‘You mean you’re still going to stay as Smith? You don’t want to be the real you, despite all this?’ Benny sat down heavily on the grass. ‘The Doctor would have some plan worked out in two seconds. One, if we had a chessboard handy.’

He sat down beside her. ‘John Smith is the real me. And it’s because of all this, not despite it. You don’t know what you really want in life until it’s taken from you.’

‘You mean Joan?’

‘Yes. She agreed to marry me. I have to save her. And I have to do it as me.’

Benny looked at him for a moment, and then resignedly laid her head on his shoulder. ‘If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in the past few weeks, it’s that we don’t get second chances. Do you need a bridesmaid? I’ve always wanted to be one, but everybody I’ve ever known has been scared to death of altars.’

‘You mean you think I should?’

‘I think you ought to go for whatever you think will work. I might even start to like her.’

Smith nodded solemnly. ‘So we have to win, if only so you can expand your wardrobe. But we’re going to do it as you and me. Smith and Summerfield. Will you come with me?’

Benny carefully planted a kiss on top of his head.

‘You’re beautiful,’ she told him. ‘Of course I will.’

Smith grinned, frowned and bit his lip at the same time.

‘Erm, thank you.’

‘You know, I think Rocastle got a bit of Doctorishness off of you before he died. It must be catching.’

‘Perhaps. But does the Doctor have to sacrifice himself to win?’

‘Sometimes.’ Benny shivered, not knowing why. ‘So,’ she asked, ‘shall we go and have this adventure?’

‘The last adventure. Before I retire.’

‘And do you have a plan?’

‘Oh yes. Tell me, have you ever played poker?’

August checked the controls on the vortex tunnel. ‘We can be ready to depart as soon as we have the Pod.’ He glanced at the approaching dawn. ‘If, that is, Serif and Greeneye get back.’

‘I’m worried,’ Hoff muttered. He was still squatting by the post, his gun jammed under Joan’s chin. ‘They’re taking too long. And we heard an explosion.’

‘That’ll just be Greeneye over-reacting. Still, if they don’t appear before Smith does, then I’ll just use the Pod before we go to search for them. We’d be able to locate them in a moment with the services of a TARDIS at our command.’

‘You’re certain he’ll bring the Pod?’

‘Of course. We have the thing he holds most precious in the world.’ August patted Joan’s head.

‘I’m not a thing,’ Joan told him.