Part 6 (1/2)

'I bet you hate tourists, don't you?'

'Some of them.' He smiled. 'To tell you the truth, I don't mind being busy. These last few weeks, though -' he frowned and shook his head - 'the whole place has gone crazy.'

'Really? In what way?'

'Well, what happened to you tonight was a good example. I mean, this time of year we get a lot of incidents relating to alcohol - fights in discos, people pulled in for drunk and disorderly, criminal damage, that sort of thing. But this year violent incidents have doubled, if not trebled.'

'What do you think's causing it?' asked Tegan.

'I don't know. The heat maybe? It has has been hotter than usual this year. And violence, when it starts, tends to spread.' been hotter than usual this year. And violence, when it starts, tends to spread.'

Tegan sipped her wine and said reflectively, 'That guy tonight... just before he drew his arm back to hit me, his eyes went sort of blank. It was weird.'

Andy nodded thoughtfully, then smiled. 'Anyway... Look, you're here on holiday. I shouldn't be sitting here telling you what a terrible place this is. The last thing I want is to scare you off.'

'Oh, you won't scare me off,' said Tegan. 'I'm a pretty tough cookie.'

'All the same, I hope you'll let me walk you back to your hotel.'

'Course I will. But let's have another drink first, eh? My round.'

In fact, they had two more drinks. Tegan didn't realise how much the alcohol had affected her until she stood up. Her head started to spin and she had to concentrate hard to stop herself from stumbling.

'Oh, rabbits,' she murmured.

'Are you all right?' asked Andy, concerned.

'A bit woozy,' she admitted. 'I can't remember the last time I had this much to drink.'

'Come on, take my arm,' he said. 'A bit of fresh air will do you good.'

The pub had filled up with people and smoke since Tegan had entered a couple of hours ago. They manoeuvred their way to the door, Tegan holding on to Andy's arm, and went outside.

At first the fresh breeze blowing through the narrow streets made her head spin even more. She staggered as if the breeze was strong as a hurricane. Andy slipped his arm around her waist to steady her.

'Whoops,' she said. 'I bet you didn't bank on being lumbered with a drunken Aussie.'

'I've got no complaints about the company.' He grinned.

'Can you walk in a straight line?'

It was a beautiful night, the air warm, the sky clear and pinp.r.i.c.ked with stars. Despite the violent picture Andy had painted, the streets of Tayborough Sands were quiet. They walked down to the seafront, Tegan still holding on to Andy for support. To anyone else they must have looked like lovers sharing a romantic stroll after dinner. They listened to the rus.h.i.+ng, gravelly roar of the sea as it swarmed triumphantly over the sh.o.r.e before retreating with a sigh. There were no lights on the beach, and the only way they could distinguish sand from water was by the glittering shards of the moon's twin bobbing on the sea's black surface.

As they meandered along the pavement to the Lombard Hotel, Andy said, 'Can I see you again?'

Tegan felt a slow smile stretching her lips, but she tried to keep her voice casual. 'If you like.'

He hesitated, then plunged in. 'How about tomorrow? We could spend the day together. I'm not on duty till six.'

Tegan found herself wondering briefly what the Doctor's plans for the next day were, then immediately quashed the thought. 'Sounds great.'

'Ok, I'll pick you up from Reception about... nine?'

'I'll be there.'

They lingered at the hotel steps, unsure how to end it.

'Well... goodnight,' Tegan said at last, and abruptly thrust her hand out again. 'Thanks for being my knight in s.h.i.+ning armour.'

'My pleasure.' He took the hand, but this time instead of shaking it he kissed the back of it gently. 'Until tomorrow,' he said softly.

'Until tomorrow,' Tegan repeated, trying desperately not to blush.

Several hours earlier Mike Yates had opened the door of his attic room to find a complete stranger standing there. The stranger was wearing odd clothes: a cricketing jumper and a long cream coat with a stick of celery attached to the lapel and funny striped trousers. Despite the heat the man looked cool and fresh. As soon as he saw Mike, a huge and delighted grin spread over his face.

'Mike Yates!' he exclaimed. 'How wonderful to see you again!'

Mike frowned, puzzled and a little wary. 'Have we met before?'

'Oh, many times,' said the stranger as if he was enjoying himself hugely, 'though not since I regenerated.'

'Regenerated? You don't mean... You're not the Doctor?'

'Yes!' cried the man as if Mike was a rather dim pupil who had just grasped a basic mathematical formula.

Both the Doctor and the Brigadier had explained the fundamentals of regeneration to him, but Mike had not realised how drastic the change could be. 'But you're... so different,' he said weakly.

'Oh, I'm still the same old Doctor underneath,' the Doctor said airily. 'May I come in?'

Mike was about to step back and pull the door wide when he paused. 'How do I know know you're the Doctor? How do I know you're not trying to trick me?' you're the Doctor? How do I know you're not trying to trick me?'

The Doctor blinked. 'Why would I want to do that?'

'I don't know. Maybe you want to get to the real Doctor through me. You could be the Master for all I know.'

The Doctor flinched and his voice became a little high-pitched with indignation. 'Please! I've never been so insulted.'

'I'm sorry,' said Mike, 'It's just... you're so different. You don't seem as...'

'Arrogant? Overbearing?'