Prologue
Amy walked up the metal ramp towards the central console. The chamber, lit with a soothing golden glow, was incredible, but she was determined not to gush in front of the Doctor. "Okay," she nodded coolly, "this is impressive. Bigger in here than it is out there." She gestured with her thumb back towards the door.
The Doctor took off his jacket and slung it over the railing as he followed her. "Good that, isn't it?"
Amy brushed her hands over the myriad of intricate controls and dials on the console. "So this is where you fly this 'TARDIS' from, is it?"
"Yup." He scurried forwards and slapped her hand away. "Oy! Hands away from there please - we could end up anywhere!"
"Really?" Amy pouted. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. "Nah, I don't believe you."
The Doctor knew she was baiting him and just grinned. "Okay, Miss Price." His hands ran across the controls, flipping switches and turning dials. "Hold on."
Amy leant over the console and smiled.
*********************
The orange sun hung low in the warm night air and insects chirped noisily as the two men struggled in the dirt.
Reason had long since left both of them. Their sandy safari suits were ripped and covered with mud as they wrestled, their faces contorted in anger. One man heaved the other off him, and pushed his opponent backwards as he got unsteadily to his feet.
He drew a ragged breath as he quickly hurled himself towards the other man. His momentum took them up the grass and dirt covered slope, and they grappled, twisting and punching.
But his opponent ducked his punch and landed a heavy blow to the man's stomach. He doubled up in pain as his breath left him. Seeing his chance, the other man grabbed hold of the first's shoulders, intending to deliver a terrible blow to the head, but his foot slipped on a patch of loose dirt.
Time seemed to freeze as he lost his balance and fell backwards with a yell. The first man looked up in pain as he watched the other tumble away from him. His face red and streaked with tears, he reached out his arm to grab the falling man, but it was too late.
The scream receded as the other man fell from the ravine's edge and into the darkness below.
The explorer crawled to the edge and looked down, but he could see nothing. His face crumpled as he watched and his body jerked with terrible wracking sobs.
The orange sun finally vanished below the horizon as night fell around him.
1.
In a dark side alley, a horse drawn cart pulled slowly out of a yard. The cart was built from rough planks of wood and covered by a tarpaulin. The driver wore thick trousers and a large dirty overcoat, with a tatty cap perched on his grey haired head.
As the cart pulled away, just inside the yard, the small light on top of a tall blue box stopped flashing as it slowly materialised into existence. The unearthly wheezing, groaning sound faded away as the Doctor stepped out in his usual blue pin-striped suit, red and white sneakers and long brown coat. He held the door of the TARDIS open and shouted inside. "Come on then, come and look."
Amy appeared in the TARDIS doorway wearing a gorgeous red and purple Victorian gown with an intricately embroidered shawl over her shoulders. A small fur muffler for her hands hung around her neck. Her long dark red-brown hair was pinned up and fastened under a small bonnet. She grinned at the Doctor. "Now this is cool! We get to dress up as well! Great gear Doctor," she said. "It's really serious! Why you have a load of this in your wardrobe is best not asked, but," she took a breath and looked down at herself, "will it do?"
"I'm sure you look ravishing!" replied the Doctor, smiling back at her.
Amy looked around enthusiastically, even though the alley was still dark and an unpleasant pungent smell floated on the air. "So this is Victorian London?"
The Doctor rubbed his nose thoughtfully. "Yup, looks like. Not sure of the exact date though." He patted the TARDIS affectionately. "The TARDIS likes to take us on a mystery tour sometimes."
Amy raised an eyebrow. "Pardon me?"
The Doctor opened his mouth to explain, but then shut it again. "Oh, one thing at a time!" he muttered before glaring at her in mock indignation. "Look, I bring you to your first visit to a different time and all you can do is have a go!"
Amy laughed and held up her hands in surrender. "No, no. Seriously impressed, see?" She pointed to her face. "This is me, seriously impressed."
The Doctor smiled. "Good!"
Amy laughed mischievously and took his arm. "I can't wait to see what London looks like, what, about a hundred years before I was born!"
