Chapter Eight

Xznaal sucked air through his teeth, as if he was in physical pain. 'Then humanity sshall ssee the full might of the Martian war machine. 'He took a deep breath and began to bark an order to his gunner. 'Bring the cannons to bear on the crowd. Wipe them out, level the -'

'No!' the Doctor shouted.

Xznaal hesitated.

The Doctor fixed Xznaal with a stare. 'This is an historic opportunity. Greyhaven is right about that, whatever his failings. Seize the moment, negotiate peace with the humans. You said it yourself, Xznaal, your planet is dying. Humans might be less advanced than Martians, but the gap is only a matter of fifty years or so and they're catching up. The two planets will wipe each other out, and you know it.’

Xznaal hissed.

‘Let me broker a fair peace between Earth and Mars,’ the Doctor pleaded, ‘the whole of Earth, the whole of Mars. A settlement that isn't reliant on sectional interests.'

'What of your interests, Doctor?' Greyhaven said calmly.

The Doctor turned to face him, narrowing his eyes.

'You're an alien, are you?'

'Well, yes and no,' he replied evasively.

'You're not from Earth. You're certainly not from Mars.'

'That's right,' he conceded.

'Then what right do you have to interfere in our affairs?'

Xznaal's head was cocked to one side. 'The Time Lordss are forbidden to interfere under the termss of the Galactic Consstitution,' he muttered suspiciously.

'Yet this Doctor does,' Staines piped up. 'Now, my knowledge of the law might be limited to that of the planet Earth, young man, but it sounds as if you are outside your jurisdiction.' He clearly had no idea how ridiculous he sounded.