Doctor Who_ To The Slaughter Part 46

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But what about Kreiner?

They'd already waved off Halcyon. He'd embarked on his long round of interviews and celeb spots on a hundred channels solo. His profile was ready to rocket still higher.

Sook, at a loose end, had tagged along with the Doctor and Trix to the TARDIS on her floating stretcher.

'Sort of awkward, saying goodbye at this angle, isn't it?' the Doctor observed. 'Cheerio, Sook. Keep an eye on Halcyon for me.'

'It's him keeping an eye on me I'm more worried about,' Sook admitted. 'No more face-pulling unless it's behind his back.' She paused. 'Is Kreiner about?

I'd like to speak to him.'

Trix eyed her suspiciously. 'Come on, Doctor. We'll fetch him.'

'Yes, of course,' he said. He paused for a moment to pat the dark blue box fondly before disappearing inside.

A few moments later, Kreiner emerged with a s.h.i.+fty look over his shoulder.

He was carrying a heavy-looking bag st.i.tched from real leather, cracked and worn with age.

'I wanted you to have this,' he said.

'A farewell gift?' she asked. 'Do you have to go?'

He looked at her, his grey eyes s.h.i.+ning with sadness.

'A bag, huh? Well, I guess Halcyon won't need me nearly so much from now on, but I wasn't thinking of packing up and moving on just yet.'

'I know.' He put an arm around her, and helped her off her stretcher. 'But you may find it handy in any case.'

She watched in amazement, forgetting her aches and pains for a moment, as he opened the big bag and stuck the stretcher inside. All the way inside, vertically. It was just swallowed up.

'There's a pocket dimension st.i.tched into the lining,' he explained. 'It's not quite an endless cupboard. But it is is a big bag.' a big bag.'

She stared at him. 'And it's for me?'

'To do with what you will.' He smiled. 'I owe you for board and lodgings, after all.'

'Won't your friend be cross?'

'Furious, I expect. If he ever notices.' He paused. 'And if I'm still there when he does.'

She raised an eyebrow.

'I don't know.' He shrugged. 'Just feeling a little unsettled, I suppose.'

'You could stay,' she suggested. 'This could make us rich you and me. We could retire on the royalties!'

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'To somewhere perfectly neat and tidy?' He smiled but shook his head. 'This is your time and place, Sook. It isn't mine.' He nodded casually to the blue box. ' You You could maybe. . . ?' could maybe. . . ?'

It was her turn for the sad smile. 'Your lifestyle's just a little too messy for me.'

They stood awkwardly in silence for a while.

'You're looking a bit wobbly,' he said. 'Are you OK?'

'Could I maybe have my stretcher back?'

'G.o.d, sorry!' he said, and produced it like magic from inside the bag.

'That thing really works!' she cooed, leaning on to the stretcher for support.

'What will you do with it?'

'I don't know. Maybe you should peep into the future for me, come back and let me know.' She paused. 'It would be good to see you again.'

There was more warmth in his smile this time. 'Yeah, it would.'

'In the meantime, I'll sleep on it.'

'Just don't sleep in in it,' he said severely. 'It's a big bag. You could get lost.' it,' he said severely. 'It's a big bag. You could get lost.'

'You're weird, Kreiner. Thanks. For everything. Check?'

'Check.'

She blew him a kiss.

He winked at her, and walked into the TARDIS.

Trix was waiting for him by the doorway, an unexpectedly big smile on her face. 'You came back,' she said, and actually sounded relieved. 'When I saw you with that bag '

'Shhh!' he hissed at her. But the Doctor was too engrossed in fitting the fluid link into the central console to notice.

'Couldn't resist coming back to me, huh?' she said, and stuck out her tongue.

He took hold of her hand. 'Trix, you're hard, devious, manipulative and you're always trying it on. But at least with you I always know where I am.'

'Gee, thanks.'

'Anyway. Truth is, you're right. I wouldn't go without you.'

Trix smiled. 'Is that a fact?'

'You'll see,' he said, looking across at the Doctor, happily fussing about his s.h.i.+p. 'One day.'

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Author's Note

DOCTOR WHO: I thought Jupiter had already been thoroughly studied?

STEVENSON: Yes, he's interested in its new satellite.

DOCTOR WHO: What? You mean there are now thirteen?

The science of some Doctor Who Doctor Who TV stories stands the test of time better than others. But the Doctor's exchange with Commander Stevenson in TV stories stands the test of time better than others. But the Doctor's exchange with Commander Stevenson in Revenge of Revenge of the Cybermen the Cybermen probably sets a record for being out of date even before recording began in November 1974. probably sets a record for being out of date even before recording began in November 1974.

On 14 September that year, a thirteenth satellite of Jupiter was discovered by Charles T Kowal at the Mount Palomar observatory and subsequently named Leda (not Neo-Phobos or Voga as Revenge would have us believe).

Kowal, with Elizabeth Roemer, would go on to discover a further Jovian satellite in September 1975, but too few observations were made to establish its...o...b..t and the object was subsequently 'lost'. It was not rediscovered until 2000, and was ultimately named Themisto.

It's always amused me that the Doctor should state so authoritatively in the far future that Jupiter had only twelve satellites at the time of writing, 61 moons have been observed and there are bound to be many more waiting to come to light. So the basic premise of To the Slaughter To the Slaughter was conceived in an attempt to save the Fourth Doctor's scientific reputation and to set the record straight. I apologise for having no loftier motive in writing this story and yes, I know, I should get out more. was conceived in an attempt to save the Fourth Doctor's scientific reputation and to set the record straight. I apologise for having no loftier motive in writing this story and yes, I know, I should get out more.

Enormous thanks are due to Justin Richards for his enthusiasm, support and patience during the troubled (and grossly extended) period in which this book was written. Also to Peter Anghelides for some helpful comments on the opening chapters. . . to Philip Craggs for soundtrack support. . . to Mike Tucker for beer. . . to Jason Loborik and Paul Grice for music. . . and to Jill and Tobey Cole, for everything.

NB: No Jovian moons were invented for this book; the less familiar names of more recent discoveries are all just as 'official', as determined and ratified by the International Astronomical Union's Working Group on Planetary System Nomenclature.

Stephen Cole October 2004 253.

About the Author.

STEPHEN COLE lives in Buckinghams.h.i.+re with wife Jill and baby Tobey. He used to edit books and magazines, including the BBC's range of Doctor Who Doctor Who novels. Now he spends most of his time writing. novels. Now he spends most of his time writing.

As well as several Doctor Who Doctor Who novels and audio plays he has written all sorts of books for children young and old, including the novels and audio plays he has written all sorts of books for children young and old, including the Wereling Wereling trilogy of horror thrillers for young adults, published by Bloomsbury, and 'Essential Guides' to such movies as trilogy of horror thrillers for young adults, published by Bloomsbury, and 'Essential Guides' to such movies as Shrek Shrek and and The Incredibles The Incredibles for Penguin. for Penguin.

He has two original fiction series for kids due out in 2005: Astrosaurs! Astrosaurs! , published by Random House, and , published by Random House, and One Weird Day at Freekham High One Weird Day at Freekham High by Oxford University Press. by Oxford University Press.

Another upcoming project is a novel called The Monsters Inside The Monsters Inside, tying in to the brand-new BBC TV series of Doctor Who Doctor Who.

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