Doctor is all about. He finds away for the universe to make sense. And I love him for it.Because he's selfless, and I think that's rubbed off on me abit but clearly not enough because I should've known howmuch you were hurting. I should've known that justcoming home for Dad's anniversary wasn't enough.

    You need me, but he needs me even more.

    And that is awful because I love you, Mum, and notbeing able to be there for you is wrong, but I need you tounderstand the reason I'm not there more often.

    I am going to keep travelling with the Doctor to other

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

planets, other worlds, and meet aliens and stuff, good onesand a few bad ones, because I'm finally living my life. Allthese years, I waited for someone like him and I neverrealised it. But now I know I'm doing the right thing. Ifeel alive.

    And he'll look after me as much as I look after him.Trust me when I say I'm safe and I'll always be safe. Andif anything does happen to me (and it better not cos I'llcome back and haunt his skinny little life for ever) I knowhe won't leave you wondering. He'll tell you no matterhow hard that would be for him. Because he understandsbeing alone and how wrong that is and I don't think mylittle spaceman would wish that on anyone.

    I love you, Mum, and by the time you get this(assuming Lukas does what he's asked) I'll be long goneagain. But that's the joy of being with the Doctor. I couldbe back before you know it. Six weeks might have gonefor me, six minutes for you.

    Take care of Granddad. And that lovely Netty she'sgood for him, and I think you know that now. She's nottrying to be a replacement for Nanna Eileen, she's analternative. And it gives him something else to do otherthan sit in damp allotments all night.

    I love you so much and I'll see you soon.

    D

    xxx

    After reading it twice more, Wilf kissed the signatureand carefully put the letter back in the envelope.

    He thought about the Doctor, what Donna had saidabout loneliness. And remembered that sad so, so sad

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

look on his face in the rain that night.

   He had brought her home. He had faced them, just asDonna had known he would.

   Sylvia had a point, too, though. Without Donna to bringhim back here, what guarantee was there that he wouldsave Earth next time?

   It was too easy to just say `Oh well, someone'll do it'.Maybe someone else had to stand up, and be ready to becounted.

   So Wilf stood up and stared into the stars, feeling therain beat against his face.

   He saluted the night sky.

   `Dunno if you're out there, Doctor, watching over us.But I reckon you are. Because I reckon that's what you dofor everyone, on every world, everywhere. But I think wealso need to learn to stand on our own two feet, too. Nottake you for granted.'

   He wiped rain from his eyes at least, he decided tosay it was rain. If anyone asked.

   And Wilfred Mott glanced back down from theallotment across West London below, lit up at night.

   No aliens seemed to be invading, no supercomputersseemed to be destroying lives.

   And he just thought about friendship.

   `Come back soon, Doctor,' he muttered. `Not just whenwe need you. Pop in for a cuppa one day.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

               Acknowledgements

This book is only in your hands because Justin Richardsand Steve Tribe (editors extraordinaire) worked so hard toget it there. I am very, very grateful to them. More thanthey realise.

Thanks are due to Russell T Davies, who put me on theright path with Donna and Wilf; to Lee Binding for hisinspirational cover; to James North in the Doctor Who ArtDepartment for his research; and the following peoplewho, quite genuinely, kept me sane when I freaked out:John Ainsworth, Edward Russell, Ben Brown, LindseyAlford, Brian Minchin, Darren Scott and most especiallyJoe Lidster.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

              Also available from BBC Books

               featuring the Doctor and Rose

    as played by Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper:

                 THE CLOCKWISE MAN

                   by Justin Richards

                THE MONSTERS INSIDE

                    by Stephen Cole

                  WINNER TAKES ALL

                  by Jacqueline Rayner

                 THE DEVIANT STRAIN

                   by Justin Richards

                      ONLY HUMAN

                     by Gareth Roberts

              THE STEALERS OF DREAMS

                    by Steve Lyons

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

           Also available from BBC Books

           featuring the Doctor and Rose

    as played by David Tennant and Billie Piper:

               THE STONE ROSE

               by Jacqueline Rayner

         THE FEAST OF THE DROWNED

                by Stephen Cole

         THE RESURRECTION CASKET

               by Justin Richards

     THE NIGHTMARE OF BLACK ISLAND

              by Mike Tucker

          THE ART OF DESTRUCTION

               by Stephen Cole

            THE PRICE OF PARADISE

                 by Colin Brake

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

              Also available from BBC Books

             featuring the Doctor and Martha

    as played by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman:

               STING OF THE ZYGONS

                   by Stephen Cole

                  THE LAST DODO

                 by Jacqueline Rayner

                  WOODEN HEART

                   by Martin Day

                 FOREVER AUTUMN

                   by Mark Morris

                   SICK BUILDING

                     by Paul Magrs

                    WETWORLD

                 by Mark Michalowski

                   WISHING WELL

                    by Mark Morris

                 THE PIRATE LOOP

                  by Simon Guerrier

                   PEACEMAKER

                  by James Swallow

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                  Also available from BBC Books:

                    The Encyclopedia

                           by Gary Russell

                       ISBN 978 1 846 07291 8

                               £14.99

                 Do you know what was playing

                      on Cassanda's iPod?

                      What was the name of

                     Shakespeare's lost play?

     Where were the Slitheen planning to hide a tribophysical

            waveform macro-kinetic extrapolator?

      There's no need to search time and space it's all right

    here. From Autons to Anne Droid, from Cat Nuns to Canary

     Wharf, from Plasmavores to Pig Slaves... everything you

    need to know about everything you didn't know you needed

                   to know about Doctor Who.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                    Also available from BBC Books

                   featuring the Doctor and Donna

          as played by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman:

                  Martha in the Mirror

                          by Justin Richards

                        ISBN 978 1 846 07420 2

                    UK £6.99 US $11.99/$14.99 CDN

        Castle Extremis whoever holds it can control the

     provinces either side that have been at war for centuries.

      Now the castle is about to play host to the signing of a

     peace treaty. But as the Doctor and Martha find out, not

                  everyone wants the war to end.

    Who is the strange little girl who haunts the castle? What is

    the secret of the book the Doctor finds, its pages made from

      thin, brittle glass? Who is the hooded figure that watches

     from the shadows? And what is the secret of the legendary

                            Mortal Mirror?

    The Doctor and Martha don't have long to find the answers

     an army is on the march, and the castle will soon be under

                        siege once more...

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                    Also available from BBC Books

                   featuring the Doctor and Donna

          as played by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman:

                         Snow Globe 7

                             by Mike Tucker

                         ISBN 978 1 846 07421 9

                     UK £6.99 US $11.99/$14.99 CDN

           Earth, 2099. Global warming is devastating the

               climate. The polar ice caps are melting.

     In a desperate attempt at preservation, the governments of

       the world have removed vast sections of the Arctic and

    Antarctic and set them inside huge domes across the world.

        The Doctor and Martha arrive in SnowGlobe 7 in the

    Middle East, hoping for peace and relaxation. But they soon

        discover that it's not only ice and snow that has been

                    preserved beneath the Dome.

     While Martha struggles to help with an infection sweeping

    through the Dome, the Doctor discovers an alien threat that

    has lain hidden since the last ice age. A threat that is starting

                               to thaw.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                    Also available from BBC Books

                   featuring the Doctor and Donna

          as played by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman:

                     The Many Hands

                             by Dale Smith

                         ISBN 978 1 846 07422 6

                     UK £6.99 US $11.99/$14.99 CDN

      The Nor' Loch is being filled in. If you ask the soldiers

     there, they'll tell you it's a stinking cesspool that the city

     can do without. But that doesn't explain why the workers

         won't go near the place without an armed guard.

      That doesn't explain why they whisper stories about the

    loch giving up its dead, about the minister who walked into

              his church twelve years after he died...

    It doesn't explain why, as they work, they whisper about a

                       man called the Doctor.

         And about the many hands of Alexander Monro.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                   Also available from BBC Books:

             Starships and Spacestations

                           by Justin Richards

                        ISBN 978 1 84607 423 3

                      £7.99 US $12.99/$15.99 CDN

    The Doctor has his TARDIS to get him from place to place

    and time to time, but the rest of the Universe relies on more

          conventional transport... From the British Space

    Programme of the late twentieth century to Earth's Empire

     in the far future, from the terrifying Dalek Fleet to deadly

     Cyber Ships, this book documents the many starships and

       spacestations that the Doctor and his companions have

                     encountered on their travels.

    He has been held prisoner in space, escaped from the moon,

     witnessed the arrival of the Sycorax and the crash landing

      of a space pig... More than anyone else, the Doctor has

      seen the development of space travel between countless

                                worlds.

     This stunningly illustrated book tells the amazing story of

    Earth's ventures into space, examines the many alien fleets

    who have paid Earth a visit, and explores the other starships

      and spacestations that the Doctor has encountered on his

                            many travels...