The Doctor grinned. "Then, Miss Price, shall we go?"
Amy picked up her skirt. "Do you know Doctor, I'd love to!"
2.
The Doctor and Amy walked out of the alley and into the main street.
Amy looked around in amazement at all the sights and sounds of the bustling city. It was early morning, and as ever, a thick fog hung in the air. Horse drawn hansom cabs and carriages rattled over the cobbled streets whilst people of all descriptions walked briskly about their business. London in Victoria's time was truly a melting pot for all types of society. Well dressed men in top hats and canes accompanied elegantly gowned young ladies. Other less savoury men and women loitered around street corners, dressed in faded clothes that had seen better days. A rickety cart was pulled along by a couple of oriental men and scruffily dressed children ran up and down the street in some kind of game.
"Ah, London," exclaimed the Doctor, breathing in deeply. "It's so Victorian - just smell that fog."
"Charming," muttered Amy with a cough, wrinkling her nose as she avoided dirty hay in the gutters and jumped over large puddles to avoid dragging her long skirt through the filthy water.
Across the road, a small boy of about ten, dressed in a dirty grey coat with a scarf and cap, was selling newspapers. "Extra, extra - read all about it!" he shouted, holding one aloft. "Expedition returns from darkest Africa! Read all about it."
"A newspaper - just the thing we need!" exclaimed the Doctor and strode across to the boy. He dug deeply in his jacket before finding a few pennies and offered them to the boy, who handed over a newspaper. The Doctor opened it up and read the date. "1883. Hmm, not a bad year - bit boring. No Jolly Jack about yet, mind you, which is a relief!" He scanned down the paper before stopping at one of the headline stories. "This is interesting though."
"What is?" asked Amy, peering over his shoulder at the newspaper.
"An expedition has just come back from the African interior," the Doctor read, "a Professor Bradley apparently. He's set up an exhibit at the Natural History Museum." The Doctor's eyes lit up with interest. "There are specimens too!"
"But I thought we were going to see a bit of London?" sighed Amy. "I don't fancy a boring Museum."
"Well, yes we are Amy," the Doctor said evasively, "but this is what Victoriana is all about. I haven't been to Africa for..." he paused and blew out his cheeks, "oh…at least a century or two."
Amy rolled her eyes and glared at the Doctor. "You are such a show off!"
The Doctor ignored her barb. "I'll tell you what. It's still early, so a quick look around the museum, and then we can go anywhere you want."
Amy thrust her hands into her muffler and looked at the Doctor suspiciously.
He grinned a little sheepishly before stepping to the edge of the pavement and raised his arm. "Carriage!"
A few seconds later, a horse drawn hansom cab pulled to a stop in front of them. The Doctor held the door open for Amy, who gave the Doctor a sidelong look as she climbed aboard. The Doctor climbed in after and sat beside her before knocking on the roof of the cab. "The Natural History Museum, please driver." The Doctor grinned at Amy. "You'll love it, don't worry!"
Amy just pursed her lips as the cab rattled off down the cobbled street.
3.
Charlie Weaver was not a happy man. He took a last drag from his cigarette and dropped the butt onto the cobbled paving. He blew the smoke into the cold air and looked up the street for any sign of Lenny, but there were only a couple of urchins running backwards and forwards in a game of tag.
Weaver was in his mid thirties and looked every inch the hardened thug that he wished to portray. His hair was dark and greasy, with flecks of grey at the sides. He had dark, sunken eyes and a large jaw that was covered in two days of stubble. He was dressed in a large grey overcoat, a scarf around his neck and a cap pulled low over his brow.
He looked up as he sensed movement and saw a woman walking, or more like swaying, towards him. Her dress that was once elegant was now threadbare, with lace that hung unkempt from the hem. She wore bright red lipstick and rouge, and smiled at him, revealing rotten teeth. "Hello dearie."
Weaver turned away. He was in no mood for company. "Not now Molly," he muttered, "I need to 'ave at least two pints in the 'Royal' first!"
The woman's smile faded and she walked briskly past him, muttering curses under her breath.
Weaver shifted his feet, stamping them up and down to keep the blood circulating in the cold morning chill.
