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Now, though, he felt a little better. He had slept deeply in the cab, and then, upon arriving home, had devoured several bowlfuls of beef broth, half a loaf of bread, and a large pot of coffee. His aim now was to sip a brandy and clear his mind a little before heading up to bed.The last few days had been harrowing, no doubt about that, but exhilarating too. He wondered who the Doctor really was and where he had come from. Could he, like his colleague before him and their respective companions, have travelled back from the future to save the world? If so, despite the terrible events that had occurred today, the human race had many exciting times to look forward to.

Litefoot's eyelids were beginning to droop, these thoughts swirling hypnotically and somehow reassuringly in his head, when he heard a knock on his door.

He came awake and groaned. Surely the police were not here to request his services again tonight? He pushed himself up from his armchair with a great deal of effort, plodded through to the hallway and opened the door.

'Hello, Professor. I was passing so I thought I'd return this.'

The Doctor, looking fresh and alert, held out the Chinese fowling piece that Litefoot had used earlier that day to dispatch the Zygon leader, Balaak.

'Doctor,' said Litefoot, relieved. 'At this hour I must confess that you are one of the few people whom it is a genuine pleasure to see.'

'Thank you,' said the Doctor, sounding touched.

Litefoot took the gun. 'And thank you for this. In all the excitement I had quite forgotten about it. However, I'm sure I would have regretted its loss at some later date.'

He invited the Doctor in and led him through to the sitting room. Once the Doctor had accepted a chair by the fire and a cup of coffee, Litefoot asked,'I trust you were able to dispose of your cargo satisfactorily?'

'My cargo?' said the Doctor, and then his face cleared. 'Oh, you mean the Skarasen? Yes, I dropped them off, together withTuval, on an uninhabited planet ideal for their needs.' He gazed into the fire and said softly, 'That was all such a long time ago now. So much has happened since.'

'Indeed?' said Litefoot, surprised. 'Granted, several hours have passed, Doctor, since I last saw you -'

'There's one thing I didn't tell you about me, Professor,' interrupted the Doctor, his voice still soft but compelling. He looked up and suddenly he seemed older, more care-worn.'I'm not of this world. I'm a traveller in time and space. I walk in eternity.'

There was a moment's silence and then Litefoot, his eyes shining, said wonderingly,'I believe it. My Lord, I believe it.'

'I knew you would,' said the Doctor, and smiled suddenly, breaking the sombre mood. 'You know, time travel is a funny old stick. A few hours to one person can be several years to another. I visited Tuval recently.There's a thriving community on his world now. He has sixteen children and is a grandfather seventy times over.'

'Astonishing,' said Litefoot.'And Miss Samantha? How is she?'

Suddenly the Doctor looked sombre again.'Oh, fine,' he said evasively.

He tilted back his head, draining his coffee, and abruptly stood up. 'Ah well, I'd better be moving on. People to see, places to go. You know how it is.'

'Er... yes, of course,' said Litefoot, taken aback once again by the Doctor's unpredictable behaviour. He struggled to push himself up from his chair.

'Well, thank you for returning my gun, Doctor. I'm honoured that you came all this way merely to do so.'

'My mission was twofold, Professor,' said the Doctor as Litefoot trailed him to the door.'I wanted to return your property, certainly, but I also wanted to buy a magazine which circumstances prevented me from obtaining the last time I was here.'

'Ah,' said Litefoot, 'and were you successful in your endeavours?'

'Oh yes,' said the Doctor, opening his coat to reveal the magazine folded neatly in the inside pocket.'I have it here. I really must pop back some time and get dear Arthur to sign it.'

He reached the door and stretched out