240.Cwej was blus.h.i.+ng now; Forrester was amazed to see it extend all the way up to the top of his ears.

'You see, my friend had a lot of body-bepple done, some time ago, and he got exposed pretty heavily to the radiation from that icaron thing.'

'Hmm,' the Doctor said, noncommittally.

'And I my friend was a bit worried that he might be, you know . . . '

'At risk?'

'Yeah. At risk.' Cwej's face was heavy with expectant dread. 'Should he be?'

he asked.

The Doctor glanced over at Forrester and smiled a warm smile that made his face crease up in unexpected ways. She was suddenly taken with the vast and caring humanity that shone out of his eyes. The sight made something well up inside her, something she hadn't felt in years. Hope? Perhaps it was too early to tell, but she welcomed it cautiously, like an old but irresponsible friend.

'I have some equipment that could pinpoint any deep-seated effects,' the Doctor said, turning back to Cwej, 'and eradicate them easily. Perhaps your friend would like a quick examination. Just to be on the safe side.'

'Yeah,' Cwej said softly. 'Yeah, he would.'

The Doctor's smile encompa.s.sed everyone in the room. Like a showman, he gestured towards the blue box that stood in the corner.

'The Doctor will see you now,' he said.