Part 13 (2/2)

The Doctor stared at her, unable to think what it could be and unwilling, for the time being, to make the effort.

He'd just begun to relax. 'Probably,' he admitted. 'It isn't unusual. I've had a very hard day.'

'We came here correction, I I came here to visit my grandfather,' Tegan reminded him. 'It would he nice to spend a little time with him.' came here to visit my grandfather,' Tegan reminded him. 'It would he nice to spend a little time with him.'

Turlough spoke up immediately in her support. 'I must admit that I wouldn't mind staying for a while.'

Jane smiled at the dumbfounded Doctor. 'You're outnumbered, seven to one,' she laughed.

The Doctor stared at them, lined up in opposition to his plan. 'I'm being bullied, coerced, forced against my will,'

he complained. 'I've had enough for one day.'

Verney grinned. 'Even if you have, agree, man,' he pleaded.

'Oh, all right,' the Doctor gave in. 'But just for a little while. We've a great deal to do.'

'Good.' Now it was Turlough's turn to rub his hands with satisfaction. 'I quite miss that brown liquid they drink here.'

Will Chandler's eyes widened in a second bout of optimism. Things really were looking up. 'Ale?' he asked hopefully.

'No,' Turlough smiled. 'Tea.'

Will frowned. 'What be tea?'

'A noxious infusion of oriental leaves, containing a high percentage of toxic acid,' the Doctor explained.

Will turned up his nose and looked at Tegan. 'Sounds an evil brew, don't it?' he grimaced.

'True,' the Doctor said. Then he smiled and added; 'Personally, I rather like it.'

And with that he flicked the last switch which would bring the TARDIS and its pa.s.sengers back to the village of Little Holcombe, and a holiday deep in the peaceful English countryside, where nothing out of the ordinary ever happens.

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