‘Oh, the latter, definitely. I’ve been following the affairs of Constance and her like long enough to know that, once embarked upon, rebellion is a positive opiate. I mean that in two ways. Firstly, it’s addictive. Secondly, it opens up whole worlds full of new dreams. Do tell me yours.’

‘Right.’ And, without sparing a detail, Bernice told the whole story of her life and adventures with the Doctor, right up to the present. Alexander’s eyes grew wider, and his whisky consumption grew faster, every moment. ‘And so, here I am,’ she concluded, with a big smile. ‘Do you know, I’ve always wanted to tell somebody all that. I’m sure I’m breaking some sort of rule. What do you think?’

‘This knight of yours⁠ —’

‘No, no, I mean, do you believe me?’

‘Do you really want me to?’

Bernice finished off the last glass and reached for another bottle with a swift wipe of her lips on the back of her hand. ‘Yes. Rather terribly, actually.’

‘Well, what proof can you offer me? What happens in the next ten years?’

Bernice shook her head. She’d anticipated the question. ‘I don’t think I ought to talk about that. Tell you what, wait a minute.’ She hopped up and rummaged around in her pack. She returned carrying her portable history unit and handed it to Alexander.

‘There.’

He stared at it then punched a few buttons. ‘Now how does this work? There’s a roller behind this little frame, operated by clockwork, and the words on it appear…’

He fell silent. After a moment, he gently put the unit down on the table, and stared at it.

Then he started to laugh. The laugh grew bigger and bigger. He leapt up and swung Bernice around the room in a happy arc. ‘It’s true! It’s true! You’re from the future!’

‘Yes, yes…’ Bernice found that she was laughing too. ‘Now put me down. We still have dizziness in the future.’

‘Oh dear…’ They slumped into armchairs. ‘So, these people who are after you⁠ — are they from the future too?’

‘Yes. Or at least, I think so. I think they’ve taken the object, the Pod, which could make my friend himself again.’

‘Well, we must try and get it back. I could raise quite a good gang, if I tried.’

‘No, you mustn’t do that. These people have weapons which could level this place. We need to sneak up on them.’

‘Understood.’ Alexander crunched up his face with joy, hanging on to his chair like a boy on a roundabout. ‘This is fascinating! What a strange predicament your friend’s got into. Why do you think he wanted to be human?’

‘I’m not sure. I think he wanted a change, to have a holiday from being him.’