Part 6 (2/2)

'Sorry. You a bit jumpy?'

'I'm a bit tired,' she said. 'What is it?'

'Just saying good night,' the Doctor said. 'What do you think?' he asked her seriously.

'About saying good night?'

'About this place.'

Peri shrugged. 'Seems nice enough. Everyone's very friendly.' As she said it, the light caught the Doctor's eyes and she recalled the young man with his piercing blue eyes who had watched her. The dead fisherman's brother - Mike Neville. 'Almost everyone,' she corrected herself. 'What do you you think?' think?'

'Oh, I think you're right,' the Doctor said. But he did not sound entirely sure. 'It's just...' he added.

'Just? Just what?'

'I'm not certain. There's something. Madsen's not telling the whole truth for some reason. There must be a reason for that.' He smiled suddenly. 'Probably nothing important. Let's get some sleep, then have a look round in the morning. With luck we can find our way back to the TARDIS in time for lunch and a quick trip round the White Hole of Stelabffis.' He stared off into a corner of the room as he spoke, as if imagining the sights and wonders of the Universe.

'Great,' Peri said. 'But right now I want a quick trip to the land of nod.'

'Mmm?' the Doctor asked, jolted back to the present time and place.

'Good night,' Peri said firmly.

'Mmm,' the Doctor agreed. He closed the door gently behind him A shaft of sunlight streaming through the thin curtains woke Peri next morning. She lay still for a while, enjoying the complete lack of traffic sound. The only noise that disturbed her was the discordant crying of the seagulls outside her window. When she eventually twisted her head to see the small alarm clock on the cabinet by the bed, she was amazed to see that it was after eight o'clock.

There was a sink in the corner of the room, and she had been pleased to find the night before that there was plenty of hot water. As she washed, she wondered vaguely if there was anywhere on the island she could get a toothbrush. Perhaps there was a village shop of some sort. A post office?

Something to hunt down this morning.

She made her way downstairs, realising as she went that she was already a.s.suming they would be staying for at least another night. Well, she had to admit, she had stayed in worse places. Recently too. The smell of bacon did nothing to dampen her enthusiasm.

The Doctor was in the kitchen. He was wearing a white ap.r.o.n which barely covered his ample form. He was frying bacon over a gas ring.

'Good morning,' he said cheerily. 'Some mod cons at least.'

'That smells terrific,' Peri said, seating herself at the kitchen table. 'Where are our hosts?'

'Trefoil is sorting out his cellar, and Liz went to the farm for milk. I gather there isn't a Mrs Trefoil.' He shuffled the bacon round the pan with a wooden spatula, letting it hiss and spit in the fat. 'The bread's good,' he said without looking up.

'Home made from local flour, of course.'

It was hard to believe that the bright sunny street was the same place as the foggy village of the day before. The Doctor had called down to Trefoil that they were going out for a walk and not to worry about them. 'In case we decide to leave,' he confided to Peri.

'I like it here,' she told him. 'I'm happy to spend a day or two.'

They decided to start with the church. From there they could continue on towards Heather Hill Farm, and then to the TARDIS. Or they could return to the pub for lunch depending on how they felt. The Doctor had hinted that he wanted a quick peep at Cove Cottage where Sir Edward Baddesley was living too, and that was apparently up behind the church somewhere.

They were nearing the top of the street when a door opened. It was like deja-vu, Peri thought. She was sure it was the same door that had opened as they approached the previous day. And the same shrivelled old lady stepped out.

But this time she was not watching for a funeral procession. She was looking for the Doctor and Peri. She showed no sign of surprise that there were two strangers almost on her doorstep. Peri could believe she had been waiting behind the door, peering out from behind the net curtains in the front window of the small house, timing her exit to coincide with their arrival.

'You're the strangers,' she said. Her voice was high-pitched and cracked with age. She nodded her grey head with something approaching vigour.

'Indeed we are,' the Doctor agreed enthusiastically. 'None stranger,' he added with a smile.

She cackled a dry laugh in return. 'I'm Mrs Tattleshall,'

she said. 'Perhaps someone has mentioned...?'

'No.' Peri said, 'I don't think -'

'Of course,' the Doctor interrupted as the old lady frowned with disappointment. 'You remember, Peri. This is Mrs Tattleshall.' He gripped her hand and, to Peri's surprise and Mrs Tattleshall's evident delight, raised the back of it to his lips and brushed a kiss against it. 'Mrs Tattleshall, we have heard so much about you. It is indeed a pleasure to make your acquaintance at long last.'

They stood in silence for a few moments. The Doctor still holding the withered hand and the old lady gazing fondly at him as he smiled.

'I'm Peri,' Peri said. She was tempted to add: 'and I feel sick,' but she was not sure it would be appreciated.

'And I'm the Doctor.' He shook her hand now, and then at last let go of it. 'And we really are very pleased to meet you.'

'Saw you yesterday.' Mrs Tattleshall said. She made it sound something like an accusation. 'At young William Neville's funeral.'

'Alas,' the Doctor said, 'a sad affair.'

'Tragic,' the old lady agreed with something akin to glee in her voice. 'And so soon after breaking his arm.'

The Doctor and Peri exchanged glances. But before either of them could comment on the remark, the old lady was talking again.

'You know,' she said, her voice cracked like an old record, 'I remember when his poor mother first came to the island.

Married Big John up at that church. Lovely it was. She wore white.' Her tone suggested that this was not something she had approved of or thought appropriate.

Peri took a deep breath. 'We'd best be getting on, Doctor,'

she said, tugging his sleeve. 'Otherwise we'll be late.' She turned so that Mrs Tattleshall could not see her, and then gave the Doctor a huge wink.

'Late?' The Doctor glared at her as if she were mad. Then his face cleared. 'Oh, you mean late late. Yes, well, I'll tell you what,' he said, 'you go on and I'll catch up with you later.' He winked back. 'I'm sure I can spare Mrs Tattleshall a few moments. If I don't catch you up, I'll see you back at the pub for lunch.'

'Right.' Peri smiled sweetly at the woman. 'It was lovely to meet you,' she said.

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