She had expected Chantelle to be dismissive, angry at being dragged from her bed because of claims made in some far-fetched, conspiracy theory documentary, but instead, her friend listened carefully to what she was saying, a frown beginning to crease her forehead.

As Dorothy finished, Chantelle put down her coffee and leaned forward. ‘It’s weird. I did hear a strange noise a few nights ago.’

‘Oh? What sort of noise?’

‘I dunno. Like firecrackers, or a bunch of twigs snapping. I thought it was a car backfiring, or kids mucking about. Didn’t really take much notice. I’ve had more to worry about with all the rats that we’re getting around here these days.’

‘Rats?’

‘Yeah. Really big ones. I’d never had a problem with them round here before. I guess it’s all the food bins left out these days.’ She paused. ‘There’s another thing … You’re the second person to come around here asking about this.’

‘Really?’ Dorothy’s ears picked up. ‘Who else has been asking?’

Chantelle shrugged. ‘I’ve not seen him myself. But Gina said that she caught a bloke poking around late at night in the alleyway behind her house. Her Malcolm chased him off.’

Dorothy felt a sudden surge of expectation. Could the Doctor be back in Perivale investigating things too?

Before she could question Chantelle further her mobile suddenly rang. It was Sanaul. She hit answer. ‘Hi. Something up?’

‘I suggest that you turn on the television.’

Dorothy frowned.

‘Problem?

‘It’ll be easier if you just see for yourself.’

Dorothy snatched up the remote from the table and switched on the vast flat-screen television hanging on the wall. Every channel had the same story – breaking news about a mysterious object that had suddenly appeared in orbit around the Moon. The image that all of them were showing of the ship was indistinct – it appeared to be a slender elongated cone, with a series of coral-like growths at one end. Dorothy felt a sudden shiver run along her spine. There was something horribly familiar about this …

She flipped to the BBC News channel, which seemed to have slightly more information about the incident.

‘The UFO appeared in Moon orbit at 7.10 GMT. Both NASA and the ESA have confirmed that there had been no prior detection of its approach, stating that the object just appeared on their scanners from nowhere. Military sources from all major powers on Earth are saying that the arrival of the UFO without warning is not automatically being seen as an act of aggression; however, if it makes any attempt to approach the planet without further communication as to its intent, then action will be taken. In the meantime it is understood that missions are being prepared by NASA, the ESA, Russia and India to intercept the UFO in Moon orbit, and unconfirmed reports suggests that China might have a rocket ready to launch within 24 hours.