Nyssa had knelt next to the fallen woman, speaking to her in soothing tones. The woman pressed a hand to her chest, gasping for air.
"She's hyperventilating," the Doctor said matter-of-factly. "Try to get her to steady her breathing." He glanced down quickly then returned his gaze to the small group approaching quickly from the interior of the village.
"Please," Nyssa said gently, "it's all right. We won't hurt you in any way. You must try to take small breaths." She rubbed the woman's hand comfortingly. This seemed to have a calming effect; her breathing was less strenuous.
"Don't harm her—please!" called one of the men in the little assemblage.
The Doctor saw that the group had stopped; they remained about five meters away. Their faces reflected abject astonishment mixed with fear. The Time Lord walked toward them. He could see them stiffen, obviously still afraid of him.
"We haven't hurt her," he said steadily. "She seems to have been terribly frightened by something—"
One of the men toward the head of the group raised his hand. "It's…" He seemed to gather his courage, then he nearly spat out, "It's you!"
"Me?" The Doctor halted. "I've frightened her? Oh, I'm sorry! But how have I frightened her? I was under the impression that this face and body were actually rather pleasing—"
"You—" the man began again. "You and the woman with you… It's just that we've never had a… visitor here."
The Doctor blinked. "Never? You mean we're the first visitors you've ever seen?"
The man nodded.
"Oh dear!" the Doctor said. "That would be rather unnerving! I'm sorry. Nyssa," he looked back to find his companion helping the woman to her feet, "how is she?"
"She'll be fine, I think," Nyssa responded. She led the woman toward the Doctor.
He bowed slightly and removed his hat. "You have my sincere apologies," he said. "We had no intention of frightening or upsetting you."
The woman nodded weakly. She was obviously still shaken. She turned her head toward the area outside the village. "The children," she began in a quavering voice. "Are there more of you?"
"We have two other companions," Nyssa said mildly. "But they're very kind. They wouldn't harm anyone."
"My children are out there," she said.
"And if Adric and Tegan should encounter them, they'll be in good hands," the Doctor confirmed with a smile.
"They will be frightened," the woman said.
One of the men leaned forward to take her hand. "It's all right, Cira. We'll go out and find them." He gestured to two other men who followed him and Cira out into the twilight.
The other group members, nearly a dozen in all, had begun to calm slightly. The man who had initially addressed the Doctor said, "Where are you from?"
"Several different places," the Doctor replied.
"And how did you get here?"
"In a ship."
"A space ship?" The man was clearly intrigued by this information.
"Yes."
The others murmured, and the lead man seemed to relax. "I believe that the custom is to offer one's hand to a visitor?" He extended his hand.
The Doctor shook it warmly. "Pleased to meet you. I'm the Doctor, and this is Nyssa."
"And I'm Gerran. May we offer you some food? My wife is preparing supper."
"Thank you," the Doctor said. "That's very gracious of you."
"Forgive us if we aren't certain how to act. Stories have been passed down about this type of situation, and we've read about it in books, but none of us has ever encountered it ourselves."
"You've been perfect hosts," the Doctor responded kindly. "I can assume that you were all born here?"
Gerran nodded. "Yes, and our parents and grandparents, too."
"But how did your ancestors arrive here?"
Gerran glanced back at the nearby houses. "We need to tell the rest of the people about you. They'll be alarmed if they aren't informed of your presence." He nodded to the other men and women accompanying him. "Go and tell them."
The members dispersed, and Gerran led his guests toward a house near the edge of the village. "Please wait here for just a moment," he said. "I must tell my wife about you so that she's not frightened." He entered the house.
"Imagine never having met anyone from outside this village!" Nyssa said. "That means that they're the only inhabitants of the planet."
"So it would seem," the Doctor replied.
"Doctor!" A familiar and distinctively accented voice heralded the Time Lord. He looked toward the edge of the village to see Tegan and Adric approaching. Two small children, perhaps seven or eight years old, walked beside them.
