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'Round up the saboteurs, or whoever they are,' said the Brigadier, 'and bring them to justice.'

'We were hearing something about lizards,' said Masters, 'when you came in.' He turned to the Doctor. 'You did mention lizards, didn't you?'

'Miss Shaw used that term,' said the Doctor. 'I prefer to think of them as reptile men, or more accurately homo reptilia.'

'Doctor,' said the Brigadier, 'are you feeling all right?'

'A bit grubby,' said the Doctor. 'Otherwise I think I have all my senses about me, thank you.' He turned to Masters and Dr. Lawrence.

'There is an entirely alien form of intelligent life living in those caves, gentlemen. It is highly dangerous. Most of them are still in a state of deep hibernation. Every time there is a power loss here it is because they are using your electricity to reactivate one of their own kind. Among other things, they have taken Major Barker prisoner.'

Masters, Dr. Lawrence and the Brigadier stared at the Doctor in almost total disbelief. At last Masters spoke. 'Have you any evidence to support this extraordinary claim?'

'I have a witness,' said the Doctor. 'Miss Shaw here.'

'It's all true,' said Liz. 'We got into their place inside the caves.

We talked to Major Barker.'

The Brigadier said, 'Then the sooner we get in there, with men and guns, the better.'

'I strongly advise against that,' said the Doctor. 'They have some idea about the power of our weapons, but we have no idea about theirs.'

'Quite honestly,' said Masters, 'I'm trying to do my best to cope with what you are saying, but I find it impossible to imagine a lizard armed with a sub-machine gun!'

'So do I,' said the Doctor. 'They are far too advanced for that sort of thing.' He turned to the Brigadier. 'I do implore you, Brigadier, don't invade those caves.'

'I'm sorry, Doctor,' the Brigadier said, 'but I have no alternative. I was summoned here to help Dr. Lawrence solve the problem of these terrible power losses. If you are right and some alien life-form is the cause of all this trouble, I must use what forces I have available to stop it.'

Dr. Lawrence spoke up for the first time in minutes of silence.

'Doctor,' he said, 'can you suggest any other solution to our problem?'

'Indeed I can,' said the Doctor. 'I must go back there alone and try to make peace with these people.'

' People?' said Masters. 'You call lizards "people"?'

'It doesn't really matter what we call them,' said the Doctor. 'It's what arrangements we make with them that count.'

'But we are not going to make arrangements with reptile men,'

said the Brigadier emphatically. He swung round to face Masters.

'You're sure there's no chance at all of getting those reinforcements?'

'No chance at all, old man,' said Masters. 'Not until we've got some proof that a real enemy exists, and not a couple of saboteurs.'

'I see,' said the Brigadier pulling back his shoulders. 'Then with the few men at my disposal, I shall invade the caves.'

'You may all be killed,' said the Doctor. 'Please leave it to me to go and talk to these creatures.'

The Brigadier shook his head. 'No, Doctor. This is a military matter. What's more, those caves are now strictly out-of-bounds to you or to any other civilian. I hope I make myself clear?'

'Absolutely clear,' said the Doctor.

'Then if you will excuse me, sir,' the Brigadier said to Masters.

'I must make my plans.' He left the office.

The Doctor sighed. 'Well, I suppose I had better make my plans, too,' he said, and turned to go.

'I'm afraid I still don't know quite who you are, sir,' said Masters.

The Doctor paused at the door and looked at Masters. 'I'm beginning to wonder myself,' he said, and left. Liz gave a quick smile to Dr. Lawrence and Masters and hurried after the Doctor.

15

Attack and Counter-attack

It took the Brigadier a full ten minutes to get his men together to invade the caves. It took the Doctor only five minutes to drive Bessie from the research centre car park to the main mouth of the cave. By the time the Brigadier arrived, with two Jeeps and half-a-dozen soldiers,