 he pair reached the top of a not so very high hill, and surveyed the scene before them, three hundred yards away in the valley below. There was a small crowd gathered in one spot, eagerly waiting the demonstration. There were lots of Victorian-looking gentlemen in black suits and top hats and a few ladies in posh frocks and ludicrously large hats.
'I think we're going to look just a little out of place you know, Professor.' said Ace.
The Doctor shook his head slightly. 'Never mind about that Ace, it's the occasion that we are here for, not the dress codes. Anyway, it's never mattered before has it?'
Ace could see what she presumed was the train, stationary at the end of the line. The engine, Locomotion the Doctor had informed her, was a complicated affair consisting of wheels, cogs and a huge wood enclosed boiler. A huge funnel belched out filthy black sooty smoke. Behind the engine were three open-topped carriages, containing more of the well-to-do members of society.
'I've seen that before, Professor - on TV!' Ace said knowingly. 'It was invented by George Stephenson wasn't it?'
The Doctor smiled. 'Very good, Ace. George and his son Robert invented that particular engine, with a little help.'
'George eh? You two on first name terms then?'
'Of course. George is an old friend of mine.'
'Where's this contraption headed again, Doctor?' Ace enquired.
'All twenty-five miles east to Stockton, Ace. This is the return journey.'
Her interest perked up, Ace set off towards the crowd with the Doctor in tow.
he gathered crowd was beginning to show signs of unrest and had no idea of what was happening. A middle-aged man was flapping around, talking to nobody in particular.
'Oh dear, oh dear. Whatever shall I do? It can't go wrong, we had it a; planned - this wasn't suppose to happen.'
The train had successfully managed the first leg of the journey, but it was stubbornly refusing to move from where it was stationed. George Stephenson had no idea what was wrong. His invention had to work - he had spent so long developing it. He was worried that the gathered industrialists would shun him and his engine if anything went wrong. After all, it was for their uses that the train was utilised.
A rotund fellow with a fat red face accosted Stephenson. 'I say, what on earth is happening here? Are we going anywhere or not?'
George muttered an apology then moved off again in the direction from which he had just come. As he did so he noticed two strangers that he had not seen before, approaching him. He moved towards the strangely attired pair with interest. 'Let me do the talking, Ace.' the man said. 'Ah, hello George,' the Doctor said, greeting the man. Stephenson looked slightly perplexed at the unknown's salutations. 'What seems to be the problem?' the Doctor asked.
George had no idea who this man was and frowned at the sight of the indecently dressed young woman who accompanied him.
'Er...well yes we do appear to be having problems with something. We have no idea what it is though.'
The Doctor simply smiled and put his hand into one of his pockets. From it he produced a large-looking nut and bolt. He handed the nut and bolt to George who took it, a puzzled expression on his face.
'We can't have the demonstration going wrong can we, George?'
Stephenson was perplexed. Who was this man and how did he know what the problem was with the engine? How did he get here? 'Well, err...thank you sir. Thank you very much - you seemed to have saved the day. I only hope that this will do the trick.' he said, indicating the nut and bolt.
The young woman seemed to be trying to attract the man's attention, so George prepared to get to work on Locomotion, pausing only to ask him a question 'Excuse me for asking, sir, but who exactly are you?'
The man smiled and simply said, 'I'm a friend, a friend of the Doctor.' He turned to his companion and motioned her to go back up the hill. 'We had better be off now,' he told George, 'Goodbye, George.'
'Erm, goodbye, sir and thank you very much! May God bless you.'
The friend of the Doctor was already away up the hill and George was heading back to make an announcement to the waiting crowd. He had forgotten about the Doctor until this chap appeared. Without the contribution of the Doctor, George would probably never had seen today. He smiled happily, lost in his memories.
A little while later the Doctor and Ace watched contentedly as Locomotion One began it's return journey to Stockton-upon-Tees.
'You knew that the engine would break down here didn't you, Professor?' asked Ace.
The Doctor looked at her and said, 'Oh I wouldn't say that I knew exactly, Ace. I just came prepared for any eventuality. Today is recorded in history as happening, so I had to make sure that it did. Nobody will ever know of my involvement here.'
'Apart from George Stephenson you mean,' said Ace.
'Yes, Ace. Apart from George. Now come along, there's plenty more work to do you know.'
They both smiled to each other and headed off back to the TARDIS - a majestic piece of space-conquering technology from the future - just as the first piece of space-conquering technology puffed off into the distance.
 written by
CHRIS ORTON
copyright 1996 / 2008
artwork by
COLIN JOHN
copyright 1996 / 2008
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