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By Root 298 0

smell of gunpowder raw in her nostrils, Zoe felt a vertiginous sense of déjà vu. For an instant she thought she would hear the slapping of the rope on a flag pole and feel the crunch of gravel under foot . . . and when the smoke cleared she would find herself back in the garden of the British trade concession in Canton, where this had all begun. She looked at the Doctor. 'What now?' she said. The Doctor just smiled and shook his head.

The glow increased and the smoke drew back, like mist lifting. Suddenly Zoe knew where the light was coming from. She felt tears of relief gathering in her eyes as the pale winter sun appeared from the smoke above them. She turned to the edge of the garden, where Pemberton had stepped into oblivion. But instead of a star filled void there were the rolling hills of Kent. The garden was linked once more to the rest of the world.

A cheering crowd emerged from the manor house, blinking in the daylight. Elder-Main came hurrying across the snow to join the Doctor. His collar was black and his hair was singed, but he was grinning. 'Went off a treat, didn't it sir?'

'Well done,' said the Doctor, turning to Carnacki to include him in the compliment.

Carnacki hefted the lance and said, 'A shame about that, Doctor. I fancied a bit of St George and the dragon.' The crowd surged towards him, cheering and laughing. 'I think now would be a good time to withdraw,' murmured the Doctor. They moved away as the crowd closed around Carnacki and Celandine. The last Zoe saw of Carnacki, he was being slapped jovially on the back and shaking hands with both hands.

She hurried after Jamie and the Doctor as they moved towards the

maze on the far side of the house, trudging through the snow, their breath fogging on the cold clear air. 'Is it really over?' said Jamie. 'Well, it seems that the curse has been lifted,' said Zoe. 'A century old Chinese spell is spent.'

The Doctor wiped ash from his lapels. 'Yes. The foreign devils have finally been vanquished.'

The End

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve