'You've still no idea why I was affected so badly?'

He frowned. 'I think those children were crying for a mother, somebody that could understand them intimately,' he said. 'I think the overwhelming psychic blast from the birth trauma was diverted to the only person on board who might be capable of receiving that kind of signal. It's possible that somehow or other the TARDIS TARDIS inadvertently caused the damage to your latent telepathic centres. Or perhaps it was the signal itself. . . ' inadvertently caused the damage to your latent telepathic centres. Or perhaps it was the signal itself. . . '

'You don't know, do you?'

'I'm not certain, no,' he admitted begrudgingly. 'The TARDIS is a very complex ent.i.ty. It'll take time to understand her completely. If ever. I don't know everything, you know. I'm not perfect. I'm only '

He cut off mid-flow, head tilted, listening carefully.

'What is it?' she asked.

'Can you hear somebody singing?'

She shook her head. His eyes narrowed, squinting into the empty sky.

Then he began to croon softly, ' A lovely da-a-a-a-ay. . . A lovely da-a-a-a-ay. . . ' '

Some extraordinary facts about the author. . .

Steve Emmerson has got two hearts. He was born in 3691 on an airless, inhospitable world. In his garden he has an ordinary-looking shed which is infinitely bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. Steve has travelled as far as the Dark Vortex and he sings Venusian lullabies. He knows what aikido is and he's scientific adviser to UNIT. A man of remarkable dimensions, he's even been seen speaking to animals. He's quite surly. Claims he's a Time Lord.

I'm sorry, I'll read that again Some extra, ordinary facts about the author. . .

Steve Emmerson has got two lungs. He was born in 1963 on an NHS hospital ward. In his garden he has an ordinary-looking shed which is infinitesimally bigger on the outside than it is on the inside. Steve has travelled as far as Blackpool and he's read Venusian Lullaby Venusian Lullaby. He knows where Ikea is and that's where he buys his kitchen units. A man of remarkable dementia, he's even been seen squeaking to animals. His wife s.h.i.+rley says he's a slimeball.

http://www.steveemmerson.com .

Acknowledgements .

Many many thanks go to a few people this time: Friends at the BBC Friends at the BBC Justin, for trust and confidence in me. And, once again, for suggestions and nudges that helped create a better book. Jac, for all the twiddly bits that go into getting a book like this finally on to the shelves.

Friends in the wider world Dave Tulley for the past XX years of Who Who, bacon b.u.t.ties, and general mutual baiting. Susan O'Neill for feedback and encouragement on the DP DP first draft. first draft.

Friends at home My most major thanks this time to Whirl for amazing support way above and beyond during the writing of Dark Progeny Dark Progeny. Special note of thanks to Angie Towler, for Gibran and general thought provocation. And thanks to Ben, just for being so d.a.m.ned wonderful and inspiring.