Liz Trefoil showed the Doctor and Peri to rooms opposite each other at the top of the stairs.

'Not much call for bed and breakfast, I suppose,' the Doctor joked, and she smiled back.

'Breakfast when you want it,' she said.  'Dad'll be up at seven to get things sorted in the cellar.  I'm usually not far behind him'

'Seven?' Peri said.  'I don't think we'll worry you that early.'

'We'll see you in the morning,' the Doctor assured Liz and let himself into his room.

Peri opened the door to her room and went in.  There was a single bed made up, and a towel lying across it.  She turned to shut the door behind her, but there was someone in the doorway.  She gave a stifled shriek, only realising as he stepped into the room that it was the Doctor.

'Don't do that,' she hissed.  'I nearly died.'

'Sorry.  You a bit jumpy?'

'I'm a bit tired,' she said.  'What is it?'

'Just saying good night,' the Doctor said.  'What do you think?' he asked her seriously.

'About saying good night?'

'About this place.'

Peri shrugged.  'Seems nice enough.  Everyone's very friendly.'  As she said it, the light caught the Doctor's eyes and she recalled the young man with his piercing blue eyes who had watched her.  The dead fisherman's brother - Mike Neville.  'Almost everyone,' she corrected herself.  'What do you think?'

'Oh, I think you're right,' the Doctor said.  But he did not sound entirely sure.  'It's just...' he added.

'Just?  Just what?'

'I'm not certain.  There's something.  Madsen's not telling the whole truth for some reason.  There must be a reason for that.'  He smiled suddenly.  'Probably nothing important.  Let's get some sleep, then have a look round in the morning.  With luck we can find our way back to the TARDIS in time for lunch and a quick trip round the White Hole of Stelabilis.'  He stared off into a corner of the room as he spoke, as if imagining the sights and wonders of the Universe.

'Great,' Peri said.  'But right now I want a quick trip to the land of nod.'

'Mmm?' the Doctor asked, jolted back to the present time and place.

'Good night,' Peri said firmly.

'Mmm,' the Doctor agreed.  He closed the door gently behind him.


A shaft of sunlight streaming through the thin curtains woke Peri next morning.  She lay still for a while, enjoying the complete lack of traffic sound.  The only noise that disturbed her was the discordant crying of the seagulls outside her window.  When she eventually twisted her head to see the small alarm clock on the cabinet by the bed, she was amazed to see that it was after eight o'clock.

There was a sink in the corner of the room, and she had been pleased to find the night before that there was plenty of hot water.  As she washed, she wondered vaguely if there was anywhere on the island she could get a toothbrush.  Perhaps there was a village shop of some sort.  A post office?  Something to hunt down this morning.

She made her way downstairs, realising as she went that she was already assuming they would be staying for at least another night.  Well, she had to admit, she had stayed in worse places.  Recently too.  The smell of bacon did nothing to dampen her enthusiasm.

The Doctor was in the kitchen.  He was wearing a white apron which barely covered his ample form.  He was frying bacon over a gas ring.