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By Root 368 0

the chaff on the floor, wondering why, as it was now early September, it only contained last year's debris and not this year's harvest.

'Is this home?'

'For the last night or two. Fortune has made me itinerant.'

'Why were those men chasing us?' asked the Doctor, completing his examination of Adric's leg.

'You really don't know?'

'We're new in the area.'

'You must be new to the world, sir.' Mace removed bread and cheese from a box normally used to store farm tools and started to attack the food with a knife. 'Haven't you heard? There is plague about.'

Tegan shuddered. 'Where?'

'Everywhere! That's why the village is guarded with such vigilance.' Mace cut a chunk of cheese from the wedge and offered it, with a thick slab of bread, to Nyssa. 'The villagers are terrified of strangers and the pestilence they might carry.'

'Of course!' exclaimed the Doctor. 'The reason for the sulphuric smoke: purification fires.'

'Is it because of the plague that you're not staying in the village?' said Tegan.

'Alas, the plague has made everywhere unfriendly.'

'Hence the guns?'

'Indeed.' Mace opened the wooden box and removed an earthenware jar. 'Once I was a noted thespian, until forced into rural exile by the closure of the theatres.' He struggled to remove the jar's stopper. 'Now it is only with the aid of pistols that I am able to command the attention of an audience.'

'You sound like a highwayman or robber,' said Tegan, instantly regretting her remark.

'Gentleman of the road, madam!' he said bowing. 'But do not be afraid. I only plan to rob you of a little time and company.'

Adric flexed his damaged leg. 'Aren't you concerned we may have plague?' he said as he pul ed himself to his feet.

'After many weeks alone in the woods I am prepared to risk everything for an hour of good conversation.' Raising the jar to his lips, he swallowed several mouthfuls of wine.

As he drank, tiny rivulets of red liquid trickled from either side of his mouth.

'Shouldn't we go, Doctor?' said Tegan.

'Soon,' he replied distractedly, staring at an ornament around the actor's neck. There was something familiar about it, but the Doctor couldn't quite remember what.

Mace set the jug down and returned to cutting up bread and cheese.

'How bad is the plague?' said Adric.

'The worst I've ever seen. Far more virulent in these parts than in the city.' He paused for a moment, then said quietly, 'I suppose that is to be expected.'

Tegan looked puzzled.

'Did you not see the comet a few weeks ago? A portent of doom if ever I saw one. Its aurora had barely faded from the sky when the first local case of the disease was reported.'

'That can't be possible,' the Doctor said vaguely, his mind only half concentrating on what was being said.

'Sir?'

'You're not due for a comet for...' he struggled to remember, '...well, at least, for quite some time.'

'Are you sure it wasn't a meteor?' said Nyssa.

'Call it by any name you wish, but I tell you the sky was lit as I've never seen it before.'

He patted the jar of wine. 'And it had nothing to do with this.' Mace grunted. 'I have seen many falling stars. This one was without parallel.'

'Of course!' the Doctor said excitedly.

The others looked at him in surprise.

'What's the matter?' said Nyssa.

'Your necklace,' the Doctor said pointing at Mace, 'may I have a closer look?'

'If you wish.' Mace removed the ornament and handed it to the Doctor. 'But I hope you don't intend to lay claim to it,' he said a little stiffly.

The Doctor slipped on his half-frames. 'I shouldn't think so,' he said brightly, starting to examine it.

Mace felt uneasy. He watched for a moment as the Doctor scrutinised the object. 'I found it last night in the loft,' he said in an attempt to vindicate his ownership of the recently acquired possession.

The Doctor smiled. 'There's no doubt about it,' he said, handing the ornament to Nyssa.

Tegan looked worried. 'What's the matter?'

Nyssa dangled the object by its leather thong and flicked it with her finger.