Doctor Who: The Doomsday Weapon (19 page)

The Doctor thanked the man and then hurried over to Jo. 'I know where the TARDIS is. I think it's time to go.'

Jo was busy pouring tea for the others. 'But there are so many things to do here, Doctor. Are we in a hurry?'

'Stay if you want to,' he said to her. 'But I'll never be able to explain it to the Brigadier.'

Jo smiled. 'All right. I'll just say goodbye to everybody.'

The Doctor checked her. 'No. They'll all start asking where we came from again. Let's just slip out while they're enjoying their victory.' He took Jo's hand and together they went out of the dome. The rain had stopped now, and the sun was shining brilliantly.

'Look!' said Jo in wonder. 'It's all green!'

As far as the eye could see the one-time impoverished land was shooting up tiny blades of grass. Even the little shrub plants had grown new leaves.

'We'd better be quick getting to the TARDIS,' the Doctor laughed. 'The speed things can grow here, we may find ourselves having to cut through a jungle!'

They hurried away from the dome.

The Brigadier strode into the Doctor's laboratory at UNIT headquarters. 'Another false alarm,' he said as he entered. 'The man they thought was the Master turned out to be the Spanish Ambassador...'

He stopped because he realised he was talking to himself. Not only that, but the Doctor's precious police box was missing from its corner in the room.

'Doctor,' he called loudly, 'where are you?'

Even as he spoke he heard the strange heaving sound of the TARDIS returning. In a moment the TARDIS materialised once more in its corner. The door opened and the Doctor and Jo stepped out.

'What the devil are you two playing at?' said the Brigadier. 'Where have you been? I told you I'd be back within the hour.'

'Within the hour?' said Jo. 'But we've been away for days!'

'For
days
?' said the Brigadier in total disbelief. 'Miss Grant, I think you're losing your sense of time.'

'On the contrary,' she said with a smile. 'I think I'm just beginning to gain it.'