Doctor Who: Shada Read Online Free PDF Page A

and rows of arcane symbols scrawled across its pages. But this time there was something else, and that something else was the most ridiculous something of all.
    He could swear that as he looked at the book, the book was somehow looking back at him.

Chapter 5
     
    THE DOCTOR LED Romana through the gates and into the impressive forecourt of St Cedd’s College. He pointed his paddle demonstratively around the buildings.
    ‘Here we are! St Cedd’s College, Cambridge. Founded in the year something or other, by… someone someone someone in honour of… someone someone someone whose name escapes me completely.’
    ‘St Cedd?’ suggested Romana.
    ‘Do you know,’ said the Doctor, turning to look at her and apparently very impressed, ‘I think you’re very probably right. You should be a historian.’
    Romana smiled. ‘I am a historian,’ she said proudly, keeping to herself the thought that really, considering her relationship with the Doctor, she sometimes wondered if she should be a nursemaid.
    A short, bespectacled man in a bowler hat and an immaculate suit and tie was pinning a notice on one of the boards that stood outside a smaller building set just inside the main entrance. Romana supposed he was some kind of official, a gatekeeper perhaps.
    To her surprise the Doctor bounded over to the little man and whispered loudly in his ear, ‘Good afternoon, Wilkin.’
    ‘Good afternoon, Doctor,’ said Wilkin casually, pressing the drawing pin firmly but neatly in its place, without turning around and without turning a hair.
    Romana was pleased to see the Doctor slightly deflated by this smooth response. She loved it when he was out-eccentricked.
    ‘Wilkin!’ the Doctor gasped. ‘You remember me?’
    Wilkin turned from the noticeboard, smiling imperturbably up at the Doctor. ‘Of course, sir. You took an honorary degree here in 1960.’
    The Doctor grinned and nodded. ‘So I did! How kind of you to remember me after all these years!’
    ‘That’s my job, sir,’ Wilkin said smoothly.
    ‘And you do it splendidly. Now, then—’
    Wilkin interrupted him. ‘Professor Chronotis, sir? He returned to his room forty-two minutes ago.’
    The Doctor took a step back in amazement. Romana suppressed a smirk.
    Then the Doctor leaned in close to Wilkin. ‘How did you know I wanted to speak to Professor Chronotis?’
    ‘That’s who you asked to see when you were here in 1964, 1960 and 1955, sir,’ Wilkin replied.
    ‘Did I really?’ marvelled the Doctor.
    ‘Though not, as I recall, in such charming company,’ said Wilkin, giving a little bow to Romana.
    Romana extended a hand and introduced herself. ‘Pleased to meet you,’ she said brightly, and with a nod to the perplexed Doctor, added, ‘Nicely done.’
    The Doctor’s eyes narrowed for a moment. He stepped back in and put a conspiratorial arm around Wilkin. ‘I was also here in 1958,’ he said grandly.
    For the first time the tiniest crease of a frown appeared on Wilkin’s brow. ‘Were you, sir?’
    ‘Yes,’ the Doctor nodded, shooting Romana a triumphant look before adding mysteriously, ‘but in a different body.’
    Wilkin smiled his blandest smile. ‘Indeed, sir.’
    ‘Come along, Doctor,’ called Romana. She was still thinking of the voices they had heard down at the river. If there was trouble coming, and there probably was, the sooner they cracked on the better.
    ‘Nice to see you again, Wilkin, bye-bye,’ said the Doctor, and breezed off. Then he had a sudden thought and turned around to hand Wilkin the paddle. Wilkin’s hand was already outstretched to take it.
    ‘Thank you, sir,’ he said.
    At least the Doctor knew when he was beaten, thought Romana, as he strode off into the university, this time without a backward glance.
    Soon they were standing at the door of Room P-14. Before the Doctor had a chance to knock, a scratchy voice called from inside, ‘Come in!’
    But this time, instead of being taken aback, the Doctor smiled broadly and