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half-drew his sword. ‘They’re using the Abbot’s arrival as an excuse to round us up. So let’s despatch him and leave his carcass to the ferrets.’
    ‘Just a minute,’ the Doctor cut in angrily. ‘I came here in good faith to talk to Monsieur Preslin and now I’m being called a weasel and you’re proposing to leave my body for the ferrets. I have no idea of what you’re talking about.’
    Preslin hesitated before admitting that the Doctor might be telling the truth.
    ‘And if he’s not?’ the other one asked. ‘He’ll tell the ferrets our escape route. No, we can’t risk it.’ He was adamant and took a step towards the Doctor as he drew his sword.
    ‘Put up your sword, David,’ Preslin spoke sharply and then turned to the Doctor. ‘I must oblige you to come with us, sir,’ he said.
    ‘That’s folly,’ David protested, pointing his sword at the Doctor.
    ‘If he’s innocent, he’ll have time to prove it,’ Preslin replied, ‘and if we find he’s guilty, well then, nothing’s lost. Just keep an eye on him, David, whilst I tidy up.’
    As Preslin busied himself at the desk, the Doctor asked questions. He wanted to know who the ferrets and weasels were and was told they were two species of Catholic militants, both as unpleasant as they were dangerous.
    Preslin closed the shutters and went into the other room to collect his jacket.
    ‘I know your face. I’ve seen it before,’ David remarked unpleasantly. ‘It was a long time ago when you were younger. Say, ten years. About then...’
    The Doctor shook his head. ‘You’re very much mistaken, sir,’ he replied. ‘We’ve never met until now and, once I have secured my release, you may rest assured that you will never see me again.’
    ‘I’ve met this man,’ David said aggressively to Preslin as he came back into the room.
    ‘Where?’ Preslin asked, eyeing the Doctor with renewed suspicion.
    ‘I don’t remember – yet. It was not a pleasant encounter, that much I can recall.’ David’s voice was filled with menace. ‘But I’ll get it, have no doubt.’
    ‘Lead the way down the stairs. But prudently,’ Preslin advised the Doctor as David indicated the open door with his sword. It occurred to the Doctor that he might just have time enough to slam it shut in their faces. ‘And don’t touch the door whatever you think to do,’ Preslin added for good measure.
    They went downstairs and stood in the corridor. Preslin opened the door into the shop and beckoned the Doctor to go through.
    ‘I still think you are mistaken to insist that he accompanies us,’ David stated as they passed into the shop.
    ‘We’ll debate it later,’ Preslin replied as he crossed over to a shelf behind the counter and, lifting off a large jar filled with dark green liquid, pressed the panel of wood behind it. A section of shelves the width of a door swung silently open. Beyond it was a flight of stone stairs leading downwards. Preslin took a taper from under the counter and lit it. Then the three of them left the shop and went down the stairs with Preslin carefully pulling the secret entrance shut after him.
    With the flickering taper as their only light they made their way carefully down the steps until they reached the side of a narrow tunnel which led away in both directions.
    In front, the Doctor hesitated at the entrance.
    ‘Turn left,’ Preslin said and they made their way along the tunnel. The Doctor noted that there was a slight cool dry breeze and that several other sets of stairs led into the tunnel. They walked without talking, their footsteps reverberating off the walls into the distance. Suddenly they saw another flickering taper ahead of them.
    ‘Jules?’ Preslin called.
    ‘Yes, Charles?’ echoed the reply.
    ‘Are there many others?’ David shouted.
    A peal of laughter came bouncing off the walls towards them followed by the same voice: ‘You know how swiftly Lerans and Muss can move.’
    Lerans and Muss: the Doctor immediately