Presently, Dave and the Doctor came to the cross-roads at the centre of the village. They paused, looked this way and that, totally oblivious to Tobias and Magpie Jack, and crossed. This was essentially the hub of the village. There was a pub, various shops, a supermarket, a library, and a petrol station (I’m sure you know the kind of place I mean). The Doctor and Dave paused by the pub and appeared to be discussing the sign that hung from the corner. The pub's name was 'The Seven Stars'. Tobias strained to hear them. All of his feline senses were on super alert. He could smell and hear what was going on inside the pub – the slightly stale and acrid odour made his delicate and sensitive nose wrinkle with distaste – but for some strange reason, the nature and matter of their discussion eluded him. After a moment or two more, the pair walked on.
It was at that moment that Tobias first noticed a familiar bird shape perched on top of a lamppost across the road from them. He felt a little more comfortable, knowing that he had an ally close at hand if anything should... 'go a little sideways' as Ruby would describe it. He nodded to acknowledge the magpie's presence, then scampered quickly after the two retreating figures.
Dave and the Doctor had been walking for quite a while now and all the time they had been talking quite animatedly, even angrily. Tobias decided that it would be worth the gamble to get closer and have a proper listen at just what they were discussing so intently. He did not realise, however, that sound travels upwards too, and that Magpie Jack was taking mental note of the nature and subject of their squabbling.
After a further ten minutes, or so, the pair came to a T junction. Again, across the road was a pub, but opposite this pub was a church, the Church of St. Maxentius. Dave and the Doctor crossed the road and walked under the heavy old black lamp that hung over the gateway to the churchyard, and passed the sign advertising the Village Fête for the 28th of August. It all sounded very exciting:
“All welcome. Admission fifty pence. Special attractions! Astounding shows and revelations to amaze! Guaranteed!”
The Doctor seemed to become a little twitchy when entering the churchyard, but he hastily followed Dave through the cemetery and round the side of the church to a small concealed side door, and down some small, steep, moss-covered stone steps.
“Be careful going down these steps,” Dave advised the Doctor, “I nearly broke my leg here last Winter.”
“And if you don't keep your loud, echoing trap shut, your neck will get broken here this Summer.”
Suitably chastened, Dave scowled and unlocked the old, creaking, rusty lock. The cool, damp and musty air seeped out to them as the door groaned open; it smelt of stone, earth, and dead, dry, ancient spiders.
The cemetery surrounding the church was well-tended and orderly; the flowers replaced regularly and the grass neatly cut. Tobias peeped from behind the rather large and ornate gravestone of a notable Victorian worthy and watched, as the Reverend Phullaposi appeared from the church's main doors. Trying to appear as casual as possible (and failing miserably), the Reverend looked to left and right, assured himself that there was not a soul about, and sprinted around the side of the building and down the same stone steps that both Dave and the doctor had descended moments earlier.
After a moment's hesitation, Tobias left his cover and slunk after him.
Meanwhile, high on the old church tower, Magpie Jack decided that this was the right time to report back his findings to Ruby and Pearl. He made his way, as quickly as he could, back to the caravan.
Tobias did not see his avian associate depart; he was far too busy, stealthily – and very carefully – padding down the moss-covered steps. Luckily for him, the light in the cellar was far too dim for him to be be spotted, and although the three men were discussing their business in whispers, Tobias could make out what was being said.
The Reverend seemed most agitated. He was badgering the Doctor and Dave, asking them if they were absolutely certain that what they had was indeed real proof. Time was of the essence, as all of their plans revolved around a critical date. Would everything be ready by then?
The others both assured him that it would.
Could it really be true, though? That here, in the small village of Widdowshins, something of such historic importance and portent was taking place?
Doctor Hariman told him not to worry:
“I will be seeing the pair of them tomorrow morning. I am visiting the good lady Alice's niece, in my capacity as her physician, with regard to her recovery following a recent operation to have a toad removed from her shoulder.”
The Reverend was amazed. “A toad removed from her shoulder? How on earth did that happen?”
The Doctor laughed: “Well, according to the toad, it all started with a painful boil on his bum...”
Neither the Reverend nor Dave got the joke. Doctor Hariman, to put it politely, had a 'strange' sense of humour. He was the sort of person who would tell you on Friday that he would need to give you a particularly painful injection on the following Monday, just to spoil your weekend. Not a wholesome character at all.
He sighed now at the Clergyman's blank look. “The point is, Reverend, that I shall have all of the answers to your various concerns by the next time we meet.”
The Reverend was not to be placated so easily. “And will you have some convincing evidence with you by that point?”
“Reverend Phullaposi, I am growing increasingly impatient with your lack of faith.”
“I've got faith in bucket loads,” the Reverend insisted. “What I want is stone cold proof, mate!”
The Doctor snorted angrily. Then he