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                   Also available from BBC Books

                   featuring the Doctor and Donna

           as played by David Tennant and Catherine Tate:

                       Ghosts of India

                            by Mark Morris

                        ISBN 978 1 846 07559 9

                    UK £6.99 US $11.99/$14.99 CDN

     India in 1947 is a country in the grip of chaos a country

      torn apart by internal strife. When the Doctor and Donna

       arrive in Calcutta, they are instantly swept up in violent

                                  events.

    Barely escaping with their lives, they discover that the city

     is rife with tales of `half-made men', who roam the streets

      at night and steal people away. These creatures, it is said,

    are as white as salt and have only shadows where their eyes

                                should be.

       With help from India's great spiritual leader, Mohandas

         `Mahatma' Gandhi, the Doctor and Donna set out to

                       investigate these rumours.

     What is the real truth behind the `half-made men'? Why is

     Gandhi's role in history under threat? And has an ancient,

     all-powerful god of destruction really come back to wreak

                     his vengeance upon the Earth?

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                  Also available from BBC Books

                  featuring the Doctor and Donna

          as played by David Tennant and Catherine Tate:

                     The Doctor Trap

                        by Simon Messingham

                       ISBN 978 1 846 07558 0

                   UK £6.99 US $11.99/$14.99 CDN

    Sebastiene was perhaps once human. He might look like a

    nineteenth-century nobleman, but in truth he is a ruthless

       hunter. He likes nothing more than luring difficult

    opposition to a planet, then hunting them down for sport.

    And now he's caught them all from Zargregs to Moogs,

                   and even the odd Eternal...

     In fact, Sebastiene is after only one more prize. For this

     trophy, he knows he is going to need help. He's brought

    together the finest hunters in the universe to play the most

       dangerous game for the deadliest quarry of them all.

      They are hunting for the last of the Time Lords the

                             Doctor.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                   Also available from BBC Books

                   featuring the Doctor and Donna

           as played by David Tennant and Catherine Tate:

                     Shining Darkness

                          by Mark Michalowski

                        ISBN 978 1 846 07557 5

                    UK £6.99 US $11.99/$14.99 CDN

     For Donna Noble, the Andromeda galaxy is a long, long

    way from home. But even two and a half million light years

         from Earth, danger lurks around every corner...

      A visit to an art gallery turns into a race across space to

        uncover the secret behind a shadowy organisation.

        From the desert world of Karris to the interplanetary

      scrapyard of Junk, the Doctor and Donna discover that

      appearances can be deceptive, that enemies are lurking

      around every corner and that the centuries-long peace

    between humans and machines may be about to come to an

                               end.

    Because waiting in the wings to bring chaos to the galaxy is

                  the Cult of Shining Darkness.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                   Also available from BBC Books:

           The Time Traveller's Almanac

                            by Steve Tribe

                        ISBN 978 1 846 07572 8

                               £14.99

         Who are the eminent artists of the 16th, 19th or 21st

      centuries? What are the mysteries of Carrionite science?

      Where do the Daleks come from? Answers to all of these

        questions and more are found in The Time Traveller's

            Almanac, the ultimate intergalactic fact-finder.

      The Almanac draws on resources far and wide, from the

       beginning of time to the end of the universe, to provide

         information on key historical events and great lives,

    important issues in science, technology and the arts, and the

                   stories that have defined each era.

         Fully illustrated with photos and artwork, The Time

     Traveller's Almanac provides an essential biography of the

                         Doctor Who universe.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                  Also available from BBC Books

                 featuring the Doctor and Donna

        as played by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman:

                The Story of Martha

                           by Dan Abnett

            with David Roden, Steve Lockley & Paul Lewis,

                 Robert Shearman, and Simon Jowett

                      ISBN 978 1 846 07561 2

                  UK £6.99 US $11.99/$14.99 CDN

     For a year, while the Master ruled over Earth, Martha

     Jones travelled the world telling people stories about

      the Doctor. She told people of how the Doctor has

     saved them before, and how he will save them again.

      This is that story. It tells of Martha's travels from

      her arrival on Earth as the Toclafane attacked and

      decimated the population through to her return to

     Britain to face the Master. It tells how she spread the

     word and told people about the Doctor. The story of

              how she survived that terrible year.

     But it's more than that. This is also a collection of the

    stories she tells the stories of adventures she had with

      the Doctor that we haven't heard about before. The

           stories that inspired and saved the world...

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                Coming Soon from BBC Books

                     featuring the Doctor

                 as played by David Tennant:

                      The Eyeless

                         by Lance Parkin

                     ISBN 978 1 846 07562 9

                 UK £6.99 US $11.99/$14.99 CDN

       At the heart of the ruined city of Arcopolis is the

     Fortress. It's a brutal structure placed here by one of

    the sides in a devastating intergalactic war that's long

    ended. Fifteen years ago, the entire population of the

     planet was killed in an instant by the weapon housed

    deep in the heart of the Fortress. Now only the ghosts

                              remain.