Suddenly a small figure appeared at the top of the street and Weaver turned as he saw the man run towards him. The newcomer was a man in his early forties with shifty, feral features and a small moustache. He too wore a dark coat with a cap and scarf.
"About time!" Weaver cursed. "Where 'ave you been Lenny?"
"Been watching 'em, 'aven't I?" wheezed Lenny.
"Yeah, well what's been 'appening then?" asked Weaver impatiently.
"They've got into a cab. Gone to the museum. I 'eard 'em tell the driver!" said Lenny proudly.
Weaver looked down the street. "Well, we better get after 'em. Boss wants us to rough 'em up a bit."
Lenny grinned wolfishly as he followed behind Weaver. "'How much?" he asked nastily.
Weaver looked back over his shoulder and gave a terrible smile. "Enough. Come on."
They walked out of side-street and into the main road. Weaver started to whistle. Perhaps it would turn out to be a good day after all.
4.
The journey across London was very bumpy, but Amy still enjoyed it enormously. She watched out of the carriage window as they passed St. Paul's Cathedral and then along the banks of the Thames. Amy was amazed at how similar and yet different Victorian London was compared to the city she knew in the early twenty first century.
"No London Eye," she grinned, pointing to the river.
"No endless chains of burger places or coffee shops either," replied the Doctor gratefully.
Amy just laughed. "You do this all the time?"
"What?"
"This 'time travelling'?"
The Doctor grinned. "Pretty much - brilliant isn't it?"
The hansom passed the Houses of Parliament and the Doctor smiled at Amy who gasped at the sight of London Bridge in all its Victorian splendour. Before long, the cab pulled to a halt outside the impressive stone building that was the Natural History Museum. The horse snorted in the cool morning air as the Doctor paid the driver before they both stepped stiffly down.
Amy rubbed her bruised back. "That was a great trip! Not the most comfortable mind you!"
The Doctor laughed and gestured towards the museum in front of them. "There you go Amy, one of the best museums on Earth – especially now. The Victorians loved collecting things from all over the Empire."
Amy looked up at the museum and let out a sigh, her heart sinking. "I'm not really into museums, Doctor. We won't be long will we? I want to go around London again."
"Oh come on Amy, just a quick peek at this exhibit," pleaded the Doctor. "Tell you what: just an hour here, and then I'll buy you lunch at the Ritz!"
Amy nodded and smiled, rubbing her gloved hands together. "Right, you've got a deal!"
They walked up the massive stone steps and through the large vaulted archway that led into the main hall of the museum. The murmur of voices echoed around the walls as people viewed the exhibits. Impressive display cases lined the walls and formed rows down the middle of the room. A large poster with elegant script proclaimed 'Professor George Bradley's Expedition to the African Interior: Gallery Four.'
The Doctor smiled at Amy and they set off deeper into the museum past the large skeleton of a dinosaur that was being viewed by several impeccably dressed young children, accompanied by their ever watchful governess.
Amy nudged the Doctor. "I remember that when I came here with a school trip. Wow!"
The Doctor gave a snort. "I remember the live variety! An allosaurus….very nasty!"
"Doctor," warned Amy in a sotto voice, "showing off again!"
5.
As the Doctor and Amy reached the correct gallery, they heard the sound of raised angry voices.
Exchanging a curious glance, they entered to see a well-dressed man with a cane and top hat arguing with two rough looking men in dark overcoats and caps. The man was in his early fifties, balding, with a large grey moustache. His face was red with rage and embarrassment. Beside them was a frightened young girl wearing an elegant dark blue Victorian dress. She was in her early twenties and very pretty, with long red hair that was pinned up in curls atop her head. The argument seemed to be getting quite heated, and the man raised his cane threateningly.
"If you two don't leave us alone, I'll bally use this!" he blustered.
The Doctor strode quickly over to the argument. "Excuse me, but could one of you direct us to the African exhibit?" he asked loudly, catching the cane and twisting it effortlessly from the gentleman's hand.
Amy positioned herself close to the young lady.
