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I remember that dreadful, dreadful day last December, when I began my second year alone. We all went into your Papa's dear room and Dr Stanley most kindly held a s er v ic e f or u s , w it h pr ay e r s a n d b ea ut if ul w or ds . The room was full of flowers and sunshine, so glorious for a winter's day, so comforting. I said it seemed like a birthday, and Dr Stanley answered, 'It is a birthday in a new world.'

Now I journey to see that new world for myself. I know not w h eth er I sha ll r etur n. F in di ng a nd los in g my Beloved again may be more than I can bear, so I may c h o o s e t o s t a y w i t h h i m t h e r e . I k n o w y o u w o u l d understand, my dearest daughter. Whatever may come to pass, please destroy this missive after you have read it. I t r a v e l i n s e c r e t a n d n o n e m u s t k n o w o f t h i s m o s t p r e c i o u s j o u r n e y. I h o p e a n d p r a y f o r w h a t o u r tomorrows may bring,

Ever devoted Mama V.R.

Having lived in London for much of his life, Vollmer was used to the glow of gas lamps illuminating the night. Even in a peasouper there was always a hint of light to find your way home across the cobbles. But beside Corra Linn night fell like a shroud. There were a few pinpricks of light in the sky but they seemed distant and lonelier here. The sergeant smiled to himself.

Clara loved looking up at the stars. Just after they were married he once took her across the river to Greenwich for a picnic.

They had climbed the hill to Blackheath and laid out on the grass, watching as the stars winked into existence overhead, the sky bleeding blue into black. What is she doing right now, Vollmer wondered. Is she sitting in the front room by the fire, thinking of me? The sergeant was surrounded by his men, but still felt lonely.

Perhaps it was time to surrender his uniform and go back to civilian life. He had seen enough death and misery to last him a lifetime. Perhaps it was time to go home. They could try again for a baby. Maybe it wasn't too late...

`Sergeant, you'd better come and have a look at this.'

Johnson's voice intruded upon Vollmer's musings. He stood and walked on to the pontoon. Lanterns had been hung about the wooden platform to provide light for the men keeping the flywheels on the bellows box turning. A dozen troopers had been working in shifts for several hours. The sergeant peered into the water where Johnson had been pointing. Since the diving bell had descended into the Clyde the river's surface had lowered by at least a yard, but there was little else of note visible to Vollmer.

`Well? I don't see anything.

Èxactly. No bubbles, no movement, nothing. It's been like that for hours.' Johnson made little effort to stifle a yawn. `The lads are exhausted. For all we know there's nobody left inside the diving bell - why bother keeping the air pump going?'

`Precisely because we don't know. Unless you want to get into a diving suit and go down to check for yourself?'

The young private shook his head. 'Could we at least give these men a rest? I don't know how much longer they can last.'

Vollmer could see the wisdom of that. 'I'll go to camp and send down replacements. It will give me a chance to check on the prisoner.'

`Doctor,' a voice whispered. 'Can you hear me?' The Doctor opened his eyes to find James Lees crouching beside him in the small tent. The young man's lips were moving but he spoke with Adric's voice. 'Are you all right? What has happened?'

`Too much to explain now,' the Doctor replied after pulling his gag aside. 'Please James, try to speak in your normal voice. Hearing Adric's words coming from your mouth is most... disconcerting'

`Sorry, I didn't realise' When James spoke again it was with his own voice. 'Is that better?'

`Considerably. How long have you been here?'

Ì only just arrived. It's taken me days to travel north from Windsor - why?'

The Doctor peered intently into the young man's face.

`There have been several mysterious deaths.