The (1st) Doctor and China
anonymous
May 27 2011, 08:36:15 UTC
Shorter this time, mainly written while waiting for the RAC to come and pick me up off the side of the road. Also: exams.
This takes place during the Episode "Marco Polo," and is set at the end of the story, after the Doctor and company have travelled across most of Yuan dynasty China with the aid of a caravan and Marco Polo after the TARDIS key is stolen by Marco Polo as a gift for the Khan.
China poured tea for himself and the old man sitting opposite. 'I’ve heard that you have travelled a lot.' The emperor was always telling him he needed to interact with the Westerners more often, and this old man seemed to be less likely to fudge his words than some of the other Westerners.
'Oh, quite far, but this is the first time I've visited your country. While it is quite nice, I would enjoy being able to leave it, hmmm, or at least move around it by my own will.' The Doctor hoped that his new friend would be able to get the TARDIS keys off the khan for him.
China smiled at the compliments, completely missing the subtle hints dropped. 'Ai-ya! But you must see more of it! You should try to go near the forests if you haven’t already! You might see a panda; that would be good luck! And they're so cute! You should also see the mountains, and my lakes! I will have to show you all the greatest parts of China! And you should try to see our wall! It stretches to cross most of the nation! And if you're staying for longer, you should come with us to the Grand Capital! There is a great big lake, created from an empty piece of dirt. It has swans on it! They're so cute.'
The Doctor was smiling, almost laughing, caught up by the boy's excitement for his country. 'That sounds marvellous, my boy, just marvellous! I'm sure my grand-daughter would enjoy seeing pandas in the wild.' He shifted in his seat, trying to get more comfortable and feeling his bones creak and groan beneath him. 'But, ah! I don't think my old body would be able to manage another journey on horseback.'
China sighed. 'I know the feeling, aru. It's so hard sometimes, especially with all these young n- people running about.' He started laughing. 'I don't know where they get the energy from!'
'You? My dear boy, you're barely 20. There's plenty of life left in you yet.'
China sighed. He thought this old man would have understood. His boss had told him of the man’s arrival, and China himself could feel that the man was different to the other humans. Not a nation as such, but definitely not a human. 'I may look only 20, but, like you, I am older than I appear.'
'Ah.' The doctor sat in thought. He didn't even think there were any others of his kind on the planet, apart from Susan, of course. 'Well, if it's not too rude a question, how old are you?'
'Ai-ya! I gave up counting years long ago.' China scratched the back of his head, trying to figure out an approximate number. 'Around... 3000, or so.'
The Doctor was momentarily stunned. 'W-well, you look very well for it. I can't claim to be that old, or even a tenth of it!' They sipped tea in silence for a while, both thinking their own private thoughts. 'Have you done much travelling in your time?'
'Not much. There are always wars or something more important going on, and it's so hard to get anywhere! My neighbours always make it so difficult to travel! But now the Mongol Empire is spreading so much, I have been travelling more!' He placed down his tea cup. 'What about you? Is it true you came from the stars in a magical flying cabinet?' His eyes were wide with curiosity at the possibility that something that inexplicably magical may exist.
'Hmmmm.' The Doctor looked at the young old man sitting opposite him, thinking about how much he should tell him. 'Why don't you pour me some more tea, and I'll tell you about my magical cabinet. You might even be able to help me get it back.’
Marco Polo was another of the episodes lost to BBC cleanliness, and the novelisation was written by John Lucarotti.
I've been staring at this 'post comment' box for several hours and can't think of anything to say other than this is great! I'm sorry I'm so bad at leaving decent reviews...
I really liked the interplay between the youngest Doctor and the oldest Nation. Also, way to be adorable, China.
This takes place during the Episode "Marco Polo," and is set at the end of the story, after the Doctor and company have travelled across most of Yuan dynasty China with the aid of a caravan and Marco Polo after the TARDIS key is stolen by Marco Polo as a gift for the Khan.
China poured tea for himself and the old man sitting opposite. 'I’ve heard that you have travelled a lot.' The emperor was always telling him he needed to interact with the Westerners more often, and this old man seemed to be less likely to fudge his words than some of the other Westerners.
'Oh, quite far, but this is the first time I've visited your country. While it is quite nice, I would enjoy being able to leave it, hmmm, or at least move around it by my own will.' The Doctor hoped that his new friend would be able to get the TARDIS keys off the khan for him.
China smiled at the compliments, completely missing the subtle hints dropped. 'Ai-ya! But you must see more of it! You should try to go near the forests if you haven’t already! You might see a panda; that would be good luck! And they're so cute! You should also see the mountains, and my lakes! I will have to show you all the greatest parts of China! And you should try to see our wall! It stretches to cross most of the nation! And if you're staying for longer, you should come with us to the Grand Capital! There is a great big lake, created from an empty piece of dirt. It has swans on it! They're so cute.'
The Doctor was smiling, almost laughing, caught up by the boy's excitement for his country. 'That sounds marvellous, my boy, just marvellous! I'm sure my grand-daughter would enjoy seeing pandas in the wild.' He shifted in his seat, trying to get more comfortable and feeling his bones creak and groan beneath him. 'But, ah! I don't think my old body would be able to manage another journey on horseback.'
China sighed. 'I know the feeling, aru. It's so hard sometimes, especially with all these young n- people running about.' He started laughing. 'I don't know where they get the energy from!'
'You? My dear boy, you're barely 20. There's plenty of life left in you yet.'
China sighed. He thought this old man would have understood. His boss had told him of the man’s arrival, and China himself could feel that the man was different to the other humans. Not a nation as such, but definitely not a human. 'I may look only 20, but, like you, I am older than I appear.'
'Ah.' The doctor sat in thought. He didn't even think there were any others of his kind on the planet, apart from Susan, of course. 'Well, if it's not too rude a question, how old are you?'
'Ai-ya! I gave up counting years long ago.' China scratched the back of his head, trying to figure out an approximate number. 'Around... 3000, or so.'
The Doctor was momentarily stunned. 'W-well, you look very well for it. I can't claim to be that old, or even a tenth of it!' They sipped tea in silence for a while, both thinking their own private thoughts. 'Have you done much travelling in your time?'
'Not much. There are always wars or something more important going on, and it's so hard to get anywhere! My neighbours always make it so difficult to travel! But now the Mongol Empire is spreading so much, I have been travelling more!' He placed down his tea cup. 'What about you? Is it true you came from the stars in a magical flying cabinet?' His eyes were wide with curiosity at the possibility that something that inexplicably magical may exist.
'Hmmmm.' The Doctor looked at the young old man sitting opposite him, thinking about how much he should tell him. 'Why don't you pour me some more tea, and I'll tell you about my magical cabinet. You might even be able to help me get it back.’
Marco Polo was another of the episodes lost to BBC cleanliness, and the novelisation was written by John Lucarotti.
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I really liked the interplay between the youngest Doctor and the oldest Nation. Also, way to be adorable, China.
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