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ages. Just getting used to it, I expect.’

Ace recoiled as if she’d been struck. The Doctor hovered It was obviously dark outside but Ace could make out a by the console a moment, his face flushed with emotion, bleak, blasted landscape of moor and heather.

then he stalked from the room, his dressing gown trailing

‘Uggh.’

behind him.

‘Quite,’ said the Doctor. ‘Cold, wet and dark but at least Ace could feel a rising, numb pain in her throat and hands.

you’re home.’

Familiar symptoms for the onset of tears. Familiar Ace looked at him. ‘Home?’

symptoms which she’d convinced herself she’d outgrown.

‘Earth at any rate. Twentieth century. North of England.

No! she said to herself, angrily. No tears. Don’t give him Plus a continuous precipitation of condensed oxygen and the satisfaction of seeing you cry. If he wants to treat you hydrogen compound.’

like this, that’s his business.

‘Meaning?’

She sat down on the stone-flagged floor and gently

‘Meaning it’s chucking it down. Fetch another brolly, fingered the drab grey tunic. The embroidered badge stood would you?’

out in red and gold: COAL HILL SCHOOL.

A few moments later they stepped outside into the That was the place where they’d had that run in with the darkness. In front of the TARDIS stood the rickety structure Daleks. So why was the Doctor so upset about that? And of the old bus shelter, recently home to Billy Coote, who what was he doing with one of the uniforms anyway?

was now pelting like a madman towards Crook Marsham.

In an amazingly short space of time, the Doctor returned, Over towards the east, the old monastery was etched now dressed in a chocolate-brown belted coat, russet against the threatening sky and the tracking station loomed waistcoat and checked trousers. Ace, feeling suddenly chilly, like a behemothal saucer out of the purple heather.

had struggled into the donkey jacket.

The Doctor put up his umbrella, plonked his hat

‘Very fetching!’ said the Doctor enthusiastically, as if gracelessly on to his head and walked a little way forward nothing at all had happened. He spotted the brown duffel to where a faded wooden road sign protruded like a coat on the floor and put it on. Ace glanced at the far wall as lightning-struck tree from the sodden ground.

a roundel glowed into colourful life.

‘Crook Marsham: one mile.’ He turned to Ace and smiled.

‘Scanner?’ she said, shakily.

‘How about breakfast?’

‘Yes. Neat, isn’t it?’

42

43

DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE

DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE

The great black prow of the ship lurches sickeningly.

Was it raining back there? He’d have liked to have seen There are already men in the water. Water like tar. Black, the Minster in the rain again.

dreadful, fathomless.

Something tugging at his leg. A sharp, clear cold pain like A flare smashes into the sky and for a moment everything frozen needles. Blood pooling to the surface. And then the is clear. Stark. Vividly white.

panic rising and his gorge rising as he sees the triangular fin Men in the sea. Life-boats. Empty life-jackets. The bulk of break the water and circle. Circle.

the ship slips under the waves. A mass of frothing foam as Alfred Beadle. Screaming. Screaming for someone. The the sea covers her gun turrets. Then the awful, chilling shark pulling blindly at him. Going down. Going under.

moan as the protesting metal buckles and snaps. Panels Arms slipping under the life-belt. Pulling. Screaming for burst. Black water floods her engines.

Betty. Salt water in his mouth. But soon it’ll be over. Please And then there is screaming. Men in white sweaters.

Christ make it soon. Water in his eyes. Stinging. His hair Freezing. Saturated. Screaming as the ship’s pull drags them spreading like weed under the water. Betty... Betty...

under. Young faces blanched white by the flare. A few boats Remember me, Betty...

left. The tall turret of the U-boat slips under the water, its job done.

‘Betty, love. Are you all right?’

Silence. Men bobbing slowly in their Mae Wests. Most