The Roof of the World

Dear Diary,

I say, trouble follows us everywhere! Everywhere!

I suppose I should start at the beginning, lest you think we've been attacked by snowmen or Yeti.

No, Charlton soon explained the giant footprint in the snow was most likely a normal print that had had its edges melted by the snow,

I made to leave them to their explorations and return to the TARDIS to do some work, but upon re-entering, I found all the lights and heat out, and that we'd gone completely out of water. All due to one circuit that's somehow burned to a crisp! It would take me days to fix, and meantime the sun was setting and I feared we might freeze to death.

We decided to descend to a lower elevation to seek shelter when we encountered a lone Mongol. He fled, but we followed him down to the rest of his group. One of their number, the warlord Tegana, a very treacherous fellow, accused us of being evil spirits and commanded the others to kill us, but their leader stepped up to spare us. As Miss Wright guessed, he was none other than Marco Polo, on his way to Shang-Tu in Cathay (or China, as it would later be called). He called on them to lead us down to their camp, where they fed and sheltered us and explained it was the year 1289 and we were presently on the plain of Pamir, an area commonly called The Roof of the World

It had been a treacherous journey, and I fear the altitude and the thin air affected me quite a bit,giving me what these people call "the mountain sickness." I needed rest the next day whilst Polo asked the others to accompany him back to the TARDIS, or as they call it, my flying caravan. They made a sledge and brought it down the pass to the camp.

At first I thought he was being helpful, bringing it here to me so I might repair it. However, due to the silly superstitions of his Mongol compatriots who think me some sort of wizard or evil spirit, and the TARDIS my source of magic, he forbade me to enter it. As he was our host and had been such a help I agreed whilst we accompanied them along the Silk Road.

But now I've learned the real truth. Despite having no conception of its power or workings, he intends to give the TARDIS to Kublai Khan as a gift in hopes that the Khan will release him and allow him to return to his home in Venice. How foolish! As if they could possibly comprehend it or ever discover how to "fly" that caravan! What will Kublai Khan think then, eh?

Still, he persists in his plan. As Miss Wright knows, Marco Polo does return to Venice. But can this be the way?


Based on the teleplay by John Lucarotti, first broadcast on BBC 22nd February 1964