"But why would she do something like that?" Turlough asked, eyes open wide with incredulity. "What could she possibly gain by starting a fire?"
"She may not have been acting of her own volition," the Doctor said.
"Someone forced her to do it?"
"I'm not sure. But I want you to think back to this afternoon. When you went to look for the book, where did Tegan go? Did you see her walk away from the console room, or could she have remained there?"
"You're thinking that she moved the TARDIS. Does she know how to do that?"
"She's done it before."
Turlough shook his head. "I suppose she could have gone back to the console room after I went down the hall. I didn't look back. When I returned, she was just outside the doorway—"
"So she could have been in there."
The former schoolboy shrugged. "I really can't say."
They were walking toward the shaman's home now. Most of the villagers had returned to their houses to bathe and rest after the night's exertions, so they saw few people about. Still, Turlough's eyes darted from building to building, watching to be certain that their conversation would not be overheard.
In a low voice, he said, "Tell me why you think it was her."
"I'm afraid that the evidence is not in her favor. I believe that she got sick because of the anxiety she felt over sending the TARDIS away."
"But she told me it was the pudding—"
The Doctor sighed. "It's possible that she believes that consciously, but at a subconscious level she feels very anxious about what she did. There were signs of it after dinner last night."
"And you think that she got the burn setting the fire," Turlough concluded.
"Yes. She can't remember it happening because she's blocking it from her mind."
"But I still don't understand why she'd do those things, why she'd put us in danger like that."
They were near the shaman's hut, and the Doctor paused outside the doorway. "Cabar and I are working on an explanation for that. One reason that he is such a skilled shaman is that he's an empath; he can sense the feelings of other people at a deeper level than most humans can."
"So he's psychic?"
"No, not really. He cannot read others' thoughts per se; rather he picks up on their general emotions. When he first met Tegan, he could sense that she had experienced something very disturbing, something very dark… You've heard Tegan mention the Mara, haven't you? She doesn't like to discuss it, but I think you've gathered that her mind was taken over by the creature. With a bit of assistance, I was able to destroy it and free her, but the experience left an impression on her."
"And Cabar knew this?"
The Time Lord gave a nod of acknowledgement. "He felt it immediately. But he felt something else, too." The Doctor's eyes locked on Turlough for an instant.
The young man took a sharp breath. "What was that?"
"When he gave the blessing and touched our hands, he sensed an outside presence, the same type of presence he had always felt by the stream. It was very strong, so much so that he felt it physically. That's why he left the meal so suddenly."
"And he thinks that the presence was coming from Tegan?" Turlough was suddenly aware of the soot that remained on his hands. He rubbed his palms over his trousers.
"Yes."
"I'm still not sure what you're getting at. You don't believe in spirits, so I'm guessing that you wouldn't buy the idea of some sort of possession—"
"Not in the traditional sense, no. But Tegan was taken over by the Mara. Her mind is susceptible to strong psychic influences. Cabar believes that a spirit from the stream is clinging to her; he is convinced that its presence is what he felt when he touched her hand."
"And what do you think?"
"I think that there is something here, some energy or entity that dwelt at the stream and has now shifted its focus to Tegan. It wants to strand us here and destroy this village."
"But why? What's the point of that?"
"If I could answer that, Turlough, we would be well on our way to solving this entire problem."
"Is it alien? The entity, I mean?"
"My guess is that it is, but I'm not sure yet."
"So what are we going to do?"
The Doctor bent down to break a stalk from a bluish succulent. He held out the piece to Turlough. "You're going to take this to Tegan; tell her to rub it on the burn. Then I want you to remain near her hut to be sure that she doesn't leave, or to follow her if she does."
"And what are you going to do?"
"I need to discuss this further with Cabar."
Turlough walked back to Mita's home, stopping just outside the doorway to snap the stalk in half. He tucked the smaller piece into his pants pocket then went inside to give the other half to Tegan. She was lying on the bed and seemed to be sleeping, so he left the aloe leaf on the small table and went outside to sit near the entrance.
With a quick glance around, he pulled the stalk from his pocket then lifted his bare foot. He bit his lip to keep from crying out as he rubbed the aloe over the burns on his sole. What an idiot he'd been to wander outside without his shoes on.
They had found it interesting to observe how the vessel functioned. They were learning how to control it more consistently and finding that it seemed more compliant to their commands.
