The vessel had become easier to control. They had been able to reach out into the critical areas and take command of the central processor, gradually programming their wishes into it. The ship was still able to function, and soon they would redirect it to the precise course they desired.
At the moment, the vessel was fairly still, its only movements those required to keep its components functioning at a basic level. This was the ideal time to begin their concerted efforts to take greater control of it. They gathered together to share their desires and see that their will was done.
Turlough had taken a stroll through the village after the meal, but a niggling headache still persisted. He chided himself for enjoying another cup of wine with dinner. It had brought the dull ache back. The night birds chirruped, which seemed to intensify his discomfort. He headed back to Ennen's house.
His hosts greeted him amicably and asked if there was anything he needed. He accepted a cup of juice then retired to the room he'd been given. He removed his jacket, shoes, and socks and lay down on the bed. The night was warm, so he did not need a blanket. He closed his eyes and slept immediately.
Several hours later he sat up in the darkness. The village was quiet; even the nocturnal animals had stilled. The other cot, set up for the Doctor, was empty. Turlough rubbed at his eyes then stood, eyes darting around in the dim light. Finally he reached for the empty cup near the bed and held it to his lips. With a disappointed sigh he padded out of the room, still gripping the cup in his hand.
After seeing Tegan off to bed, the Doctor had gone back to Cabar's hut to find the shaman meditating again. At first he worried that the shaman had ingested another significant quantity of the dreaming tea, but as he observed the man he noted that his breathing was steadier and stronger and his color was better than it had been while he had been under the influence of the drug. This time Cabar appeared to be immersed deeply in his own thoughts without any outside assistance, other than a bit of incense that perfumed the room subtly.
He did not seem to notice his guest's arrival. Indeed, when the Doctor settled down across the room on a softly woven mat, the shaman did not stir. He continued his very soft humming undisturbed.
The Time Lord permitted himself to relax. He needed some time away from Tegan and Turlough to consider what had really happened to his TARDIS. The atmosphere in the shaman's hut was tranquil, and soon the Doctor found himself in a light trance, thoughts ebbing and flowing gently as he opened his mind to sensations normally beyond his conscious perception.
The two men remained seated, eyes closed and bodies relaxed, for several hours. Finally, the Doctor opened his eyes to find Cabar watching him.
"I'm sorry," the Time Lord said quickly. "I didn't intend to intrude."
"You were dreaming?"
"No, not exactly—more like meditating, thinking deeply."
Cabar nodded. "You're welcome here whenever you like. This is a place for thoughts and dreams, for visions and messages from the spirits."
"Thank you. Did I disturb you?"
"No. I could feel you here while I was dreaming, but it was something of a comfort. Your state encouraged me to remain in mine."
"I'm glad that I wasn't a hindrance."
"No, Doctor, you weren't. And I'm glad you're here. I was planning to come and find you tonight anyway."
The Doctor's eyes widened with interest. "You were? Ah, of course. Something happened during the meal, didn't it?"
Cabar nodded. He seemed hesitant to continue but was clearly anxious to share some piece of information.
"Did it involve Tegan?" the Doctor asked carefully.
Cabar stood and extinguished the incense between his finger and thumb. "Yes, Doctor," he replied slowly, "it did. There is something that you need to know."
Tegan had fallen asleep quickly and slept soundly for several hours. It was her stomach that woke her well before dawn. Her belly was rumbling uncomfortably, and she remembered that she had not eaten since lunch. Well, at least she could tell the Doctor that her nausea had gone away. Then he could stop fussing over her. Truth be told, however, she had been rather touched by his concern.
She debated waiting until morning to get up, but she really was famished. Quietly she got out of bed, grateful that the oil lamp was still emitting a faint glow and a sweet aroma. She crept out into the living area. The house's inhabitants, of course, were still asleep, and she was not sure where they kept their food. It seemed that most meals were shared by the entire extended family, and she had a feeling that many of the ingredients were at Ennen's home. She did recall seeing baskets of fruit sitting out on the tables that were scattered throughout the village. She felt certain that no one would mind if she helped herself.
Tegan exited the house and looked around the still community, pausing for a few seconds so that her eyes could adjust to the darkness. There were fire pits, surrounded by attractive stone borders, every fifteen meters or so, and the embers still glowed, providing a bit of light. She spied a small table with a basket upon it not far away and walked toward it. She reached inside, her hand brushing the tender skin of the sweet fruit. A strong, cloying aroma rose up, and for a moment she felt overwhelmed by it. She closed her eyes and took a step back. She felt odd suddenly, a hint of the nausea returning.
The smoke from the dying fire seemed choking, and she stumbled toward the jungle, hoping for some fresh air. But as she passed through the leaves and flowers of the dense foliage, the smoke seemed to grow heavier, and her head began to spin. She was disoriented, confused.
Tegan stood blinking for a minute before she saw the flames. They were only a few meters away. She gasped and turned around, suddenly realizing how close the village was. The fire was spreading quickly; she had to get help.
She sprinted away, swerving toward the nearest hut she recognized. She burst through the doorway, yelling, "Fire!"
Cabar and the Doctor were sitting on the floor. They both looked up at her with surprise.
"There's a fire!" she panted, swinging her arm back to indicate where the threat was. "It's close to the village."
