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Reogus looked to Chesperl to continue. "We would ask you to be the Gods-guardian of our child when it is born," she said.

"And we hope it won't be here, Doctor," added Reogus quickly.

The Doctor gave a worried smile. Ace could see him almost squirm as the focus of this deeply private request. Around them, the buildings dripped balefully. The stonework and streets, dry for so long, were already absorbing the surface water.

"I think," the Doctor said, "that you may be talking to the wrong person."

The returning silence was broken by a series of clattering crashes. All around them, windows in the grey walls were flung open. The red insect-helmeted guards, their eyelets bristling, stared and chittered down at the Phazels.

A figure stepped out on to a balcony above them. "It's a long time since I was invited to a party," called Vael.

"You weren't asked because you weren't wanted," retaliated Ace.

The Phazels had bunched together around the Doctor. He looked dangerously close to introducing himself again, but Ace laid a firm hand on his arm and muttered, "Save it, Professor."

"Now it's back to Professor," he complained. "I wish you'd make up your mind."

"I wish you'd find yours."

Pekkary had stepped forward, his face grim. "Vael Voryunsti, call off the guards," he warned.

"Not a chance," said Vael with quiet confidence.

The Phazel Captain stood firm. "There will be no more cooperation, Vael. Time is altering in the City. The Processes no longer have any control over us."

Silence. The creatures stared impassively down from their watch places. The washed air was fresh with expectancy.

Ignoring the others' pleas, Reogus broke from the ranks of the group. "Do you know what you are?" he railed at the guards. "Do you remember what you were? Do you? Well, it's over. You'll be free of it too. The Doctor's here now. He's come back!"

A whip cracked close by. At the head of the street stood the shape of the Guard Captain. Reogus stepped forward, eager to challenge the brute, but the other Phazels pulled him back.

The Guard Captain advanced slowly, chitinous armour scraping, until it stopped a few yards away. A potent threat, but they did not shrink from its malign alien chittering.

"The Doctor, where is he?" it croaked.

"Wait," said Vael from above. "Time to parley."

Ace was astonished as the Phazels suddenly moved into a cluster.

"Ask him what his terms are," Amnoni advised Pekkary.

Their Captain shook his head. "If we parley, we must have terms of our own.

"But it will take too long to decide," said Chesperl.

"We must remain a crew," insisted Pekkary. "We work together."

The Doctor was smiling with benign vagueness, but his eyes were darting everywhere as he took every available ounce of information on board. Ace followed his gaze and saw that the guards had vanished from the windows. Shonnzi, growing increasingly infuriated, had noticed as well.

"I'll take them on single-handed if need be," announced Reogus.

"Stupid bloody grumblies!" Shonnzi exploded. "Don't you ever do anything?"

"I'm waiting," said Vael from the balcony.

"No parley!" shouted Shonnzi. "Tell the worms, if they haven't managed to work it out for themselves, that there's an alternative to their world. The Doctor here has the Future . . ."

"Hang on a minute," cried Ace.

". . . and he's going to lead us out of this hellstrom hole and take us home!"

Vael made a loud scoffing noise. The Phazels and guards looked at the Doctor. Silence. "Go on then," said Reogus. "Do it."

Ace held back. It occurred to her that she wanted to see how he was going to react. He needed to prove himself.

The Doctor was shaking his head sadly. "I fear that was a presumptuous and very rash statement to make, Shonnzi. You may all regret it."

"Take them," said Vael and he did not disguise his relish.

Doors opened and the guards issued on to the street.

"You can't attack us," warned Pekkary. "You know that's not permissible in the rules."

The chittering creatures, making mockery of their prey in encrusted shape and angular movement, started