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'That doesn't mean the aliens have been here. For all we know, they could have gone to the village.'

'I know. They could also have died of plague. It's all guesswork. But as we're here, let's look a little further.'

The Doctor opened the door leading to the back landing and disappeared. Nyssa followed and found him squatting before the open armoury cupboard examining spilled gunpowder. 'Someone has been careless.'

But Nyssa wasn't listening. 'Look, Doctor,' she said, pointing at a hexagonal scar burnt deep into the baluster. 'That's been made by a high energy beam.'

The Doctor slipped on his half-frames and studied the mark. After a moment he said,

'It's been fired from a weapon.'

'So much for my friendly aliens.'

'Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and assume it was an accident...' But the Doctor's voice trailed off as his gaze wandered beyond the baluster and down the stairway. At the bottom was a brick wall.

He rose, quickly made his way down the stairs, and started to examine the wall. After a moment's thought, he said, 'You only build a staircase to lead somewhere... That being so, why should anyone build a wall here?' He tapped the wal as a professor might a specimen when emphasising a point to a student.

'Does it matter?' said Nyssa, descending the stairs.

The Doctor looked at her, surprised his deductions were being so calmly dismissed.

'This is a very important staircase. It connects the kitchen to the main hall.'

'Perhaps there's another way.'

The Doctor sat down on the bottom step. 'There's something wrong. I can feel it.'

And he was right. If he had looked up at that moment, he would have caught a brief glimpse of a shadow on the landing. Instead he turned to Nyssa and said, 'You'd better let the others in.

'Shouldn't we get back to the TARDIS?'

'Soon. But first I want to consider this wall for a little while.'

At the front door, Mace, realising there wasn't anyone at home, had rediscovered his courage. Banging on the door, he demanded to know where the Doctor had got to and how much longer he would be. But such was his manner and attitude neither Adric nor Tegan felt inclined to find out for him.

But the swaggering rapidly ceased as the bolts were heard being drawn back. The colour drained from Mace's face. He almost seemed to shrink in stature.

It was far more than a change of mood, it was much more a complete metamorphosis.

Tegan was stunned by his reaction.

As the door creaked open, Mace doffed his cap and gave a low, humble bow. This he held for a full fifteen seconds as he mentally went through his complete repertoire of totally cowed apologetic expressions. Selecting what he considered to be his most suitable, he straightened up and saw Nyssa smiling in the doorway.

'How did you get in?' said Tegan brightly.

'We found an open window.'

Mace's face collapsed into fresh grimaces of horror.

'You broke in?!' he spluttered.

'It's perfectly safe. There isn't anyone here. Come and look.'

With much coaxing and physical pushing from Adric and Tegan, Mace eventually followed Nyssa into the main hall.

'Where's the Doctor?' said Adric.

Nyssa led them across to the landing door. 'He's downstairs. He's found a wal that seems to fascinate him.'

'Any sign of survivors?'

Nyssa shook her head.

'Survivors?' Mace croaked. 'What is this talk of survivors?'

'The Doctor will explain,' said Nyssa, as she stepped out onto the landing. But she was mistaken. He had gone - disappeared. Anxiously, Nyssa looked around and then ran down the stairs calling for the Doctor.

'Where did you leave him?' said Tegan.

'Here on the bottom step. Staring at that wall.'

Tegan descended the stairs. 'Wel , he can't be far.' In turn their voices sang out, calling for him. Even Mace joined in. But as they continued to call, their voices grew more edgy, more concerned. At last too distraught to go on, Nyssa said distractedly, 'I shouldn't have left him alone.'

'And why not?' said the