The Time Eater (short story)

The Time Eater was the sixteenth short story in the Short Trips anthology Short Trips: Destination Prague. It was written by Lee Battersby. It featured the Second Doctor and Jamie McCrimmon.

Summary
The Doctor and Jamie have landed in Prague. As they head off for some sightseeing, they encounter an ugly creature that the Doctor identifies as a Hallanian. It chases them, and as they run away they encounter Russian tanks. One shoots at them, but nothing happens. The Doctor searches through a history book of Prague for an explanation, but the pages start to crumble to dust. The landscape surrounding them changes, and they find themselves first in the 10th century, then in the 18th century.

Prague's past history is being erased around them, and the random pattern suggests one thing to the Doctor — a Doredsor. Doredsors eat time, though they are usually found in the centres of galaxies. They search for it and finally locate it. The Doctor contrives a communication device using his recorder and sonic screwdriver. The Doredsor is dying and there is nothing the Doctor can do about it.

Jamie, however, insists that the Doredsor deserves a funeral, so they use the TARDIS to bring it to a star. As it dies, the Doctor and Jamie wait with it, with the Doctor continually sending electrical pulses to the creature to reassure it that it is not alone.

Characters

 * Second Doctor
 * Jamie McCrimmon
 * Doredsor

Worldbuilding

 * The Doctor mentions Rabbi Loew and the Golem of Prague.
 * Prague landmarks include the Jewish Quarter, Kaprova Street, Valentinska Street, Hradcany Hill and Prague Castle.
 * The Doctor considers, then rejects, the idea of the Daleks or the Ice Warriors being responsible.
 * The Doctor at first thinks they've arrived in London.

Continuity
to be added