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'There isn't time for that,' she said desperately. 'And if you're thinking of Major Barker tapping this 'phone, he can't. He's in the caves with the Brigadier and some soldiers. They are all armed.'

'I see,' he said. Then he put on his false, woo-ing voice again.

'Well, well, they must be having a jolly time in there. I'll have to get along now, I've got so many things to do. But I'll speak to you again soon. 'Bye.'

He put down the 'phone and thought for a moment. If only those wretched reptile men had kept their fighting animals under proper control, Davis would not have been killed. And if that hadn't happened, no one would have interested themselves in the caves. The worst thing that could happen now was an armed confrontation between the UNIT people and the reptile men. With these thoughts in mind Quinn slipped out of his cottage by the back door, got into his car and drove as fast as he could to one of the cave's minor entrances.

On the way he passed the main entrance and saw the two UNIT Jeeps standing there, which confirmed what Miss Dawson had said. Within a couple of minutes he was well out of sight of the main entrance, and was parking his car near a very small entrance in a cliff face which he had found only recently.

He groped his way along a narrow passageway, found a mark on the cave wall that he had put there to remind himself, and proceeded down one after another narrow passage. Finally, he came to the big passageway that led to the main entrance. He was just going to step out into the big passageway when he heard voices and saw the light of torches coming towards him. He held back in the shadows, hoping they would not see him. The little group that went by him was led by the Doctor, who carried two UNIT rifles and the twisted remains of what had been Major Barker's high-velocity rifle, and the Brigadier and two UNIT soldiers carrying the dead or unconscious body of Major Barker. As soon as the group had gone out of earshot, Quinn emerged into the main passageway and headed towards the reptile people's shelter.

At the far end of the large cathedral-like cave, Quinn went up to a huge stone and stood perfectly still.

'I am Dr. Quinn,' he said to the stone, 'your friend.' Nothing happened.

'This is Dr. Quinn,' he said, trying to hide the panic in his voice, 'you know me. I am your friend.'

To his relief the stone opened at a crack down its middle, revealing a metal door. As Quinn stepped forward, the hollow stone closed behind him and the metal door slid open. He stepped into a small metal box. In it were two metal stools, and another door that led into the main part of the shelter. Quinn had never been through that other door. He knew he was welcome this far, and this far only.

He sat on one of the stools and waited. A few moments later the other door opened and Okdel entered and sat down.

'Why have you come?' Okdel asked. 'It is not the time.'

'I've come to warn you,' said Quinn. 'There have been men searching the caves, soldiers with weapons.'

'Your warning is too late,' said Okdel.

Quinn looked at the reptile face in front of him. It was impossible to tell whether Okdel was angry or forgiving. It was the first time he had really looked closely into Okdel's scaly green face because the sight of it made him want to be sick. 'I was busy,' he said. 'I only heard about it a few minutes ago. You've brought this on yourselves, you know.'

'We?' Okdel sat up very straight, breathing in with an unnerving whining sound.

'Why have you come?' Okdel asked. 'It is not the time'

'If only that human hadn't been killed,' said Quinn, 'and if only you would stop taking power from the cyclotron...'

Okdel cut in sharply, 'We need power!'

'Yes, I know, I know,' said Quinn. 'And I want to help you to have it. But you have already caused too much trouble. There's a full-scale investigation going on.'

'We, too, are conducting an investigation,' Okdel said. 'You promised to supply us with detailed