The Doctor called them over. "You must be Cira's children," he said affably.
Rannal seemed to pull in closer to Adric, and Morra stepped behind Tegan.
"They've never seen anyone from outside their village before," Tegan began to explain, but the Doctor stopped her.
"Yes, we're aware of that. We've met their mother and several others. In fact, we've been invited to supper." He nodded toward the house. "I think we'll be asked in shortly."
The door opened and Gerran stepped out. "Ah, Rannal and Morra! Your mother is looking for you. Go and call her, but stay close to the village. Take this light so that she can see you." He handed the boy a lantern.
Rannal looked up at Adric for a moment, appearing hesitant to leave.
"It's all right," Adric reassured him. "I'll be here when you get back."
The boy nodded then took his sister's hand and led her away.
"Bye-bye," Tegan called. "We'll see you later."
"They've really taken to you," Nyssa said as Gerran beckoned them inside.
His house was spacious but not expansive. The furnishings were constructed primarily of wood. Some skill was evident in the construction and design, but the materials appeared to consist of indigenous wood and some stone. Candles and lanterns illuminated the room. A young woman, perhaps a few years older than Tegan, stood near the kitchen doorway.
Gerran stepped over to her to take her arm and lead her forward. "Ellea, please meet our… guests. This is the Doctor and Nyssa."
"And Adric and Tegan," the Doctor finished. He offered Ellea his hand. "How do you do?"
She took his hand hesitantly and gave a slight bow. "Wel… welcome," she stammered. She was obviously taken aback by the visitors but was trying to be courteous.
"I hope," said Gerran, "that you will give us some time to get used to you. You are very welcome here." He smiled.
"I'll bring the food," Ellea said, returning to the kitchen.
Gerran motioned to a square table toward the edge of the room. He sat, as did his guests. The Doctor was looking about, obviously wondering about the furnishings and apparently antiquated lighting. "How long have your people lived here?" he asked.
"Ellea and I are the fourth generation. The children who you met, and a few others, are the fifth."
"And how did your ancestors happen to settle here?" inquired the Doctor, now returning his gaze to Gerran.
Their host seemed to sigh, and his expression darkened for a moment. "It was not by choice," he began. "They crashed here. They were travelers, on their way back home after visiting another planet. Their ship was badly damaged, and they had no way to leave."
"Surely they could have called or signaled for help," Adric suggested.
Gerran shook his head. "Their equipment was destroyed. They hoped that someone might come for them, but no one ever did. After some time they began to build homes, and eventually the village."
"So they had children?" asked Tegan.
"Not with them, but they were young, and there were four women and seven men… Four couples are our great-great-great grandparents."
"And you're all descended from that line?" asked Nyssa.
Gerran nodded.
"How interesting genetically," began Nyssa, but Ellea entered with a stack of bowls.
"Did you make these?" asked Tegan, running her fingers over the smooth ceramic surface of her bowl.
Ellea, still shy in front of the guests, said softly, "No, they're from the shop."
"The shop?" The Doctor appeared interested in this bit of information. "Do you have shops here?"
"Yes," replied Gerran. "There is a shop where we trade our goods. Ellea makes baskets, and my brother and I grow several types of vegetables."
Adric asked, "How many people live here?"
"One hundred fifty-six," Gerran answered.
"And of course you've worked out a separation of labor," the Doctor commented to no one in particular.
Adric watched as Ellea lit a candle in the center of the table. "But didn't your ancestors—the first ones to come here—have knowledge about electricity and batteries?"
Gerran frowned again. "Yes. We've heard of these ideas. Electricity was used as a power source, wasn't it? There were ways of making light without fire. But the equipment has long since worn out. We have to use what we can find and understand."
"And you've done a fine job of applying this planet's resources skillfully," the Doctor commented as Ellea placed a large tureen of soup on the table. "That smells wonderful!"
This compliment finally elicited a small smile from their hostess as she ladled soup into the bowls.
