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'Heroic!' Mace bellowed. 'Do not humour me, sir!' he said, breaking away from the Doctor.

The Leader stared down at Mace. 'Is he a primitive?' His question was directed towards the Doctor which only added to the actor's annoyance.

'Primitive! Primitive!' he shouted. 'There is nothing primitive about me, sir!'

Such was the dignity the actor managed to get into such a banal statement, the Doctor almost wanted to cheer.

'So much pride', the Terileptil said contemptuously, 'in something so stupid!'

The Leader reached for his blaster. 'I should destroy you now.'

'Let me see you try!' Mace shouted as he rushed at him. But his gesture was in vain.

Effortlessly he was flicked away with such force that he stumbled and fel on the floor in a crumpled heap.

'Fit the primitive with a bracelet,' the Leader said to his android. Instantly the order was obeyed.

'It won't all be as easy as that,' the Doctor said pointing to Mace. 'He is only one untrained man. What will you do when they send thousands of their soldiers against you?'

The Leader curled back his thick upper lip and exposed a row of beautifully even teeth.

'You are right, Doctor.' The Terileptil was, in fact, smiling. 'We cannot fight as warriors,'

he said triumphantly, 'but I have already devised a plan that will make that unnecessary.'

'How?'

'You will find out, Doctor... before you die!'

Nyssa tentatively attached a magnetic drone to the booster. She wasn't happy. She had already exceeded her knowledge and was now working blind. This wouldn't have concerned her so much if the successful completion of her work hadn't been so urgent.

Adric entered carrying a carbon rod. 'Is this what you want?'

'Yes.'

Nyssa took it from him, flicked open the drone and inserted the rod.

'Is that it?'

'No,' said Nyssa. 'There are several fine adjustments to make...' She paused, looking somewhat dejected. 'To be honest, I'm not sure how to make them.'

'I knew it!' Adric crossed to the door. 'I'm going to find him,' he said and disappeared into the corridor.

'Please Adric!' Nyssa ran after him. 'What happens if you get lost?'

Adric didn't answer as he pushed open the console-room door, crossed to the scanner-screen control and operated it.

'You say you're concerned about Tegan,' said Nyssa as she followed him into the room.

'We can't help her without the Doctor's knowledge. It's dangerous to try and do anything without consulting him first'

'So you keep saying. That's why I'm going to fetch him.'

Nyssa was beginning to get angry. 'No!'

Adric flicked a switch and watched as the image on the screen panned round.

The woods, bathed in a yellow glow from the setting sun were deceptively quiet and beautiful.

'Have you not considered', said Adric as the image came to rest, 'that the Doctor might be in trouble.' He looked pointedly at Nyssa. 'He has been gone a long time.'

'He is quite capable of looking after himself.'

Adric operated the door-opening mechanism. 'That's the impression he always likes to give.'

Nyssa continued to argue, explaining her fears, appealing to his reason with as many arguments as she could muster. Even the reminder that the woods were full of hostile villagers didn't deter him. At last she relented and said, 'Where will you go?'

'To the mill.'

'Then you'll need this.'

She removed a torch from her tool box and checked to see that it was in working order.

'Take care,' she said, handing it to him.

Adric smiled awkwardly and left.

Nyssa closed the door and watched him on the scanner-screen, walking away from the TARDIS. The light was now beginning to fade rapidly, the glow of the setting sun finding it more and more difficult to penetrate the deep shadows.

Knowing Nyssa would be watching, Adric quickly turned and waved. As he turned to continue his journey, he found his way barred by two masked villagers. Quickly the boy spun round, but a third man was behind him, cutting off his retreat.

Nyssa watched, frantic, as he was led away. She opened the door and