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That was good, she thought. That was how it should be. She was a warrior.

The respect of an untrained boy was no more than her due.

'Is it an Animal Rights gig?' he said. 'I've got to be honest, I'm not actually a supporter. I can't get worked up about it. But you could probably get me excited if you put your mind to it.' He looked her up and down appreciatively. 'Where do you keep the leaflets?'

Leela said, 'I am looking for Doctor Ghostbuster Bazzer Hitchins. Can you tell me where he is?'

'You're a wannabe witch,' the student chortled. 'I should have known.'

Despite her good intentions Leela was already getting irritated. 'Can you tell me where to find Doctor Ghostbuster Bazzer Hitchins?' she repeated.

'Great look,' he said, ignoring the question. He reached out to feel Leela's tunic. 'What is it moleskin hamster hide?'

Leela's move was restrained, but fast and without warning. She caught his thumb, twisting it hard against the joint so that he gasped. She immediately eased the joint so that the pain was a small jagged ache that threatened far worse if he moved. 'Do not touch me,' she said flatly.

The student swallowed hard. 'Right. Sorry. No offence.' He did his best to smile. 'What did you ask me again?'

Can you tell me where to find Doctor Ghostbuster Bazzer Hitchins?'

'I can show you where his lab is,' the student said. 'If that's what you want.'

Leela released his thumb. She more than half-expected him to run away.

When he did not she said, That is what I want.'

You're not from round here are you?' the student suggested as he led her towards another of the impressively large, metal and black glass buildings.

'I have travelled a long way to get here,' Leela agreed. She stared across the outside of the shelter as carefully as she could, looking for signs of danger. The student did not move as if he was leading them into a trap, but it was not always possible to anticipate treachery from an unfamiliar enemy's body movements.

The student flexed his thumb and wrist and said, 'Look, I'm sorry if I offended against your culture, or customs or whatever'

'It is not important,' Leela said. 'How is it that you know where Doctor Ghostbuster Bazzer Hitchins is?'

He gave a rueful shrug. 'I was tested like everybody else, wasn't I? I thought I might have the 'fluence you know. Turns out I've got the psychic powers of a breeze block.' He waggled his thumb at her. 'That hurt you know.'

'I know.'

'You go to some sort of martial arts class?'

'I was trained to do it.'

'What's it called?' he asked, pushing through the swing doors and holding one open for her.

'Thumb-bending,' Leela said.

'Right. Stupid question.' He led her down a long corridor busy with people.

'And I suppose that's an ethnic costume is it?'

'What is an ethnic costume?' Leela asked.

Most of the doors to the rooms on either side of the corridor were propped open. In some rooms groups of students were sitting facing lecturers writing on boards, in other larger rooms people were working with elaborate equipment.

Traditional to your culture. What your people wear when they're not interfered with.'

Leela glanced down at herself. 'It is what we wear' She was puzzled by his references to her culture. She had no idea what it meant but it seemed to matter to him.

'I'm Welsh, myself,' he said. 'We Welsh know how important it is to maintain your ethnic roots. Your separateness.'

Leela had not heard of the Welsh. They sounded like a tribe that was deliberately being kept isolated. Not for the first time she found herself wondering if there was another like Xoanon running this world too. The name Welsh was not that different from Tesh. If the Welsh were like the Tesh, who were the Sevateem, and where was the all-powerful Xoanon hiding this time?

Ahead and behind them doors were beginning to close and the corridor was suddenly emptying. Leela tensed. Was it a trap after all? If it was, she would drop this Welsh first and hardest.

The student looked at his watch. 'Oh