The two rough looking men, one big with a lantern jaw, and the other smaller with pointed features and a moustache, exchanged a wary look and backed away. Then they turned and ran off into the depths of the museum.
The Doctor watched them go. "Art critics, obviously!" he muttered ruefully.
The gentleman with the cane pulled it from the Doctor's grasp. "Unhand me sir. Devilish cheek!"
The girl placed a restraining hand on his arm. "Father, please."
He looked at her sheepishly. "What - oh I'm sorry. I'm forgetting my manners. Thank you sir: a timely intervention. Allow me to introduce myself. Professor George Bradley at your service; and this is my daughter Mary." He gave a small bow and extended his hand.
"Pleased to meet you Professor," grinned the Doctor, shaking Bradley's hand. "I'm the Doctor and this is my companion Miss Amy Price."
Amy smiled warmly at Bradley and his daughter. "Hi."
Suddenly, as a thought struck him, the Doctor snapped his fingers. "Not the Professor Bradley?"
Bradley nodded proudly and thrust out his chest. "The one and the same sir - just returned from my expedition in deepest, darkest Africa."
"Then this is your exhibit!" Amy exclaimed.
"Absolutely," Bradley enthused. "Would you like to see some of the artefacts?"
The Doctor grinned. "Do you know, we'd love to Professor!"
They crossed the museum gallery to where an area had been screened off using folding partition walls where an entrance had been made through a crude mock up of an African mud hut. A large sign on an easel was set next to the entrance and proclaimed 'The Zambian Collection by Professor George Bradley'.
6.
The Doctor turned to Bradley. "I hope I wasn't," he paused, "interrupting anything back there."
Bradley and his daughter exchanged a worried look, and Bradley cleared his throat meaningfully. "Nothing that concerns you Doctor," he blustered. "Shall we go in?"
The exhibition area was moodily lit by flickering gas lamps and was covered by displays of African carvings and artwork. Smaller masks and jewellery pieces were displayed on podiums and behind glass. There were even a few stuffed animals, such as monkeys and birds of prey, in glass cases.
"Wow!" Amy gasped as she looked around, impressed despite herself.
"Fascinating isn't it!" said Bradley proudly. "All of what you see here was brought back by my expedition." He walked over to a display cabinet that held maps and other artefacts
The Doctor looked around with keen interest. "Brilliant, Professor, just brilliant." His gaze fell on a piece of intricate jewellery in a display case, and his eyes widened. "How interesting..."
"Isn't it?" Bradley gushed, gently dusting off an African mask with reverence. "This is only the first shipment. I have more exhibits in storage, ready for display."
Amy rolled her eyes as she watched the Doctor and Bradley. She grinned at Mary. "They're like school kids, aren't they?"
Mary laughed and nodded. "I know. Father is terrible once he starts!"
As Amy looked around the exhibit, she noticed a slight movement behind one of the main display cases. She looked closer and thought she saw a dark figure in the shadows besides the entrance. She walked across to the Doctor and tugged on his arm. "Doctor, I think we're being watched!" she whispered.
The Doctor turned to look but saw nothing. "Nah," he scoffed, "you're imagining things." He turned back to the exhibits. "Tell me Professor, where exactly did you find these?"
Bradley gestured towards the display cases that contained the expedition maps. "A remote basin in Zambia. Bit of an elephant's graveyard actually - caused quite a hoo-haa with the local natives."
Mary frowned. "And that's not all, is it father?" she said quietly. The Doctor noticed a strained look pass between them and Bradley looked away quickly.
Amy poked her tongue at the Doctor's back. She picked her skirts up and stepped warily into the shadows surrounding the exhibit.
The Doctor indicated the piece of jewellery he had noticed. "That piece looks particularly beautiful."
Bradley joined him at the display case and looked down proudly at the intricately carved bracelet. It looked like it was fashioned from ornate copper with several semi-precious gems laid into it at regular intervals, joined by silver tracing. "Marvellous craftsmanship, eh? You'd never think…."
Bradley was interrupted by a high-pitched yelp from behind one of the exhibits.
The Doctor whirled around. "Amy!"