------
Gerran and Ellea graciously offered the visitors the use of two rooms in their home for the night. The TARDIS lay far in the distance, and the night had grown cold, so the Doctor's companions gladly accepted the invitation.
After a quick supper other villagers had begun gathering outside the house, hoping for a glimpse of the guests. The Doctor had taken Adric, Nyssa, and Tegan outside for a short while to greet the residents, most of whom were frightened but curious. As darkness began to fall, Gerran spoke up, telling the others that the guests would remain for the night and that there would be plenty of time in the morning to see them.
He ushered the visitors back inside, apologizing for the gawkers, then showed the Doctor and Adric to one room and Nyssa and Tegan to the other. He wished them a good night then excused himself to retire for the evening.
The rooms were simply furnished but comfortable. Ellea had set out soft nightshirts for each guest. There was a single, small bathroom near the couple's room, complete with a septic-type plumbing system, which Nyssa thought relied upon botanicals; a basin and large ewer filled with water; and a sturdy wooden box lined with smooth resin, ostensibly for bathing.
Nyssa, Tegan, and Adric slept well, while the Doctor remained awake. He lay upon the bed in quiet contemplation for some time, but a noise from the kitchen area piqued his curiosity. If his hosts were still up perhaps they would want some company. He rose and walked out into the hallway. He could hear Gerran and Ellea talking very softy.
He approached the kitchen, ready to greet the couple, but stopped when he saw them. They stood close together, Gerran's hands upon Ellea's shoulders. Their foreheads were touching. The Doctor did not wish to disturb this intimate moment and turned to go.
"What was it like?" he heard Ellea ask in a whisper.
"It was—it's hard to describe. I can't— I mean nothing could truly prepare me for seeing them."
"Sshh," she soothed.
Something in her tone drew the Doctor's attention again. He found their closeness fascinating. For a moment he permitted himself to watch them. Ellea kissed her husband's forehead then placed her hands at his temples, closing her eyes. He shook his head slightly, but she kissed him again. His lids lowered for a moment, then he lifted his eyes to her face.
The Doctor could not see Ellea's expression, but he felt a small twinge of poignancy when Gerran returned her gesture and pressed his lips to her cheek. Now slightly embarrassed to witness their continued intimacy, the Time Lord returned to his room.
------
In the morning Ellea prepared a breakfast of something resembling potatoes, rustic bread with a slightly tart jam that she told them was made from the berries growing on the scrubby bushes, and a soft, ripe cheese. She also served small cups of juice that tasted a bit like tomato.
Gerran told his guests that the rest of the village would be eager to meet them. He proposed a stroll through the streets, to which the Doctor readily agreed.
As they were finishing breakfast, there was a knock at the door. Gerran rose to answer it, returning in a minute with Rannal. He winked at Adric, saying, "The boy wants to speak with you."
Adric stood. "What is it?" he asked.
"I want you show you something," replied the child. "Can you come on a walk with me? Momma says it's all right."
Adric glanced at his companions. The Doctor smiled. "I don't see why not."
Rannal took Adric's hand. "Come on!" His enthusiasm was quite evident.
"But I haven't finished my breakfast," Adric protested, looking wistfully at his half-empty plate.
"Sit down, Rannal," said Ellea. "Have some juice before you go."
The child complied, but he watched Adric expectantly until the Alzarian's plate was clean.
"All right," Adric said, standing. "Where are we going?"
Rannal smiled. "You'll see!" He took Adric's hand and led him out the door.
"He's not particularly shy, is he?" Tegan commented.
Gerran shook his head. "No. He's energetic, that one."
"And terribly curious," added Ellea.
Tegan caught the dark glance that Gerran shot his wife. Ellea stood. "Excuse me," she said softly. "I have work to do."
------
Gerran led the Doctor, Nyssa, and Tegan along the pleasant, shady stone pathways toward the center of the village. As they walked, he asked about their home.
"We're all from different planets," Nyssa explained.
