The Mysterious Traveling Market

Chapter 2 - Curiouser & Curiouser

The Doctor and Preeti both milled about the market, looking at different oddities, as well as some familiar looking items. The universe for all it's diversity still produces things very similar to plates and pots, shoes and hats.

"Actually, this place isn't half bad." Preeti said, realising as she said it that the Doctor was just waiting to say, 'I told you so.'

"Is that your way of saying you like it here?" The Doctor replied, pleased with himself.

"Well it can all be a little overwhelming. It's not every day I'm whisked away by a stranger to strange places."

"So I'm a stranger now?"

"I meant 'whisked away by a strange man'. You aren't so much of a stranger anymore, and I am starting to become accustomed to your strangeness."

"I think that's a compliment. At least that's how I'm going to take it."

"And so you should."

"Well this place is a lot stranger than me. I took out my sonic screwdriver and ..."

"That thing can never stay in your pocket for long without you playing with it."

"Well, it doesn't just open doors you know. But on this ship it doesn't do anything. I tried to use it and some warning went off telling me to put my weapon away. I'm all for pacifism when possible, but that is ridiculous."

"Not any more so than a grown man who won't leave his toys alone."

"I see there is no reasoning about serious technological things with you. Have you tried any of the edible jewelry? I heard the chocolaty lemony minty beads were the best, and I found these delightful little jelly babies."

"I'm not that hungry. I was offered this squirming worm that I was told senses your favorite flavors when you put it in your mouth, and adapts itself to be the best combination of all of them as it wriggles along your tongue. The vendor looked at me very oddly when I told him I didn't eat anything that was alive. Said it was just actually a plant. If that's the kind of vegetarianism these people practice I wouldn't be too sure we won't be on the menu."

"Humans. Squeamish about moving plants but happy to eat a hamburger that used to live in the fields down the road from them. I love the contradictions."

"A little inanimate contradiction is sometimes easier to swallow than a flower that looks like a maggot."

"Fair point. Anyway, a little fellow – who looked as old as I should for my age – told me about a special part of the market that he said wouldn't fail to impress even you. If half of what he said was true it might even impress me too."

With that plan in mind he put out his arm for her to loop hers around, and they skipped off together toward a foggy alleyway.

The place they ended up at was a markedly different scene. Gone were the bright colors, replaced by more muted greys, purples, dark blues and black. The inhabitants of this section looked more like gypsies and their tents took on more of a Bedouin character. They didn't call out what they were selling, but waited for interested visitors to pry the details out of them.

"So, what is it you are offering?" Preeti asked, intrigued by the tubes and cogs that whirred and belched behind the turbaned stall holder.

"What is it you want?"

"Nothing you're offering unless I know what it is first."

"You really aren't helping maintain the mysterious atmosphere. I had all these ambiguous riddles saved up for you to try and solve."