They still did not completely understand some of the impulses that sparked and flowed within the control center. The unit used a different sort of communication which they had not yet fully mastered. Still, they could enter in their commands and could sense that the ship was carrying them out in some way.
It was important, however, that the ship continue to function normally. They realized quickly that they could not overtake it completely; they needed its impulses to remain active on some level.
They had seen that their first set of orders were carried out. The vessel relayed images back to them that confirmed that it had taken the course they set for it. If they could continue in the same way, eventually they might find a place that could sustain them. But much more work was required.
Turlough had been sitting outside the house for half an hour or so when the Doctor returned. The villagers had begun going about their usual routines, preparing breakfast and completing morning chores, though a small group was working to clear out some of the debris from the fire.
"She hasn't tried to leave?" the Time Lord asked, glancing inside the house.
"No. She was sleeping when I took the aloe in to her."
The Doctor nodded. "We need to search for the TARDIS, but I don't want to leave Tegan alone."
"Mita can watch her."
"Yes, that's what I was thinking. Is she inside?"
"She hasn't come back yet." Turlough stood, trying not to wince as he planted his feet on the ground. "I need to get my shoes. I'll send her back if I see her."
The Doctor went inside and was surprised to find Tegan just emerging from her small room. She was studying the burn on her hand.
"Did the aloe help?" asked the Doctor, walking toward her.
She looked up at him. "I think so." Her eyes moved to the doorway. "It's light now. When are we going to look for the TARDIS?"
"Turlough and I are just about to leave."
She frowned. "Were you going to go without me?"
"I thought you were sleeping—"
"Well, I'm up now. And three can cover more ground than two. Let's get going." She took a few steps, but he reached for her arm.
"Tegan, wait."
She stopped and turned back to face him. "What?"
"You don't need to come with us. You can stay here and rest if you'd like."
"No, I'd rather go with you."
"But surely you must be tired—"
"No more so than Turlough, and I'm sure you didn't encourage him to stay inside napping." Her tone was becoming accusatory.
"It's really better if you remain here," he said evenly.
"Look, Doctor, the sooner we find the TARDIS the sooner we can leave. And we're going to find it faster if we all search."
"And why are you so eager to leave here?"
"Because there's something going on, something that's making you look at me the way you are now, like you don't trust me—"
"I'm just concerned about you."
"Because I can't remember a few seconds out of a terrifying night?" She held up her injured hand. "That's what you're worried about?"
"I just think that you should rest."
"Funny, you've never thought that before," she retorted rather icily. "After we left Deva Loka you barely gave me a second thought—you never asked how I was doing until you thought that I was a threat to you. And even after Manussa, after you saw what the Mara had done to me, you just shrugged it off, didn't even offer me a bloody cup of tea."
The Doctor's expression darkened for a moment. "Tegan, that is not true. I observed you carefully and asked Nyssa for her impressions—"
"Well, it would've been nice if you'd asked me directly."
He took a step forward and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Point taken, Tegan, and I'm asking you now. Are you all right?"
She exhaled sharply. "Now's not when I need it."
Turlough entered then, saying, "She'll be here in a few minutes. Oh," he looked at Tegan, "you're up."
"And you're here now, so that means we can get going." She turned away from the Doctor.
"You're coming with us?" asked Turlough.
"Yes, she is," replied the Doctor, but the look he gave the young man conveyed much more than his simple words could.
As they were leaving the village, they passed the elders walking in a closely huddled group. Yare pulled away from the others to greet them.
"Are you going to search for your lost item?" he asked.
The Doctor nodded. "Yes. I'm hoping that we'll find it if we go to higher ground. Cabar told me that the terrain becomes more mountainous in that direction." He gestured with his hand.
"It does. You'll be able to see a great distance."
"That's what we need," the Time Lord agreed.
"We wish you success. Excuse me." Yare rejoined the elders, who had glanced back at him several times.
"They're a tight group, aren't they?" Turlough commented.
"Yes, particularly right now," the Doctor replied. "I wonder where they're off to?"
He stood for a few seconds to watch them as they made their way to Cabar's hut.
"Must be some kind of planning meeting," Tegan said between bites of the piece of fruit she had gratefully accepted from a small, giggling boy. "Maybe they're forming a fire prevention committee."