Both men stood quickly, and the Doctor hurried toward the door, brushing past her to rush outside. Cabar was close at his heels, calling out for assistance even as he reached for a bucket of water. The Doctor was already nearing the flames, a bucket in his hands, too.
And from somewhere nearby Turlough appeared. Tegan stared at him for an instant, feeling even more disoriented. Wasn't Ennen's home in the other direction? Her head was swimming, and she leaned against the hut to get her bearings.
Within a few minutes the entire village was awake. The next hour was a blur to Tegan. People dashed about, frantic yet purposeful as they tried to extinguish the fire. She wanted to help, but Ennen's wife and Mita held her back. She was still coughing and lightheaded from her exposure to the smoke, and finally the other women took her to Ennen's home to sit with her as they waited anxiously for word that the fire was out. She began to shiver in the pre-dawn chill, and her new friends gave her a warm blanket to wrap around her shoulders. She hugged the blanket around herself and waited.
Turlough had found the Doctor quickly and stood next to him as he passed the buckets up toward the men nearest the fire. A sort of brigade had been organized by the Time Lord, with a line of men stretching from the stream to the blaze. Nearly every large container in the village had been enlisted in the group's efforts to douse the flames.
When it was clear that the fire could be contained, Turlough asked the Doctor, "Does anyone know how it started?"
The Time Lord shook his head. "No. There was no lightning, no wind to spread embers from the village fires."
"Who was the first one to see it?"
The Doctor passed a full pot to the next man in the line then turned back to Turlough for a moment. "Tegan."
"She was up?" he asked, voice rising slightly.
"She must have been. And she was coughing when she came to tell us, which means that she was out in the jungle, close to the flames."
"What was she doing out there?"
The Doctor shook his head and accepted the bucket passed to Turlough then to him. "I don't know, Turlough, but I'm going to find out."
Just after dawn Ennen returned. He was tired and smudged with soot, but he reported that the fire had been stopped. His wife embraced him in a relieved hug.
"Was anyone hurt?" Tegan asked.
"No," the elder replied. "I don't think so. The smoke made it hard to breathe, but everyone is resting now and drinking water. They should be all right."
"Where are the Doctor and Turlough?" she asked.
"Right here." The objects of her inquiry stepped through the door. They were not as dirty as Ennen, but flakes of ash clung in their hair, and their faces were sooty.
Tegan dropped her blanket and went to a water basin immediately. She dipped two cloths and took them to the Time Lord and the Trion lad. "Here," she said, holding out the cloths.
Turlough took his with a nod and began wiping his face. The Doctor reached for the other cloth but stopped, his eyes moving to Tegan's hand. "How did you get that?" he asked.
Confused, she lifted the cloth. "It was near the basin," she began. "I'm sure they won't mind if you borrow it—"
"No, Tegan," he said, voice husky, "this." He took her hand in his and pointed at a red, blistered area stretching from the base of her thumb to her wrist.
Tegan stared at the burn. "I must have been closer to the fire than I thought."
"You don't remember getting this? It must have hurt."
She shook her head. "I don't know. There was so much smoke, and I was sort of dizzy. And I knew I had to tell everyone—"
"Tell them what?" Turlough's blue eyes seemed to pierce her.
"That there was a fire," she replied. "What did you think?"
With a nod of acknowledgement toward Ennen and his family, the Doctor pressed his hand to Tegan's back. "Excuse us, please," he said politely. "I'm going to take Tegan back to her quarters."
He steered her toward the door, Turlough right behind them.
"Doctor, I feel like I've missed something," she said.
"Perhaps you have."
She gave him a questioning look, but he did not say anything else until they had reached Mita's house. He took her inside and gestured for her to sit on one of the chairs in the living area. Turlough lingered in the doorway until the Doctor asked him to bring a bowl of water.
The Doctor pulled up a second chair and sat down to face her. He leaned forward and placed his hands on her shoulders, his eyes fixed upon hers.
"What were you doing out in the jungle in the middle of the night?" he asked.
"It was my stomach," she responded. "I woke up and I was hungry; I went outside for some fruit. The smoke from the fire pits was bothering me, so I walked out toward the jungle for some air. That's when I noticed the fire."
He kept his eyes locked on hers. "And when did you burn yourself?"
She tried to look away, but he moved one hand up to hold her chin so that she had to face him.
"Tegan, please look at me," he instructed. "Now tell me when you received this burn."
She swallowed. Her throat felt terribly dry. "I don't know."
"You can't remember?"
She closed her eyes. "No."
Turlough returned with the bowl of water, and the Doctor took her hand to pat the burn gently with his saturated handkerchief. Now the injury had begun to sting, and she winced.
"It hurts?" he asked.
She nodded.
"But you weren't aware of it before, until I pointed it out to you?"
She shook her head. "I suppose I was worrying about other things."
He held a dry cloth over the burn. "I'll see if I can find some aloe or something similar to ease the pain. You should rest now, Tegan." He stood and took her elbow to help her rise.
When she had gone to her room, he motioned for Turlough to follow him outside.
"What's going on, Doctor?" he asked.
"Don't you see?"
"I'm not sure… you think Tegan's lying about the fire, about how close she was to it? But why would she do that?"
"Because, Turlough," the Time Lord replied gravely, "I believe she was involved in setting it."