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Back in the car, Jack said to Stevens, 'He's laughing at us, he knows all about it.'

'There's nothing we can do at the moment. He has every right not to let us wander round his land.

Maybe if we came back some other time when he's not around.'

'I'm beginning to think we may as well leave Llanfer Ceiriog and get back home,' Jack said.

'You could be right,' David agreed, 'we're getting nothing done here.'

Even Stevens was prepared to admit defeat. 'I can't around much longer either. I've got to get back to my office. And besides, my colleagues are using the coach accident to account for some missing persons. It tidies up some case them.' He drew the car to a halt by the gates. This time, they arrived some minutes ahead of Hughes, as if he was deliberately delaying them. Stevens looked at him sourly, hoping for a parting shot.

'You know those signs on your gate are illegal. You can’t shoot people. . . And I hope you have a licence for that shotgun.’

Jack cocked his head to one side. He whispered to David, 'Do you hear that?'

'Don't you worry about me,' Emrys assured Stevens. ‘I’ll only shoot centaurs with it.'

David's eyes widened. 'It's hoofbeats, and lots of them.’

Jack pushed open his car door at the same time as Emrys pulled up his shotgun and loosed off both barrels into the trees. And then, between the trees, a girl on a horse appeared.

'Yeee-ha!' she shouted, and a herd of horses exploded from the woods in a flurry of legs, streaming manes and swirling tails. Every one of them was a magnificent animal, powerful and obviously bursting with vitality.

Stevens pushed himself slowly out of the car, his eyes growing wide as the horses drew closer. A smile crossed his face as he reached out a hand to pull Emrys's gun away from him.

‘What was that you said about centaurs? He grinned triumphantly at the look on Emrys's face. 'I don't think you mentioned unicorns.'

12:

Fire and Water

Daffyr couldn't get his huge bulk in through the front door of the farmhouse as it had never been intended that a horse should be brought inside. Instead he came in via the grain store. He opened his arms wide to greet the Doctor and Bathsheba.

'So you are from Earth, like my good friend Stuart?' he boomed.

'Well, actually I'm from a place called Gallifrey, ' the Doctor admitted, 'but Earth is a regular stopover point, And Bathsheba is from Tír na n-Óg.'

Daffyr ignored the petty details. 'And you will stay with us for a while?'

'I am in something of a hurry,' the Doctor told him.

'Then you will at least dine with us.'

'Of course,’ the Doctor smiled, 'nothing would give us greater pleasure, but as you're offering, I'll have to put off nothing.'

Stuart interrupted the exchange of pleasantries and invitations. 'Doctor, if you're planning to use my car to get to Goibhnie then I'd like to come with you.'

'Well, that's your prerogative,' the Doctor shrugged. He ruffled his hair with one hand, feeling somewhat exposed without his hat. 'It is your car after all. But I should warn you that it could be very dangerous. I want to drive there so that I can make a quick retreat, you see.'

'What is all this talk of leaving?' Daffyr shouted angrily. Hadn't the little man heard him? He raised his dark tail belligerently and clenched his fists. 'I have invited you to feast with me, and feast we shall!'

'You don't understand. I think it may be vitally important that I reach Goibhnie soon. Vital for your future. '

'What do you know of the future?' Daffyr asked. 'If you can see anything of the future then you will know that the meal which I am to give you is the best you will ever have experienced.'

‘Yes, yes, all right, we'll stay for your feast, agreed the Doctor.

'Daffyr;' Stuart asked, 'what is so special about this feast of yours?'

‘Special? What is so special?' Daffyr roared. ‘I shall tell you, shall I, my little human friend?

‘Yes I'd appreciate that.’

‘There was a glint in Daffyr's eye as he quietly said, Why, we feast on the rarest of meats. We shall be dining on dragon!’

Correct imbalance in #76/2.

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