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'Is that your only reaction,' said the Doctor, 'to the existence of an entirely separate life-form in the caves—that it exonerates you?'

'My task is to make this research centre operate efficiently,'

said Dr. Lawrence.

'I must say,' said Masters to the Doctor, 'you have presented us with a rather considerable problem. There's a government meeting I have to attend later today in London. The only thing I can recommend is that this centre be closed.'

Dr. Lawrence was crestfallen. 'But the trouble has nothing to do with this centre! You've just heard the Doctor explain that!'

'The objective fact is,' said Masters, 'that we cannot make this place work, at least not until these animals have been exterminated.'

'Talking of extermination,' said the Doctor, trying to get the conversation back to the most immediate problem, 'the way things are going you are likely to be exterminated, not the reptile men.' He turned to the Brigadier. 'How's Major Barker now?'

'He's remained in the coma,' said the Brigadier. 'Dr. Meredith's packed him off to the cottage hospital.'

The Doctor shot up out of his chair. ' What? That's the worst thing he could have done. I said this whole centre should be in quarantine! We need to get that man back here immediately.'

'You don't really believe in this virus thing, do you?' asked Masters.

'Of course I do,' said the Doctor. 'Why do you think they released Major Barker?'

The Brigadier said, 'He told us how he fought his way out of the reptile place. That was before you arrived.'

'Whatever he told you, it isn't true,' said the Doctor. 'Liz, we've got to get to that hospital. We must warn them of what's happened.'

Liz got up to go.

'Hold on, Doctor,' said the Brigadier. 'If you really think we've done the wrong thing, I'd better go with you.'

'Thank you,' said the Doctor, and turned again to Liz. 'Then you stay here and try to get an electron microscope for me. Come on, Brigadier, we haven't a moment to lose.'

The Doctor and the Brigadier hurried out.

'May I use the 'phone?' Liz asked.

'Help yourself,' said Dr. Lawrence, despair in his voice. 'I'll see that our laboratory is made clear for you.'

Masters got up, a little unsteadily, Liz thought, and put his papers back into his black ministerial brief-case. 'I'll have to get back to London.'

'I'll see you to the lift,' said Dr. Lawrence. 'Are you sure you're fit to travel? You don't look too well.'

'All I need is a good night's sleep,' said Masters. 'Nice to have met you, Miss Shaw. I hope we meet again sometime under more pleasant circumstances.'

Masters reached out to shake hands with Liz. Liz noticed how hot and clammy his hand was. Then she turned her attention to the telephone, to find someone who could quickly provide the Doctor with the special equipment he now needed.

17

Epidemic

The Brigadier kept his foot well down on the Jeep's accelerator as it took a bend on the moorland road. Beside him the Doctor clung on to a grab-handle, his curly hair billowing in the slipstream.

'Can't you make this thing go faster?' shouted the Doctor.

'There is a seventy mile-an-hour speed limit,' said the Brigadier, averting his eyes from a speedometer now registering 80

mph.

'I knew we made a mistake not using Bessie,' shouted the Doctor. 'This thing's got no go in it.'

'I'm doing the best I can,' shouted the Brigadier, as he overtook a farm-cart and narrowly missed an oncoming motor-cyclist. 'It's no good if we get there dead.'

There was a long straight stretch of road away. The Brigadier kept his foot flat on the Jeep's floor. The speedometer climbed to 105

mph. 'That any better?' he called.

'I can't hear,' shouted the Doctor. 'You're going too fast.'

The long straight stretch ended in a twisting, narrow lane, and the Brigadier braked hard to avoid hitting a wall. With less windslip conversation was easier. 'I can't think what induced you to let Barker go to hospital,' said the Doctor.

'Look,' said the Brigadier, 'I only knew half of what had happened. It's