"Yes? And which planets are those?" asked Gerran.
"I'm from Traken," she replied, "and Tegan is from Earth—"
"From Earth? Our ancestors spoke of that planet. They had visited it once. I believe some writings about it still remain in the shrine."
"Shrine?" inquired Tegan.
Gerran nodded. "Yes. We have a special place for the artifacts left here by our forefathers. Would you like to see it?"
"There's stuff from Earth?" asked Tegan.
"I think so," Gerran replied. "And from other places, too." He paused in mid-stride. "Perhaps," he said slowly, "you can help us to identify where some of the items came from. There are some we've wondered about."
"Of course," said the Doctor agreeably. "We'll certainly try. We've done a fair amount of travelling."
"Yes? And your ship is near here?" Gerran continued walking.
"It's a short distance away," the Doctor confirmed.
"How large is it?"
Tegan responded quickly, "It's pretty small—just room for the four of us." She purposefully avoided the Doctor's gaze, knowing that he would not appreciate her fabrication.
"Oh." Gerran's tone contained a note of disappointment. "Well, we would certainly enjoy seeing it."
Now Tegan did catch the Doctor's eye. She shook her head, feeling a vague sense of mistrust. While these people had been hospitable and she felt no threat from them, she was unsure about revealing the TARDIS to them.
To her surprise, the Doctor said, "I'm afraid it's rather basic. There isn't much to see. But if you're curious I can take you later today. It looks rather like rain, though." He lifted his face to the sky. Indeed, dark clouds were gathering in the distance. "It wouldn't be safe to cross the batholiths with lightning in the atmosphere."
"No, of course not," Gerran agreed. "And this storm will probably last a full day. Perhaps tomorrow we might see your ship."
The Doctor made a somewhat noncommittal noise and increased his pace slightly. "What a magnificent garden!" he said, swerving to admire a large square plot covered in vegetable plants.
Gerran joined him. "Ellea helps to tend it, as do my brother and I."
"You've done a masterful job," the Doctor said. "What do you use for fertilizer?"
"Compost, mostly." He pointed to several large wooden barrels at the edge of the garden.
The Doctor followed his gesture. "Worms?"
Gerran nodded as the Time Lord bent to lift several leaves. "Sweet potatoes, peas, squash... very nice, and quite nutritious. Where are your goats?"
"In a pasture at the edge of the village," said Gerran. "How did you know about them?"
"The cheese Ellea served was clearly made from goat's milk."
A number of villagers had emerged from their homes, and they watched the visitors with interest but some trepidation. Nyssa smiled at the nearest person and beckoned her over. Gradually most of the onlookers approached the guests. There were many handshakes and timid greetings before Gerran explained that the newcomers were going to visit the shrine and perhaps explain the origins of some of the objects. This information was met with quiet enthusiasm, and the residents stepped back to permit the small group to continue on its way.
"Doctor," Gerran said after a moment, "if you would stay for a few days it would mean a great deal to all of us. To hear about other places would be—" He seemed overcome with emotion for a few seconds. "It's something that no one else has ever been able to offer us."
The Doctor glanced at Tegan and Nyssa. Both young women were smiling. "We'd be honored," he said.
Gerran appeared almost relieved. "Thank you."
------
Rannal led Adric out beyond the village to the area where he had played with his sister the previous day. He showed the Alzarian a particularly fractured batholith with many plants growing between the cracks.
"I tried to count the rocks once," the child said, "but there were too many!"
"How high did you count?" asked Adric with a flicker of a smile. As a toddler he had been fascinated with numbers and had counted everything in sight.
Rannal considered this for a moment. "To four hundred and ten."
Adric raised an eyebrow. "That's pretty high," he said, "but I can show you a way to count them all quickly."
Rannal's face lit up. "Really?"
"Yes." Adric pulled a small pad and pencil stub from his pocket. "The first thing you need to understand is how to multiply. Do you know what that means?"
