Part 27 (1/2)

'Sorry. But there's no choice. You have to grow up now.'

, 'I know,' said Jason, blinking back tears. When he looked up again, Dr Who had gone.

' Concentrate. Ten little words! Concentrate. Ten little words! ' He rubbed his eyes and those words swam into his vision, as though he had never forgotten them. ' He rubbed his eyes and those words swam into his vision, as though he had never forgotten them.

Ten words, in red biro on a sc.r.a.p of white paper. Ten words with which to rescue a world.

' Jason woke up and it had all been a dream. Jason woke up and it had all been a dream. ' '

The Doctor stood, long-faced, and watched the time rotor go through its undulations. 'I like the new one,' Ace was saying.

209.

'Forrester. She told me what you've been putting her through. I gather I missed the mutant ninja turtles again.' He didn't respond, so she raised her voice. 'You're quiet, considering you just saved all our lives.'

'Jason simply needed to hear some common sense.'

'What about that business at the end?'

The Doctor shrugged. Sometimes, he delighted in making explanations. Right now, though, Ace could see that it was a ch.o.r.e. 'I made him concentrate on reversing what he'd done.

Only by seconds - Bambera and her troops will have stormed the Throne Room to find n.o.body there.'

'He must be powerful to manage that.'

'Yes.' The Doctor turned away. 'There's work to do.'

'There always is.' Ace smiled. 'I've a few things on the agenda myself. I might check out the rest of my list, keep my hand in. Six more weird happenings. Any you could recommend?' She thrust the print-out beneath his nose. He scanned it and handed it back.

'You might find number eight quite interesting.'

'I was wondering about the last one. Got any ideas why Canary Wharf Tower changed shape on the first day of 2000?'

'You should steer clear. And don't discuss it in front of Mel.'

Time to lay it on him. 'And who shouldn't I tell about Kadiatu?'

He flinched. 'That's not fair.'

'No? This dimensional rift you're worried about - it's her fault, isn't it? She caused it when her time machine burnt out of control. When she punched a corridor through s.p.a.ce-time, she sc.r.a.ped the sides. But you're keeping her name out of it because you don't want any awkward questions about her.' She studied the Doctor's face, finding perverse pleasure in the knowledge that she had hit a nerve. 'You've seen her, haven't you? Since she vanished into the vortex and we thought she might be dead?

But you haven't told Benny.'

'I have a decision to make, alone.'

'Fair enough. Just don't abandon her.' She almost added: Like you did Mel. She decided to spare him that for now.

210.

Bernice and Melanie arrived in the console room together, and Benny brightened as she set eyes on Ace.

'Hi, you. It's been a while.'

'Not quite that long,' the Doctor chipped in. 'Ace left our future selves a few days ago, in December 2001.'

'In trouble again, I expect?'

Her cheerfulness turned to surprise as Ace charged across the room and enveloped her in a hug. She sounded tearful. 'Benny, of course. I forgot . . . you're alive in this time period!'

The older woman's mouth worked but no words would emerge. She gaped at Ace, who pulled back self-consciously - then, catching her expression, began to rock with laughter.

'Gotcha!

'You utter b.i.t.c.h!'

They laughed together, but Benny saw that Mel didn't join in.

She stood, resentfully avoiding the Doctor's look. He had noticed too.

'I need two people,' he said gruffly, 'to enter the crystal and help seal the rift.'

'Fun's over,' Benny said, attempting to sound jovial.

'I can't let you go. Or Chris. It would mean taking a second mindblocking pill and the results of that could be most unpleasant.'

Ace c.o.c.ked an eyebrow. 'Do I detect a hint that my a.s.sistance is requested?'

'You, me and Roz.'

'I'm sorry. I can't.' Benny turned to see that the two former Adjudicators had arrived. Chris hung back and allowed Roz to do the talking. 'I've promised Chris that we'll go to Detrios.

There's somebody he wants to see there before . . .' She faltered.

'Before you murder everyone,' Mel leapt in spitefully.

The Doctor was clearly upset. 'You can't go back. Apart from all the other reasons, there simply isn't time.'

'Drop us off before you land on the Miracle,' said Roz. 'Pick us up when it's over. You can get back before the oxygen goes.'

'I need you in the crystal.'

211.

'And I've told you, I can't go. I made a promise.'

Chris shuffled forward. 'I only want to save one life,' he said.