The Longest Story in the World (short story)

Summary
A young woman, ordered on pain of death to entertain the Caliph and his court with a story, tells a tale of an old man and his adopted grand-daughter, who live in a world where fantasy is forbidden. Nevertheless, the grand-daughter tells stories of their future, claiming that the old man will invent a fabulous machine to take them away from here, and will travel through time and space, growing younger as the years pass by, fighting evil, and becoming a hero. The old man does not believe her, and fears that her tales will attract attention -- and indeed, one day he returns to his home to find the guards waiting for them. The tale ends on a cliffhanger, and will resume the next night; so long as the storyteller keeps the Caliph entertained, her life will be spared. (Doctor Who Reference Guide; http://www.drwhoguide.com/whotrip3.htm#1)

Characters

 * First Doctor
 * Susan

Continuity
to be added

Timeline

 * The Longest Story in the World occurs after: ST: From Eternity
 * The Longest Story in the World occurs before: ST: The Exiles