Rannal shook his head.
"All right." Adric's eyes scanned the ground for a moment, then he picked up a handful of pebbles. "I'm going to place three pebbles in a row, like this. Now I'll make a second row." He moved the small stones into the appropriate configurations. "If you count the pebbles I put down, how many are there?"
Rannal immediately replied, "Six!"
"Yes. What if I put down another row of three? How many would I have then?"
"Nine!"
Impressed with the child's acumen, Adric continued. "Instead of counting them all, or adding them like you did, you could think of them as groups. See," he pointed, "two groups of three is six."
Rannal nodded. "You know a lot about counting!"
"I do. The word for that—for knowing a lot about counting and numbers—is mathematics."
"Mathematics. My momma told me about it. She said I'll learn it when I get a little further in my lessons."
"That's good. Mathematics is very useful. In fact, there are few things in the universe that don't rely on mathematical principles."
Rannal seemed a bit lost by this last comment, so Adric touched his badge and added, "I got this for excellence in mathematics."
The child rested his finger against the shiny metal. "Really?"
Adric nodded. "On my home planet, knowledge was very important."
Rannal dropped his hand and looked back down at the pebbles. "Show me more!"
With a grin, Adric said, "I'd be glad to."
------
The shrine was housed in a small, stone building near the center of the village. As the visitors approached it, Gerran told them that the larger edifices were used as workshops, a store of sorts, and a public meeting house.
When they entered the shrine they found smooth wooden pillars of varying heights displaying a variety of objects, from several used ball point pens to flashlights and lightbulbs to old plastic and glass bottles.
Gerran pointed to a rusted flashlight. "This was used to make light. It didn't need any flame. Something inside it caused the bulb to glow."
"That was the battery," Tegan began.
"Are you familiar with the use of those?" the Doctor interjected.
"Yes. We've heard the stories from our grandparents. Do you know how they work?"
The Doctor smiled benignly. "A bit."
"Would you explain it to me, and perhaps to the others?"
The Doctor's eyes moved quickly around the room. "There may be some materials here that are recyclable," he murmured.
"Recyclable?" asked Gerran. "I don't know what you mean."
"He means that they could be used again to make new—" Tegan started to explain, but once again the Doctor cut her off.
"I'm not certain that anything here is still usable," he amended quickly, averting his eyes from Tegan's curious expression. "I'll have to think about it for some time. But thank you for showing us these items."
Gerran nodded toward a small metal box. "Can you tell us what that was used for, and where it came from?"
The Doctor bent to study the object. "It was a device used to play music. This one looks Terran."
"From Earth," Tegan clarified.
"Really? But what sound would it make? Do people on other planets consider dull thuds to be music?"
"No," the Doctor replied, "this machine reproduced recorded music."
Gerran's expression became sober. "Recorded music? I would like to hear that."
Nyssa placed her hand upon his arm. "I'm sure you sing beautiful songs here."
"Perhaps," he conceded, "but they're only made by our voices. Stories about musical instruments have been passed down… they must sound wonderful."
Trying to lighten the wistful mood, Nyssa pointed at a small plastic container. "This held medicine, didn't it?"
Gerran looked at the item. "Yes, I believe that it did."
"Your people must know a great deal about herbal medicines," she said. "Everyone here seems quite healthy."
"Most are," Gerran agreed. "There are many plants that can be used to treat illnesses. We still have several books that tell about them."
"You do?" asked Nyssa. "I'd like to see those."
"Would you? The healer has them. They're very precious to us. Our healer keeps them with her, but perhaps she'd be willing to show them to you if you have a special interest."
"I do," said Nyssa.
"All right. I'll take you when we've finished here. Could you tell me about this?" He gestured toward a small, flat metal item.
"Ah," said the Doctor, "that is a key. It was used to lock something."
"To lock something?" Gerran appeared confused by this.
"Yes," Tegan explained. "To keep others out."
Gerran blinked. "Why would anyone want to do that?"