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‘There she is.’

Jimmy was pointing at the hidden observer who crouched on the far side of the crater, unseen by the children but noticed by Balor. The Doctor stared at the eighth child as she watched the creature’s fiery death, a child whose face he’d seen in photographs earlier in the day. Bronwyn. Her auburn hair and silver-grey eyes were unmistakable. From the other side of crater, she watched in horror as the creature burned, clutching at her head as it poured its mind into her. The residual psychic echo that the Cynrog had detected wasn’t from the crash site. It was from Bronwyn.

Which meant that the Cynrog didn’t have all the pieces of Balor’s psyche. Bronwyn still held the vital missing fragment. In the pub Beth was looking round in horror as children started to drop where they stood. Frantic parents were desperately trying to shake them awake again, but it was hopeless. The youngest were going first, falling into a deep, deep sleep.

Outside the roaring of monsters started again. Beth clamped her hands over her ears.

‘He’s failed. The Doctor’s failed!’

‘Rose!’

‘Doctor?’

Rose sprang to her feet, looking around Bronwyn’s ramshackle house, surprised by the Doctor’s voice. Apart from Bronwyn, Ali and Butch the room was empty. She turned in a slow circle, puzzled.

‘Where are you?’

‘Strapped to a bed in the rectory. Don’t ask stupid questions!’

Realisation dawned on Rose. ‘Are you in my head? Are you poking around inside my head with telepathy or something?’

‘Yes! Now listen.’

‘I don’t believe this! Aren’t you meant to ask or anything before you come barging in?’

‘Rose, I really don’t have too much time! The Cynrog got inside your dreams because their machinery operates on the same frequency that 150

the TARDIS uses to translate languages in your head. I’m hitching a ride on the same frequencies because they’ve wired me into their system. They’re occupied at the moment and I’m cleverer than they are, but it’s taking a lot of effort and I don’t have much time so I need you to shut up and listen.’

Rose sat down hard, aware of the curious looks she was getting from the others. Presumably they were only hearing one side of the conversation.

‘OK, I’m listening,’ she whispered.

‘Right. And don’t talk, just think. Think the words.’ Rose gritted her teeth and concentrated on forming the words in her head. ‘All right.’

‘Good. I know what the connection between Bronwyn and the boy is.’

‘Yeah. He’s her son. And you were right, his name’s Jimmy.’

‘I’m having a chat with him now. At least, I’m with something that looks like him, something that has his memories, but it probably has a good part of something else too.’

‘Hang about. . . You’re with him? But they sent him away. He got adopted. It nearly finished her. Ended her marriage. It was when he was small, but that was years ago. She doesn’t even know if he’s still alive.’

‘Yeah, well, this one is still about six.’

‘OK, this is getting seriously creepy.’

She realised that she had said this out loud when Ali gave her a puzzled look. Smiling embarrassedly, she forced herself to concentrate on her thoughts again. ‘She blames herself. Says she was a bad mother. That she’s been keeping something secret all these years, in her head. I think that’s what’s made her a bit, you know. . . odd.’

‘Yes, well, she’s got a fair chunk of an alien lodged in her brain, and not a nice one either. Must have been affecting her for years.’

‘You what?’

‘Doesn’t matter. All you need to know is that she’s got something the Cynrog don’t know about. Let’s keep it that way. Will she take you to the lighthouse?’

‘Yeah. She’s just sorting out a lifejacket for Ali.’

151

‘Right. You’re gonna have to hurry, ’cause things are going to start prowling again shortly. And there’s a bit of a change with what I want you to do. Still got the sonic screwdriver?’

‘Of course.’

‘OK, then listen carefully.’

The eyes of the creature in the library flickered open. This time they weren’t dead and unseeing, but blazed with angry life. It examined its surroundings, straining at the energy