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`Grand Inquisitor del Toro is a devious, avaricious, manipulative hypocrite — may the Lord forgive my passing judgement. His motives are invariably bad, but — like the Evil One himself — he moves in ways that are difficult to discern, let alone foresee. And he has a vicious streak. All of this makes him very difficult to predict.'

`And very bad news for the Doctor. I've got to get him out of there. I need to find a way onto the ship:

`In order to do what? You would be arrested immediately by the guards, or possibly even shot. Your friend will not thank you for an act of futile heroism.'

`I've got to do something,Father.'

`They also serve, who only stand and wait.'

`Pardon?'

`Milton. An English poet. You can do nothing for your friend, child .. . except remain here and pray.'

`I haven't prayed in years, Father. I'm not really sure I believe in it any more: She paused, thoughtful. 'Certainly not since travelling with the Doctor. I've seen too much.'

`W hat have you seen, child?'

`Things that make the Bible look like kids' stuff. The Doctor's taken me to a factory where they make artificial black holes. Machines do it. Built by men!'

`Often men try to imitate God's works, but seldom his wisdom or his compassion.'

`I've seen a lot of killing, too; Cat said quietly. 'A whole army, blasted to pieces. They weren't recognisable as people afterwards. Just meat and blood. That's all we are.'

`Every one of those people was a soul going through its final agony and breaking through to God.'

`No, Father. I saw bodies fly in all directions, but not souls.'

`You have seen perhaps too much, child. Your friend, the Time Lord . . . '

`The Doctor. W e travel together. He's got a nose for trouble.'

`W here did you meet this Time Lord?'

`I . . . ' Cat trailed off instantly. This was stupid.

`Earth.' Of course, it had to have been on Earth.

`You don't sound too sure:

`Earth. Definitely. It all just happened so fast. I was a kid in Liverpool, then I moved to London. W here's it all gone?'

`W hat, my child?'

`The time . . . ' She shook her head. 'This isn't helping the Doctor. Please — you're a priest, Father . . . can't you . . . talk to the Bishop or something?'

Agatho? I think not . . . No, indeed. But I shall do what I can, I shall do what I can:

Cat heard the old priest opening the latch on his booth.

`W hat is your name, child?'

`Catherine ... People call me Cat.'

`Do not leave the cathedral, Catherine,' he said. 'You will be safe in here.'

`How will I find you?'

`Oh, I am always here: he replied. 'Usually at prayer. God be with you, my child.'

`Thank you, Father,' said Cat.

She heard him leave the little wooden box and shuffle off. She opened the door of her booth and peered out after him. An old man, frail looking, in a tatty monk's habit. W hat could he possibly do against the Grand Inquisitor and his vast battleship?

Lift doors slid apart with a hum and the Doctor was led out into a long, dark space. Unlike in the rest of the ship, there was no decorative adornment here, no fine fabrics or expensive ornaments. Stark metal walls lined with heavy doors stretched towards a central chamber.

A blaster was thrust painfully into the Doctor's back. Out of sight of the populace, all pretence of the theatrical had been abandoned. Swords and spears had been quickly exchanged for blasters and energy-beam rifles.

`W here are we going?' the Doctor asked. 'The torture chamber?'

`The cargo hold, Doctor,' del Toro replied. He coughed politely. `Although I am using it as a makeshift torture chamber at the moment, yes. I have a rather special piece of equipment, which will not fit inside my conventional chambers.'

`Did they send the wrong-sized iron maiden?' the Doctor sneered.

Del Toro gestured around him. 'Aboard this ship, Doctor, my investigative powers have absolutely free rein. You would do well to remember that.'

`I've met your kind before; the Doctor snapped. 'Many times. The toenail-pullers. You sicken me.'

`More than just a toenail-puller,