Part 17 (2/2)

Dibber set off up the stairs.

Glitz paused for a moment looking after him. He'd just been struck by a very worrying thought.

Suppose it was Dibber who was the brainy one after all?

Humker and Tandrell reached the surface at last. They stood looking out of the doorway and something clear and cool came in to meet them, ruffling their hair.

'Fresh air,' said Humker. 'What a wonderful smell.'

Tandrell breathed deeply. For a moment he seemed to be about to produce his usual contrary reaction, and then he smiled.

'Do you know something? You're right. Absolutely right!'

In a tunnel not far from the wrecked castle, the Doctor, covered in dust and grime ran into Balazar, who was as dirty and dusty as the Doctor, was, with an undercoat of green slime as well.

'And still the lobster held on!' said the Doctor cheerfully. 'You're in a worse mess than I am!'

'Are Merdeen and Peri safe, Doctor?'

The Doctor turned and saw two figures running towards them. 'You can ask them yourself, Balazar.'

'Balazar!' shouted Merdeen joyfully, and the two friends ran to greet one another.

Peri marched up to the Doctor and said reproachfully, 'I wish you wouldn't keep frightening me like this!'

'I told you to get out of here,' said the Doctor sternly.

'Please, don't start,' said Peri wearily. 'I'm too tired and too scared to cope.'

'All right, all right,' said the Doctor gently, and put a consoling arm around her shoulders.

'This seems to be the end, Doctor,' said Balazar. 'As it is written in the Books.'

No, no, Balazar. For you this is the beginning. Chapter One, Paragraph One, as they say. Take your people up on the surface, where they belong.'

'Yes,' said Balazar enthusiastically. 'Perhaps we shall at last find the habitat of the Canadian Goose!'

'Perhaps,' said the Doctor gently. He wiped a bit of green gunk from Balazar's forehead and tasted it cautiously. 'I think dinner's on him!' The Doctor shook Merdeen warmly by the hand. 'Farewell, my loquacious friend!' He looked down at Peri. 'Right, let's get back to the TARDIS.'

He led her briskly away.

Suddenly Peri stopped. 'It's the other way, Doctor.'

'What is?'

'The TARDIS.'

'That's right, it's this way,' agreed the Doctor, instantly changing direction. 'Yes, this way!'

They walked back past the bemused Merdeen and Balazar. 'Farewell!' called the Doctor again - and set off again this time in the right direction.

'There are still one or two questions to be answered of course,' said the Doctor as they moved away. 'Like, who moved this planet two light years off its original course?

And what was in that box that Glitz and Dibber were so interested in...?'

They heard Balazar's voice calling from behind them.

'Goodbye, old one,' he called. 'Thank you for all your help!'

Peri giggled. 'Old one! Hey that's cute!'

'I always knew there was an evil streak in you,' said the Doctor indignantly. 'Old one, indeed! Come on...'

The Doctor led Peri away...

... and sat back watching himself do it on the Courtroom screen. He leaned back smugly, hands behind his head.

'Well, that's one up to me, I think,' he said modestly.

'There can't be many people who can literally claim to have saved the Universe.' The Doctor rose. 'Well, if that's all the muck you can rake up--'

'Sit down,' said the Valeyard sharply. 'Smugness does not become you, Doctor.'

'That is an irrelevant observation.' He turned to the Inquisitor. 'I take it that it is now my turn to present the case for the defense?'

'In due course, Doctor.'

'But that's not fair! Look, I wish it put on record that my involvement in the affairs of that planet resulted in the freeing of Drathro's underground slaves.'

The Inquisitor inclined her head. 'That has been noted.'

'And despite the fact that evidence has been withheld, my presence there was most specifically requested.'

'You showed little reluctance in complying with the request,' observed the Valeyard acidly.

'Well, lives were at stake.'

<script>