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They were hemming her in.

"TARDIS?" said Pekkary. "What's that?"

"Our ship, dumbo, And the Doctor wouldn't attack you. I know he wouldn't. What about this Vael creep? Sounds like he's the real troublemaker."

Pekkary levelled a finger at her. "Since the Doctor was destroyed, you are responsible."

"What you going to do about it then?" sneered Ace.

Out of the distance came the cracked notes of the bell.

"They'll be here soon," said Amnoni. "What do we do?"

"Where does she come from?" butted in Reogus. "Ask her where she comes from."

Ace clung tighter to the sofa, trying to stop saying anything she'd regret. The Doctor had lectured her about anachronisms. "I can't tell you that," she said tightly. "Not yet."

She started surreptitiously sliding her hand down the sides of the cushions, searching for anything that might help. Her mother had often done the same through desperation, when they were short of ready cash at home.

"She's a liar," said Reogus.

"Am I?" she retaliated.

"The Gods abandoned us here. They need a sacrifice. That would save us."

"Reogus Teleem, don't be foolish," said Amnoni.

Ace had had enough. "Your bloody Shonnzi says the Doctor's still alive. He says the Doctor taught him everything he knew. So you're wrong, aren't you?"

She was starting to pull things out from the sides of the sofa. Old coins, rubber bands, biros, a broken quill pen. All of it useless. She made one last dig and her fingers settled on something substantial. She slid it up into her palm.

Chesperl stood up and looked along the stream. "They're coming," she said.

A group of guards was moving along the bank.

"Hide her," said Amnoni. "She may find Shonnzi for us."

Pekkary stared at Ace for a moment. "Get behind the double chair," he said. "We'll create a diversion. Then you run."

"Thanks," said Ace. She glanced at the item she had retrieved, a Swiss Army knife inlaid with the silver letters IC. She pocketed it and turned to find Reogus blocking the way.

"No," he said and caught her arm in a vicelike grip. "She was with the Doctor. Hand her over and the Process may release us."

Ace struck at him with her fist. "The Doctor would have helped you! But it's too late. You'll spend the rest of your lives as slaves to the Process. I know that because I've been across the river in the Future and seen it!"

"The Future," muttered Pekkary with slow deliberation.

"Yeah! So things don't look too good for you!"

"The Gods may forsake us," he said grimly and glanced round at the others. "They may abandon us to torment, but we are still a crew."

Sometimes it still worked. With one movement they bunched in on her.

"Doctor!" she yelled as her arms were gripped. She was lifted bodily off the ground and carried to meet the expedition of approaching guards.

Vael was at their head.

"Well," he smiled as he saw the new offering to their God, "I'll see what I can do about extra rations."

"I'll be back," yelled Ace as they carried her away. "You remember that. I'll be back!"

14: Tales from the Tongues of Fish

The Pythia stood before the Gate of the Future. It was ajar. But when she approached, the huge bronze doors slammed shut.

Time's wall edged eternally forward, so that the past appeared to seep from under its massive stones. The Pythia had to walk steadily to keep up.

In the land behind her, history was charted like a map. The great wars and mighty deeds of Heroes were laid out in a panoply that praised the glory of the Gods and the Gallifreyan Empire. It was clear as the night stars. Even the distance was clear and close. All of history marching inexorably away from this point.

The wall was already moving ahead and the Pythia's feet were ankle deep in mud. She moved with difficulty, struggling to make up lost ground.

When she neared the great doors again, they were open wide. Beyond it, in the Future, lights were moving. Not bright torches or stars, but pale glows diffused into the coloured shadows that passed back and forth.

Once it had been clear and