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'Look at the slime trails if you don't believe me.'

As they returned to the TARD1S, the Doctor briefly related the myths and legends surrounding the gastropods of Jaconda.

It went something like this: Hundreds of years earlier, a then queen of the planet had offended the sun god, who in his revenge had forced her to give birth to a half-human, half-slug creature. (The reasons for this rather unpleasant retribution weren't certain.) Before long the gastropod had multiplied until its offspring had become numberless, ravaging and plundering the planet until every living plant had been eaten and everyone was on the verge of starvation.

It wasn't until the planet had been devastated that the sun god relented and sent a drought to destroy the slugs.

'But that's all myth,' said Peri. 'Outside is real devastation!'

The Doctor started to set the navigational coordinates. 'As you well know,' he said, glancing over his shoulder, 'myths are often embroidered stories that contain more than a grain of truth. Forget about sun gods and offending queens. Just concentrate on the fact that somehow giant slugs found their way to Jaconda.'

'But you said they had died out.'

'My dear Peri, use a little of your not inconsiderable imagination.

The beast itself may have died out but it seems fairly obvious that it left a heritage in the form of many clutches of eggs. Somehow they must have

hatched.'

'Starting the whole cycle again?'

'Correct.'

'Pity there isn't a sun god to relent and send a drought nowadays,'

said Hugo.

Peri glared at him. Why didn't he keep his mouth shut, she thought.

With the current state of the Doctor's mind, all it required was such a silly suggestion to set him off again. Cautiously, Peri glanced at the Time Lord. If he had heard what had been said, he hadn't reacted.

At least not yet.

Peri hoped this indicated the Doctor was beginning to stabilise.

With the coordinates set, the Doctor operated the master control and the time rotor started to oscillate. If his calculations were correct, as they often were nowadays, they would soon arrive at Azmael's palace where they could delight in the company of Mestor and his friends.

From their rude, sarcastic remarks, the Doctor reckoned his companions could barely restrain their eager anticipation ...

Upon arriving on Jaconda, Azmael had been summoned before Lord Mestor. Again he had been subjected to a ranting tirade.

This time, though, Azmael had felt doubly embarrassed, as Mestor had insisted on insulting him in front of his courtiers, many of whom had served the elderly Time Lord when he had been President. Although some remained silent, Azmael hoped as a mark of respect, many others had joined in the jeering and general abuse.

After being dismissed, Azmael dejectedly made his way back to his laboratory. There he found the twins staring through the glass wall that separated his work area from Mestor's hatchery.

Fascinated, the boys watched the technicians as they loaded gastropod eggs onto a conveyor belt system which then took them deep into the heart of the incubation area.

'So many eggs,' said Remus, noticing Azmael. 'Will they all hatch?'

The Time Lord nodded. 'And now you're going to ask me why we're breeding so many gastropod eggs when I have already said that Jocanda is on the verge of starvation?'

'Not at all,' said Romulus. 'My brother and I were wondering how our mathematical skill could possibly aid you in slug husbandry.'

'Come with me.'

Azmael led the twins to a corner of the laboratory where there was a beautifully made astronomical model of the Jacondan solar system. Pressing a button built into the base the model jerked into life.

'As you can see, there are only three planets in our solar system.

The largest and nearest to our sun in Jaconda. The two other planets, Muston and Senial, are not only much smaller but are also uninhabited.' Fascinating, thought the twins. But it was hardly an answer to their question.

'It is the intention of Mestor,' continued the Time Lord, 'to