Five Hundred Eyes

Dear Diary,

That night I slept in the TARDIS as Marco kept the caravan inching along through the brutal cold toward the oasis. I woke the next morning to water droplets falling on my face. At first I was confused, then I saw water dripping down the walls of the inside of the TARDIS. Condensation! The brutal cold outside had combined with the relative warmth inside to form condensation. I called Susan to help me catch the water and we gathered enough for everyone.

Of course, Marco was suspicious at first, thinking either I'd lied and been hoarding the water or had made it by magic. I let Chesterton try to explain condensation to him. Whether the savage could comprehend it, I don't know, but at least he let me alone about it and we made for the oasis where Tegana seemed quite surprised to see us. He claimed a group of twelve bandits had camped there last night and kept him from returning for us. Miss Wright threw doubt on his story, pointing out that there were no signs of a camp or even a fire on such a cold night but Marco was not persuaded. He seems to trust Tegana implicitly.

Marco decided we must leave the next day to avoid these alleged bandits and insisted I hand over the key to the TARDIS. He really can't understand he's dealing with a man of such superior intellect. Of course, I let him have the key. He needn't know I'd made a copy last night in the TARDIS whilst they thought I slept.

We arrived at the way-station of Tun-Huang, which is apparently the home of the Cave of Five Hundred Eyes of Hashishan legend and Ping-Cho elegantly performed a little play re-telling the history of that dreaded cult.

After the performance, Miss Wright unfortunately wandered off on her own and Chesterton and Marco went to look for her.

I snuck back to my TARDIS to do some work. When I was exiting, unfortunately, Susan entered the room with Ping-Cho. I know she is quite fond of Susan, and seemingly a good girl, but her loyalty surely lies with Marco. I worry she may tell him of my extra key, but for now I must trust her.

They came for me, fearing that Miss Wright had gone to the Cave of Five Hundred Eyes. We consulted the wise man Chenchu and set off. The cave is fascinating, the artwork and craftsmanship very impressive indeed. It also made Susan and Ping-Cho very nervous and superstitious, believing some of the eyes were following us. Preposterous! We were ready to leave when Susan spotted Miss Wright's handkerchief.

So, she has been here. But where can she be now?


Based on the teleplay by John Lucarotti, first broadcast on BBC 7th March, 1964