he Doctor was homesick, and this worried him deeply. It was his youthful urge to roam the Universe and see for himself the multitude of manifestations of the life-force which had led him fleeing from his home planet, thus breaking many of the fundamental laws of Time Lord society, and for this he had very nearly paid with his life. Why, then should he desire to return? The question was all the more perplexing considering the particularly adventurous spirit with which he had been endowed in this, his third incarnation.

 

It made him very bitter to reflect on just how cruelly the Time Lords had punished him: his induced regeneration and brought out in him such a restless, fearless soul - and one which had been trapped on twentieth-century Earth! Strange...now that he had, at last, regained his freedom to travel along the highways of time and space, he was haunted by memories of home...home. Indeed, during his imprisonment, all he had had, in many ways, were memories...memories of the life he once led. Since his recent pardon, he had endeavoured to educate his young Earthling assistant, Josephine Grant, in an appreciation of the citizens and cultures of the cosmos. But now, for whatever reason, he wished to return to Gallifrey. The Time Lord society was one of immense secrecy. This was one voyage he must make alone.

The Doctor was singing as Jo came into the U.N.I.T. laboratory. She found him gathering various pieces of scientific equipment together.

 

'Going somewhere?'

 

'Y-e-s...' he answered abstractedly, and resumed his singing.

 

'Where?'

 

'Seriously, Jo, I'm afraid you can't come with me this time.'

 

The little ditty was taken up again, embellished from his wonderful store of vocal effects.

 

'What's that song you're singing?' she asked

 

'Really, Jo,' he laughed, 'how can I expect to educate you in the cultural wealth of the Universe when your musical appreciation extends no further than the current hit-parade? As it happens, I was reciting an Earth song about a chap who happens to be feeling rather homesick..'

 

He continued the lecture with his back to the girl. She gave the lab doors a god push, and then sneaked into the TARDIS. Having concluded his reminiscences about his old friend Percy French, he turned around only to see the lab doors swinging to and fro. He must have hurt her feelings. Poor Jo...

 

ell, it certainly didn't look like Gallifrey. The TARDIS scanner showed a barren, white sandy world domed with a yellow sky. He was disappointed. He had so much wanted to return home. Home is where the heart is. The problem was that the Doctor had two hearts, and one of them wanted nothing at all to do with this morbid fascination with nostalgia. It won. Here was a new world to explore. He opened the TARDIS doors and stepped outside.