Doctor Who: The Devil Goblins From Neptune by Keith Topping, Martin Day

are a very ugly fashion, too. I much prefer a girl in a dress.' Or out of one, come to that.
    Her name, she said, was Valerie. She had a beautiful soft voice with a hint of Scandinavian or something in it. Mike Yates had always been a sucker for foreign girls, ever since he had been seduced by his French mistress at boarding school as a fourteen year-old. There was something exotic and exciting about them. A mysterious quality that appealed to Mike's love of danger, sports cars and handguns.
    The girl was very pretty, with dark hair, bright-green eyes and a charming smile. She hadn't been introduced to Mike but had simply walked up to him and started talking. 'I hope you do not mind me being so forward.' she had said, ‘but I do not know many people here. You look as though you are in the same boat'
    Mike admitted that he was, and they had struck up o conversation about food and drink and clothes. Mike found himself asking her about music, though his knowledge of current popular trends was limited to watching Top of the Pops once o month or so when his duties allowed.
    'I love that new group, the ones who wear leaves and vines in their hair. They are really freaky. I saw them on television last week. The singer is lovely.'
    'Don't think I know them,' said Mike, before quickly adding 'I'm sure they're far out' (He groaned inwardly. Had he really just said that?)
    'And I love the Beatles,' she continued.
    'Ah yes,' said Mike, on surer ground now. 'It was such a pity about Paul, but I really dig the German guy.' In truth, when the new Beatles line-up of John, George, Ringo, Billy and Klaus had been announced, he'd been as horrified as everyone else by the prospect of listening to "She loves you, ja, ja, ja".
    She put a hand up to his cheek and stroked his skin gently,
    swaying to the music. 'Michael,' she said, 'what do you do?'
    'I'm...' Yates paused. (Plan B.' lie your head off.) 'I'm a racing driver,' he said, turning his head slightly away from her and putting an arm around her shoulders.
    'Is that not dangerous?' asked the girl.
    'I suppose so,' said Yates, desperately trying to keep a straight face. 'It's a dirty job, but I guess somebody's got to do it'
    The song ended and Valerie whispered something, but Yates didn't quite catch it above the general hubbub of the party 'I'm sorry?' he said.
    'I asked if you would like to go to bed with me.' she replied. For a split second Yates couldn't decide if he'd had too much to drink, or not enough. If you're sure,' he said.
    The girl didn't reply, but took his hand and led him towards the door. They passed Mark Wilson and Liz, by now dancing together, holding each other closely and talking softly. Mike and Liz exchanged surprised glances and then Yates disappeared up the stairs.
     
    'Good old Mike,' said Liz softly.
    'Sorry?' Mark's head jerked backward, suddenly snapping out of dreaming reminiscence.
    'He's a bit of a lad.' she added helpfully, watching the UNIT captain and the woman.
    Mark inclined his head in their direction too. 'Oh, I see.
    Well, I hope they pick someone else's bedroom. I was hoping to get a little sleep myself tonight.'
     
    'Pity,' said Liz with a mischievous grin. Just for the moment, she felt happy and relaxed, able to enjoy the minutiae of life rather than struggling to capture the bigger picture. The détente that existed between her and Mark had lasted for five minutes, but she knew in the pit of her stomach that it probably couldn't go on much longer.
    I'm sorry I dragged you into that rubbish discussion about the problems of youth,' said Mark. 'Sometimes Fay can be a real cow.'
    'Maybe you should try being nice to her,' said Liz. 'That normally works.'
    Mark stopped dancing. 'Liz, I -'
    'Shhhh.' she cooed, taking his arms from around her neck. 'Don't spoil it, or say something you don't mean. Now, you'll have to excuse me for a minute. I'd better go and break up the Doctor and Professor Trainor, or else they'll still be talking at daybreak'
     
    The