     The Doctor arrives, and determines to fight his way

      past the Fortress's automatic defences and put the

     weapon beyond use. But he soon discovers he's not

    the only person in Arcopolis. What is the true nature

    of the weapon? Is the planet really haunted? Who are

    the Eyeless? And what will happen if they get to the

                 weapon before the Doctor?

    The Doctor has a fight on his hands. And this time he's

                        all on his own.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                Coming Soon from BBC Books

                     featuring the Doctor

                 as played by David Tennant:

            Judgement of the Judoon

                         by Colin Brake

                     ISBN 978 1 846 07639 8

                 UK £6.99 US $11.99/$14.99 CDN

    Elvis the King Spaceport has grown into the sprawling

     city-state of New Memphis an urban jungle, where

       organised crime is rife. But the launch of the new

     Terminal 13 hasn't been as smooth as expected. And

                 things are about to get worse...

    When the Doctor arrives, he finds the whole terminal

     locked down. The notorious Invisible Assassin is at

    work again, and the Judoon troopers sent to catch him

        will stop at nothing to complete their mission.

      With the assassin loose on the mean streets of New

    Memphis, the Doctor is forced into a strange alliance.

    Together with teenage private eye Nikki and a ruthless

      Judoon Commander, the Doctor soon discovers that

     things are even more complicated and dangerous

                    than he first thought...

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                 Coming Soon from BBC Books

                      featuring the Doctor

                  as played by David Tennant:

              The Slitheen Excursion

                         by Simon Guerrier

                      ISBN 978 1 846 07640 4

                  UK £6.99 US $11.99/$14.99 CDN

    1500BC King Actaeus and his subjects live in mortal

    fear of the awesome gods who have come to visit their

    kingdom in ancient Greece. Except the Doctor, visiting

    with university student June, knows they're not gods at

                       all. They're aliens.

    For the aliens, it's the perfect holiday they get to tour

     the sights of a primitive planet and even take part in

      local customs. Like gladiatorial games, or hunting

       down and killing humans who won't be missed.

     With June's enthusiastic help, the Doctor soon meets

     the travel agents behind this deadly package holiday

       company his old enemies the Slitheen. But can

       he bring the Slitheen excursion to an end without

    endangering more lives? And how are events in ancient

      Greece linked to a modern-day alien plot to destroy

                  what's left of the Parthenon?

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                 Coming Soon from BBC Books

                      featuring the Doctor

                  as played by David Tennant:

               Prisoner of the Daleks

                       by Trevor Baxendale

                     ISBN 978 1 846 07641 1

                 UK £6.99 US $11.99/$14.99 CDN

       The Daleks are advancing, their empire constantly

       expanding into Earth's space. The Earth forces are

      resisting the Daleks in every way they can. But the

    battles rage on across countless solar systems. And now

         the future of our galaxy hangs in the balance...

     The Doctor finds himself stranded on board a starship

       near the frontline with a group of ruthless bounty

    hunters. Earth Command will pay them for every Dalek

      they kill, every eye stalk they bring back as proof.

    With the Doctor's help, the bounty hunters achieve the

     ultimate prize: a Dalek prisoner intact, powerless,

    and ready for interrogation. But where the Daleks are

    involved, nothing is what it seems, and no one is safe.

    Before long the tables will be turned, and how will the

        Doctor survive when he becomes a prisoner of

                         the Daleks?

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                   Coming Soon from BBC Books:

                 Companions and Allies

                             by Steve Tribe

                        ISBN 978 1 846 07749 4

                    UK £7.99 US $12.99/$15.99 CDN

      The Doctor has been travelling through space and time

      for centuries, showing his friends and companions the

     wonders of the universe. From Sarah Jane Smith and the

    Brigadier to Martha Jones and Donna Noble, Companions

    and Allies celebrates the friends who have been by his side

     and the heroes that have helped him battle his deadliest

                           foes. Find out:

    · How the First Doctor uprooted schoolteachers Ian and

    Barbara from their twentieth-century lives

    · Why the Third Doctor worked for UNIT

    · How the Fifth Doctor sacrificed his life for Peri

    · Who helped the Eighth Doctor save Earth from

    the Master

    · What became of Rose Tyler and her family

       And much more. Beautifully illustrated and including

          for the first time a complete story guide to the

      adventures of all ten Doctors, this is the definitive guide

                 to the Doctor's intergalactic family.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html