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'There you are,' he said, pleased with himself, 'an air-vent.'

Set in the wall of the cave was a circular tunnel about three feet high. The Doctor could feel air being sucked into it. He put his hand into the tunnel and felt the wall of the tunnel. It was perfectly smooth. 'I think this has just been made. What's more, it hasn't been drilled—it's been melted.'

'They've melted through this thickness of rock?' said Liz, hardly believing it possible.

'They certainly didn't cut their way through with a hammer and chisel,' said the Doctor. 'Now let's see where it takes us. Hold on to my coat tails.'

The Doctor got on to all fours and started to climb into the tunnel. Liz scrambled along behind him. As they continued along the tunnel they could hear the humming of some electronic apparatus.

The tunnel had a wide-angled bend in it, and as they passed the bend they could see a ring of light at the end of the tunnel.

'I'd rather have gone in by invitation,' said the Doctor, 'but at least this is a good second best.'

'Don't you think they'll be waiting for us at the other end?'

called Liz.

'If they are,' said the Doctor, 'let me do the talking.'

Finally they reached the end of the tunnel. They emerged from it in a dark corner of the reptile men's giant shelter. The Doctor stood up and looked at the scene before him. They were in a huge, almost square cavern. All the walls and ceiling were made of sheet metal bolted together, like the hull of a ship. At one end was a huge pit with prison-like bars across its top, but the Doctor could not see what was kept in the pit. Elsewhere there were work-benches and tables.

At one of these two reptile men were busy dismantling and inspecting an FN.303 rifle, clearly trying to understand how it worked. In a corner another two reptile men stood by a third which was lying on its back on a metal slab. Electrodes were attached to its head and feet. One of the reptile men in attendance pulled a big electrical switch set in the wall. The Doctor watched fascinated as the reptile man on the slab started to twitch.

'That's horrible,' said Liz, 'they're electrocuting it.'

'No,' the Doctor whispered, 'they are reviving it. Now watch.'

The reptile man on the slab continued to twitch for a full minute. Then the switch was turned off, and the electrodes were removed. The reptile man lay still for a moment, then slowly got up from the slab.

'That's what's happening to Dr. Lawrence's current,' said the Doctor. 'I bet you they'll tell us they've just had another power loss when we get back.'

'If we get back,' Liz said.

But the Doctor's attention was already elsewhere, and he was quietly creeping away from the opening to the ventilation tunnel. Liz followed him. He was moving to a set of cages quite near to them.

Major Barker was in the first cage, gripping the bars. A reptile man came up to the cage carrying a metal jug of water and a metal plate on which were a few dried pieces of some edible green leaf. The reptile man opened a little hatch in the cage and tried to hand in the jug and the plate.

'How long are you leaving me in here?' said Major Barker.

'They'll be coming after me, you know!'

The reptile man remained where he was, offering the food.

Major Barker snatched the jug of water and threw it at the reptile man. 'I don't want your poison!'

The reptile man walked away. When he was some distance away, the Doctor went up quietly to the side of the cage. 'Major Barker,' he whispered.

Barker swung round. 'How did you get in here? Have you brought the troops?'

'No,' whispered the Doctor, 'we're alone. Is there any way we can get you out of there?'

'Not a chance,' said Major Barker. 'Some sort of electronic lock. Now listen,' he went on with all the authority of the victor rather than the vanquished, 'what you've got to do is to get yourselves

out of here and tell the Brigadier what you've seen. These chaps are dangerous, you know.'

'Yes,' said the Doctor, 'I imagine they are.'

'I don't know whose side