Part 1 (2/2)

'The dream. It was the dream . . .'

'The dream?' said the Doctor sharply. What dream?'

'I can't remember. I can never remember.'

'But you've had this particular dream before?'

His tone was sharp, almost accusing, and Tegan's eyes filled with tears.

'Stop it, Doctor,' said Nyssa. 'You're upsetting her.' The Doctor ignored her. 'You have, Tegan, haven't you?' 'Yes . . .'

'Always exactly the same dream?' 'Yes, I think so. The images fade so quickly.' 'But the feelings, the feelings of fear remain?' Tegan nodded.

'Leave her alone, Doctor.' said Nyssa. 'It doesn't matter Tegan, you're awake now. It was only a dream.' Tegan shook her head. 'No, it wasn't somehow. It was more than just a dream.' For a moment she looked almost haunted.

Nyssa was alarmed. 'Tegan, that's nonsense.'

'She means it,' said the Doctor quietly. 'And I think she could be right.'

Still toying with the statuette, Lon looked up as a handsome middle-aged woman in sumptuous rose-coloured robes came into the guest suite. Her jewelled head-dress looked very like a crown. Indeed she was a queen in all but name. This was the Lady Tanha, Lon's mother, wife of the Federator.

Tanha had the gentle, practised charm of an experienced consort. A charm polished by countless state visits to provincial cities, innumerable official receptions and civic ceremonies, and endless demonstrations of folk dancing and native art. She was an intelligent, quietly determined woman, somewhat trapped in her never-ending role as the great lady. Tanha was frequently bored to extinction by her official duties, but over the years she had learned not to show it - unlike Lon. She looked at her son's lounging-robe in mild dismay. 'Lon, you're not dressed yet! Ambril will be here in a moment. He promised to show us the caves this morning, had you forgotten?'

Lon yawned. 'No, mother, I hadn't forgotten.'

'Well, then, we must make an effort.'

'Must we?'

'Well of course we must.'

'Why?'

'Because it's expected of us. You are the Federator's son.'

Lon gave her a long-suffering look.

She said gently. 'Come along, tell me what's wrong.'

Lon yawned again. 'What is wrong, mother, is that the Federator's son is bored . . .'

The Doctor was studying the TARDIS console when Tegan came into the control room. She was dressed in her white camisole top, and a light fawn jacket and skirt, and seemed fully recovered from her nightmare.

Nyssa followed close behind.

'Now then, Tegan,' said the Doctor seriously. 'Where are we?'

'What?'

'It's a very simple question. Where are we?'

'Aren't we on Earth?'

'No, we're not. So - where are we?'

'How should I know?'

'Think, Tegan. Think!'

Once again, the urgency of the Doctor's questioning seemed to leave Tegan puzzled and distressed. She stared miserably back at him, her eyes filling with tears.

'Doctor!' protested Nyssa.

In a more gentle voice the Doctor said. 'Please, Tegan, think). Reach back into the recesses of your mind.'

'Ma.n.u.ssa . . . are we on Ma.n.u.ssa?'

'Good! Well done, Tegan.'

'Well-are we?'

'Yes we are.'

Tegan gave him a puzzled stare. 'But - how did I know that?'

'Ma.n.u.ssa,' said the Doctor thoughtfully. 'Formerly Homeworld of the Sumaran Empire - which may or may not ring a bell. Does it, Tegan? The Su-Maran Empire . . . The Empire of the Mara.'

Tanha was trying to persuade her son to take his official duties a little more seriously. 'You must learn to be tolerant, Lon. Oh, I agree, Director Ambril is rather trying, but he means well.' She smiled reminiscently. 'On the whole I rather preferred his predecessor. Now, what was the man's name? He was completely dotty, you know, but much more fun!'

'It's not just Ambril, Mother. It's all of it. The Ceremony of the Mara, everything. It's all such nonsense.'

'Is it?'

'Of course it is. The Mara was destroyed, what - five hundred years ago, and we're still celebrating the event. Why?'

'Why not? After all, the ceremony only happens every ten years.'

'It occurs to me,' said Lon cynically, 'that the whole thing is only kept going to remind the people here how much better life is under the Federation.'

'And so it is.' said Tanha placidly.

'Is it?'

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