Prologue
First meetings
One o'clock on the 23rd November 1963 saw young school teacher Alison Collins running down Totter's Lane towards her house. She was just rushing past the old abandoned junk yard when an old man appeared as if from thin air, right in front of her. Alison, not noticing him, continued to run full speed down the lane. This ended, of course, with the poor man being nearly bowled over by the enthusiastic young girl.
Alison stopped abruptly when she felt herself collide with something hard; she looked up slightly dazed and saw the angry face of an old man looking at her.
"Well, I hope you're happy with yourself young lady, nearly knocking over a poor man, it's quite ridiculous", he broke off suddenly and gazed at her almost expectantly.
She was still staring at him, but now her eyes had clouded as if she was severely confused and hadn't understood a word he had just spoken. He sighed seeing the obvious obliviousness of the girl and started muttering under his breath, meanwhile Alison had regained most of her senses and was able to make out a few words: "ridiculous", "humans" and strangely enough a name "Susan", at this last one Alison reacted because she knew Susan. Susan was the name of one of her pupils, her newest pupil in fact, certainly her brightest and, if Alison was being honest with herself, her favourite. Susan, according to the headmaster, lived at 76 Totter's Lane with her grandfather, who must be this man Alison realized. She looked at him a sudden light of excitement in her eyes, "Susan? Do you mean Susan Foreman?" she asked curiously.
It was now his turn to look surprised, it was almost as if he had never heard the name before, or at least he had never heard anyone except himself say it out loud before.
"Yes, of course I do, why? Do you have anything to say about her? Hmmm?" he demanded, now aggressive with, what she assumed to be grandfatherly overprotection.
In reality he was just extremely suspicious of anybody who mentioned Susan like that as people had tried to hurt her or take her away from him before.
"Oh, yes, I do actually", she answered quickly shocked by his verbal attack "I just wanted to tell you how wonderful she is, you must be very proud of her sir –"
"Doctor"
"What? Oh, alright Doctor then, anyway as I was saying is the most intelligent pupil I have ever taught"
"Pupil? Oh, so you're a teacher are you? Hmmm? Well I don't think much of your manners young lady, but thank you, hmmm… ", he trailed off thoughtfully "you must be… Alison, yes Alison Collins the English teacher".
Alison smiled, "that's right si- Doctor but how did you… oh Susan, of course!"
He peered at her closely and she blushed at his gaze and at her own stupidity.
"Well, shouldn't you be at work at this hour Miss Collins, hmmm?" he asked inquiringly.
"Umm… Oh yes I should but you see I was just off home to fetch a book for, well for Susan actually", she smiled at him "she really is curious isn't she? Anyway-", she checked her watch, "I really should be going, otherwise I really shall be late".
She held out her hand, "Well, goodbye Doctor". He grasped her small hand in his and shook it "Hmm?" he said as he was still studying her intently, "Oh yes, goodbye my dear".
At the time neither of them realized the significance of that moment and Alison had absolutely no idea of what would come of that chance meeting on the pavement.