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If you still feel esteem towards me after reading this, on my birthday will you go into a church and light a candle for me? I have no heir to carry on my family name and will leave you little upon which to live. At least you will still remember me when I am gone.

Forgive me, my darling Clara. Perhaps we shall see each other one day in a better place. Until then, I wish you well and will picture your face as I pass from this life.

Your loving husband,

Charles Otto Vollmer.

The sergeant folded away the letter and pushed it into a pocket for safekeeping. He had written it several nights earlier, after going through Lieutenant Ashe's personal belongings. It seemed the right thing to do at the time and now he was more certain of that than ever. He just had to hope someone would find the letter and deliver it to his wife.

`This is getting to be an unfortunate habit,' the Doctor said wryly, examining the shackles around his wrists and ankles.

`Speak for yourself,' Vollmer replied. 'Some of us aren't so used to being held prisoner, not by our own men.'

`But these aren't our men,' Doulton protested. 'If they were I'd have them all up on a charge of mutiny.' The trio had been chained to the exterior of the TARDIS, along with the three household guards. The Queen was being held captive elsewhere while Clark and most of the doppelgangers were busy in the valley below. The river had all but disappeared now, just a few pools of water left in hollows.

The general twisted his head sideways to look at the Doctor. 'What the deuce do you think they are doing down there?'

Ì have my suspicions and none of them are very comforting.

Vollmer, what's in those crates they are taking to the riverbed?'

Èxplosives. We brought enough to start a small war. Some were used to create the temporary dam upriver, but most are being positioned around that damned gateway. They seem intent on widening it'

`By how much?'

Ìf they're not careful, most of this hillside will be blasted to kingdom come'

`That's what I was afraid of.'

`What do you think they are planning, Doctor?' Doulton asked.' Blow a hole big enough to march an army through as the first phase of an invasion?'

`Nothing so prosaic. No, I think they want to further destabilise the weakness in the space-time continuum'

`The what? Speak English, Doctor!'

`The rift. It's not a gateway between worlds, it's more like...'

He paused, apparently deep in thought.

`More like what?'

`Sorry, I was recalling an old analogy of mine. Imagine the rift is like a tear in a paper bag full of water. The bigger the tear-'

`The more water escapes?' Vollmer suggested.

`Quite. But what happens if the bag is suddenly torn apart?'

The sergeant shrugged. 'No more bag. Just pieces of paper left'

The Doctor nodded. 'And whatever was inside the bag is spilled out everywhere. But instead of water, it's the Other Side of the rift that will be spilling out here -'

`So what's the paper bag?'

`This planet. Everything and everyone you have ever known, cared about or loved will be destroyed, torn apart' This silenced the others. It was Doulton who spoke first.

`Then we must find a way to stop these bounders,' he announced. 'I won't stand here and let them threaten our Queen and country. Sergeant?'

Vollmer nodded. 'I'm in. What about the rest of you men?'

The household guards all agreed. The sergeant turned back to the Doctor. 'But how can we stop them?'

Ìt will not be easy or without sacrifice, but little worth achieving ever is. Fortunately, those from beyond the rift are so intent on their task, they have left us momentarily unguarded.'

The Doctor twisted his body sideways and then leaned back towards Vollmer. 'Sergeant, can you reach my coat pocket?

Your key should still be hidden inside'

`Yes, just... got it!'

`Good. Unlock your own shackles first. I need you and two of the enlisted men to set off first if we are to have any chance.

Now, which of you is the best shot?'

One of the household guardsmen cleared his throat. Ì am.

Private Morrison,