Alton spoke up. He was crouching by Greeneye’s neck, his hand on the alien’s pulse. ‘This man’s going to come round soon. Can’t we secure him somehow?’

‘Schoolboys who don’t have any string?’ a familiar voice called from behind them.

Smith was standing against the burning crater on the skyline, leaning on his umbrella. ‘That’s unusual.’

Chapter Thirteen

Let Me Tell You Something That’s True

‘Doctor!’ Bernice cried, and ran to him.

Smith disengaged himself from the hug. ‘Smith. Still.’ He pulled the Pod from his pocket and spun it in the air thoughtfully. ‘I haven’t yet applied for my honorary doctorate. I saw how you saved him, by the way.’ He pointed to Greeneye, who was even now being bound in miles of schoolboy string. ‘Well done.’

‘We need him as a hostage.’

‘I doubt that would work. Anyhow, that wasn’t why you did it.’

Benny resumed the hug and this time he allowed it. ‘No,’ she whispered. ‘It wasn’t. I think I’ve developed this phobia about letting people get surrounded by men with swords. Hey, how did you know about that?’

‘This.’ Smith rubbed the Pod on his elbow. ‘It lets me know little bits. At random, I think. Oh, by the way, I brought some friends.’

Up the hill behind him had appeared Hadleman and Tim.

Anand ran to Tim and shook him warmly by the hand. ‘I thought you were dead!’ he laughed.

‘So did I,’ said Tim.

Alexander had been helping the boys secure Greeneye. Now the curator looked up.

For an instant, he closed his eyes. Then he made himself smile and stood up, waving. ‘Richard!’

Hadleman ran forward, and the two men stood at a distance from each other, their hands forming restrained spirals before them. ‘Alex, old chap, what are you doing here?’ Hadleman grinned.

‘I could say the same. Come and, erm, see what’s happened to the monument.’

Alexander glanced at Smith and the boys, and the two men wandered around to the other side of the destroyed statue.

Benny was still holding on to Smith. ‘So, you’re finally convinced that you weren’t always human?’

‘I am. What an odd thing to find out.’

‘Well, this might be a good time to consider what species you’d like to be. You know about Joan?’

‘Yes. They’ve told me I have until dawn to give them this, or they kill her.’ Smith gazed at the brightness that was starting to redden the eastern horizon. ‘I had thought of just making the swap, but Timothy showed me what would happen if I did. I was tempted to go through with it anyway, because I do love her, Benny.’ His eyes sought hers. ‘But I don’t think the Doctor would like it.’