Part 18 (1/2)

The Final Question 'Where are you going?'

Crossing the pit yard with the Doctor, Peri had diverted towards the office.

'The sleeping draught, remember?' She waggled a bunch of valerian; at least she hadn't forgotten the unfortunate miners.

'Taken care of.' With a smug grin the Doctor produced the phial of brain fluid. 'I managed to '

' pick the Master's pocket when you b.u.mped into him!'

finished Peri. The Doctor was insufferable.

'Exactly.' He beamed and gave her the phial.

'Well, let me deflate that swollen ego and remind you of something we haven't got the TARDIS!'

'What the blazes do you think that is?'

'Why not ask t'Doctor?'

Ravensworth raised his eyebrows at Stephenson's reply.

'Have you ever tried asking the Doctor a question?'

Stephenson's smile proved that he had.

As if on cue, the Doctor entered the workshop. He patted the subject of their conversation affectionately.

'Battered but not bowed! Thank you, Stephenson.'

'Had to haul it out manually. T'were no easy task. Took forty men.'

'I'm extremely grateful.'

Arriving, Peri sighed with relief when she saw the TARDIS. Giving Lord Ravensworth the phial of brain fluid, she explained that if he administered it to Jack Ward and the surviving aggressors, they would recover from their condition.

His lords.h.i.+p accepted the phial without comment.

'No questions?' the Doctor teased.

'My dear man, would there be any point?'

Honours even!

His invention always to the forefront, Stephenson indicated a valve clamped to a vice. 'Tha's a student of science, Doctor.' About to unlock the TARDIS, the Doctor hesitated. 'This valve be t'problem. 'Appen tha' could help?'

The Doctor badly wanted to. Perhaps just a hint? No.

Not allowed. Strictly forbidden.