She did not see the glances exchanged by Turlough and the Doctor.
They walked along for some time as the jungle became even denser. They were ascending, however, and could see that the foliage thinned out at the top of the rise they were climbing. Their conversation had remained light, with comments about some of the plants and birds they encountered making up the bulk of their discussions.
Tegan was quieter than usual, and she trudged along without complaint. Indeed, she plowed through low bushes and vines quite successfully considering the relatively tight skirt and heels that she wore. Her footing was surer than Turlough's; the young man stepped carefully, nearly stumbling on several occasions.
When they reached the top of the hill, they looked out over the land. They were about a thousand meters higher than the village, which they could see below, stretching out in neat rows. In the distance sunlight glittered on a smooth lake from which a cinder cone rose.
"Doctor," said Tegan, gazing at the volcano, "is there any chance that it's still active?"
The Time Lord shook his head. "No. There hasn't been any volcanic activity here in many years."
The Australian sighed. "I was thinking maybe that's what started the fire."
Neither Turlough nor the Doctor responded to this comment. Instead, they continued scanning the area. In addition to the village and the lake, they could easily discern several streams, including the one they had visited. After a few moments Tegan said that she was thirsty and walked off to a small brook near by while Turlough and the Doctor continued their visual perusal.
The site of the fire, they found, was also visible. A dark smudge seemed to mar the verdant beauty of the area.
"It's fortunate that we were able to contain it," the Doctor said in a low voice. "It could easily have burned several hundred acres. You see there," he pointed for the benefit of his companion, "it looks as though it began in two distinct places, to the east and west. I don't think that could have been a natural occurrence."
"What about sparks from the fire pits?"
"Very unlikely. The chances of two igniting at the same time are slim, at best."
Tegan returned, wiping her hand across her mouth. "It's cool and sweet," she reported, then with a look at Turlough added, "and as safe as can be."
He shrugged. "Fine. That's the last time I try to look out for you."
The Doctor had kept scanning, turning to look out over the entire vista. "There's no sign of the TARDIS," he said, disappointment creeping into his voice. "We may as well go back to the village."
"But how are we going to find it?" Tegan asked.
His eyes met hers for an instant. "I think I have an idea." He looked away and began walking. "Come on, you two. If we keep a good pace, we should be able to make it back in time for lunch."
The Doctor had kept himself several paces ahead of his companions during the walk back to the village. His brisk stride seemed almost too much for Turlough, who still stepped somewhat gingerly over the many roots and vines that tangled through the jungle floor. The schoolboy muttered a few words about being unfit and not accustomed to hikes amid such lush surroundings.
Tegan fared only slightly better, catching her stockings on a wayward branch more than once. By the time they reached the village, she was feeling quite cross, emotions fueled mostly by her hunger and lack of sleep. She was glad when the Doctor led them immediately to Ennen's home, where succulent smells drifted through the open doorway.
The elder was seated with his extended family, but he stood when the guests arrived, offering them a polite, though succinct, greeting. His wife immediately asked them to join the family for lunch, a suggestion seconded only half-heartedly by her husband.
"We don't want to trouble you," the Doctor replied, sensing the man's slight reticence.
Ennen smiled somewhat woodenly. "It's no trouble. Please." He bowed his head and held out his hands.
"Thank you," said the Doctor. "Tegan and Turlough are hungry after our walk."
The two young people sat, Tegan gratefully accepting a plate and digging in. Turlough nodded in acknowledgement, sampling his food at a slower pace. The Time Lord took only a bit of fruit and a cup of water.
The meal was completed in relative silence. Ennen asked if the Doctor had found what he was searching for, and seemed regretful when told that the walk proved fruitless. The Doctor had kept the precise identity of the lost object vague, realizing that the villagers would not understand the nature of a ship capable of space travel, let alone a TARDIS. He had simply told them that he and his companions had lost something very important to them, something that they must find before they could leave.
After lunch the Doctor proposed a brief stroll to survey the damage left by the fire up close. He watched Tegan's reaction to his suggestion and found her amenable. They walked the short distance to the jungle's edge, where villagers continued to clear away the debris.
"It's odd that a fire would start out here," the Doctor commented with a glance at Tegan.
"Maybe some embers from one of the fires in the village were carried by the wind," she said.
