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‘Yes. The Victorians were fascinated with trying to make contact with those that had died, the notion of spiritualism'

'Why?'

Ìf you can make contact with those who have died, that tends to suggest there is some form of life after death. This era is a crossroads in the development of Western civilisation, Nyssa. For the first time science is beginning to seriously challenge previously unquestioned teachings of religion, such as how mankind was created. The evolution theories of Charles Darwin created a storm of controversy, with debates raging about whether man was created by God or merely descended from apes. Once you start to question how humanity was born...'

Ìt is only logical to consider what happens after death?'

`Precisely. Overturn widely held religious beliefs and you create a philosophical vacuum. Such concerns are nothing new, either here on Earth or elsewhere. It is the nature of sentient beings to ponder such things'

I had noticed the Doctor was careful never to contradict the Queen or James when they had talked about the spirit world. 'Why was that?' I asked. 'Has James discovered a doorway to life after death?'

Ìt's possible,' the Doctor said, 'but anything is possible. Is it likely? I have my suspicions about that, but I am keeping an open mind - and so should you. The more questions we can ask, the greater the knowledge we gain'

As always the Doctor was adept in side-stepping any subtle enquiry. I decided to be as bold and blunt as Tegan would in such circumstances. 'Is there life after death?'

He sighed, perhaps realising I would not let this go.

`Thousands of years ago a Greek philosopher and mathematician called Pythagoras helped propagate a doctrine called metempsychosis - in essence, transmigration of the soul. He believed that when a human dies its soul moves on to another home, be it human, animal or even plant. Many religions have a similar belief, better known as reincarnation, in which souls are reborn forever. Others denounce this as blasphemy.'

`But I saw you die and be born again'

`Regeneration is a form of reincarnation, but it is not infinite. Time Lords can only regenerate twelve times. When their last body dies, they die too'

Unless they find a way to cheat death, I thought, but pushed that to one side. `So what happens to a Time Lord when their final regeneration dies?'

Àn electrical scan is made of the brain to collect all its knowledge. This is transferred into the Matrix, a digital gestalt that is used to monitor events across time and space, and to predict future events. So they attain a kind of digital immortality'

`But that is just their memories and knowledge. What about their soul?'

The Doctor shrugged. 'I don't know, Nyssa. Nobody does.

That's why so many species on so many worlds have systems of faith. Religions offer them hope and something I believe in, a moral code by which to live their lives. Does .my religion offer all the answers? Does it matter if you Relieve in one god or a thousand? I don't know. I don't have ,'111 the answers, Nyssa. We each have to find our own' He shifted seats to be beside me in our compartment. 'There's a race of people called the Maori who believe that when they die, their spirit leaves behind their mortal body and travels to the northernmost point of their country, a place called Cape Reinga. It's where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet, two mighty bodies of water crashing against each other. The Maori believe their spirit makes peace with itself and then dives into the water, becoming one with nature. I have to say, I like the sound of that. When the times comes, I hope to find my own Cape Reinga'

I couldn't help giving the Doctor a hug.

It had taken several hours of preparations but Lieutenant Kempshall was ready to make his first descent into the water below Corra Linn. Once the air hose was secured to the back of his helmet, two men began turning the flywheels on the rotary bellows box. The air quickly inflated