"Possibly, although there was little wind last night."
Tegan shrugged. "I can't think what else would cause a fire."
"No?" He turned to her. "Tegan." His voice was firm but not harsh.
She looked at him curiously. "Yes?"
He took a few steps back, leading her along by the hands; she still faced him.
"I want you to listen to me," he said. He was rubbing his thumbs along the backs of her hands, and his eyes were focused intently upon hers. "Concentrate on my voice, on nothing else, just me."
She nodded, eyelids lowering slowly.
"Doctor," hissed Turlough, "what are you doing?"
The Time Lord shook his head and pursed his lips quickly with a low "sshh." Turlough understood and moved away a few feet. The Doctor led Tegan away from the charred area, toward a pleasant clearing. She looked like a sleepwalker to Turlough, who watched the proceedings with interest.
The Doctor guided her toward a grassy spot and gently pulled her down, settling her against a mossy tree trunk then sitting before her. "Now Tegan," he said, "close your eyes but don't sleep. You may rest, but you need to continue to listen to me, all right?"
She nodded almost imperceptibly, and her eyelids lowered completely.
"I want you to think back to yesterday, when you and Turlough returned to the TARDIS. Picture yourself entering and walking through the console room. Can you see it?"
She nodded again with a whispered "yes."
"Good. Now where did you go after that?"
"To the atrium," she said softly.
"And what did you do there?"
"I got the book."
"Yes. And after that? Tell me where you went."
"Back down the hall."
"And to the console room."
She shook her head. "No."
"No? Where did you go, then?"
"Down the hall, then to my room."
"And what did you do there?"
"Put on some lipstick."
Turlough rolled his eyes.
"Then you returned to the main console room," the Doctor said.
"Yes," she murmured, "but I saw Turlough in the hallway and stopped for a second."
Turlough stepped forward. "Doctor, I don't think this is a very good idea—"
The Time Lord looked up at him. "Quiet," he said rather sternly.
"But if you don't know what you're doing, you could—"
"I do." His tone left no room for argument. He returned his attention to Tegan. "What happened next?"
"We went into the console room," she said dreamily, "and then it began to shake. My stomach felt funny—I was going to be sick." Suddenly a hand shot up to her mouth and she grimaced.
"It's all right, Tegan," the Doctor assured her, "you aren't going to be sick now."
She swallowed dubiously but finally nodded. "I ran outside and threw up." Her nose wrinkled in distaste at the vivid memory, "And I heard it—the TARDIS dematerialising, and when I looked up it was gone."
"And where did you send it?"
Her eyes were still closed, but he could see them moving quickly beneath her lids. She shook her head. "Nowhere."
"Tegan, tell me what you did at the controls."
She shook her head firmly again. "I didn't touch them."
"You're going to tell me the truth," he said, his voice still even. "You must tell me the truth."
"I am." Her mouth was set in a firm line.
He sighed and muttered up to Turlough, "She's set up a mental barrier; she's resisting."
"Then perhaps you should stop," the Trion youth responded. "She's not going to tell you anything, at least not anything that's true."
"I have one more thing to ask her," he said, looking back at the Australian. He took her wrist lightly and ran his finger along near the burn. "Tegan, tell me how you burned your hand."
Her eyelids flickered. "I don't know."
"Then tell me about the fire. How did it start?"
Again she shook her head. "Don't know. Embers, maybe."
"And you burned yourself as it was starting, didn't you?"
"No." Her response was firm.
He had kept his fingers on her wrist. "Pulse is slightly elevated," he said to Turlough. "She's holding something back."
Tegan was shaking her head and murmuring something incomprehensible. The Doctor leaned in to listen.
"What's she saying?" asked Turlough.
He sat back, his expression showing some frustration. "She says she doesn't know, doesn't remember. I'll have to take her to a deeper level of hypnosis."
"Is that really a good idea? I mean, if she's resisting, couldn't forcing her to remember be dangerous?"
The Doctor was standing, lifting Tegan to her feet. "It's the only way to find out where she sent the TARDIS." He began leading her along, back toward the village.
"You're not doing it now, are you?"
"No. I'm just going to return her to where we were earlier before I wake her. I'll try again later."
"But it could harm her," Turlough protested, frowning in concern.
"Yes. But if I don't do it, she could harm us all. I think it's worth the risk."