Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Recent titles in the Doctor Who series:

FOREVER AUTUMN

Mark Morris

SICK BUILDING

Paul Magrs

WETWORLD

Mark Michalowski

WISHING WELL

Trevor Baxendale

THE PIRATE LOOP

Simon Guerrier

PEACEMAKER

James Swallow

MARTHA IN THE MIRROR

Justin Richards

THE MANY HANDS

Dale Smith

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3

Published in 2008 by BBC Books, an imprint of Ebury Publishing.

Ebury Publishing is a division of the Random House Group Ltd.

© Mike Tucker 2008

Mike Tucker has asserted the right to be identified as the author of this Work

in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988.

Doctor Who is a BBC Wales production for BBC One

Executive Producers: Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner

Series Producer: Phil Collinson

Original series broadcast on BBC Television. Format © BBC 1963

`Doctor Who', `TARDIS' and the Doctor Who logo are trademarks of the BritishBroadcasting Corporation and are used under licence.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in aretrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior

permission of the copyright owner.

The Random House Group Ltd Reg No. 954009

Addresses for companies within the Random House Group can be found atwww.randomhouse.co.uk

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978 1 84607 421 9

The Random House Group Limited supports the Forest Stewardship

Council (FSC), the leading international forest certification organisation.

All our titles that are printed on Greenpeace approved FSC certified

paper carry the FSC logo. Our paper procurement policy can be found

at www.rbooks.co.uk/environment

Series Consultant: Justin Richards

Project Editor: Steve Tribe

Cover design by Lee Binding © BBC 2008

Typeset in Albertina and Deviant Strain

Printed and bound in Germany by GGP Media GmbH

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

           For my mum,for introducing me to good books.

          And for Karen,

  who seems to like what I write.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Del McAllen shivered, though it had nothing to do withthe cold. He twisted his head, the torch mounted on hishelmet swinging its beam across the walls of the tunnelthat had been roughly hewn from the ice, the pool of lighttwisting and skittering across the frozen surface. Therewas something wrong here, something he couldn't quiteput his finger on. It was unsettling him.

   He shook his head, trying to shake such stupid thoughtsfrom his mind. He was tired, that was all. He was stilladjusting to the new country that he had found himself in.It was difficult to believe that only five days ago he'd stillbeen going through the daily routine of the job back inLondon. Right now he would give anything for the coolcalm routine of the British Museum instead of theincompatible extremes of cold and heat that his body wascurrently trying to cope with.

   He tried to bring his mind back to the task in hand,brushing at the frozen tunnel wall with one of his heavygloves. He cursed softly under his breath. Whoever had

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

designed the thermal suits had never had delicate work inmind. It was like trying to pick your nose with boxinggloves on. He pulled the frost-soaked glove off with histeeth, then ran his bare hand over the cool, wet surface ofthe wall.

   The rock deep underneath the ice was old, ancient,predating the earliest civilisations, and the carvings on it'ssurface were totally unprecedented. Stick-like humanfigures, gathered around another indistinct shape. Delshivered again. The crude pictures on the wall hadinvaded his dreams almost every night since the blurredand pixelated digital image had appeared on the screen ofhis laptop the previous week.

   He frowned, dredging at something on the tip of hismemory. It was as if the pictures in the rock weresomehow stirring something deep in his subconscious, aremembrance of something old and terrible that was nowstruggling to reach the surface.

   He closed his eyes, willing his brain to pull itselftogether and rationalise the thoughts. Instead, a gruff andbooming voice bought him out of his reverie, making himjump. The heavy thermal glove clattered at his feet.

   `Careful where you're putting that! And don't forgetthose power packs when we leave.'

   A squat figure clad in lurid orange thermal overallslumbered down the icy corridor. A dazzling torch beamshone directly into Del's face, forcing him to shade hiseyes.

   `What you doing taking your gloves off, you daftbugger? Good way to lose a finger or two that is.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Del squinted as the figure approached. Ed Keeley wasthe works manager in charge of the excavations. A hugebear of a man who made it plain to Del as soon as the twohad met that he didn't like anything that got in the way ofthe work. And Del was getting in the way big time.

   `I wanted to get a proper look,' Del stammered. `Thesegloves are too clumsy.'

   `Don't need to take your gloves off to look, do you?'Keely pushed past Del, peering in distaste at the intricatecarved images. `Besides, I told you I didn't want youtouching anything until we got this tunnel shored upproperly, didn't I?' He glared at Del in that superciliousway that he had. The museum curator felt himself flushunder the big man's gaze.

   `I'm just trying to do my job, Mr Keely...' It was a lamecomeback, and he could see Ed Keely drawing breathready for a withering retort. Fortunately, Del was sparedany further embarrassment by a crash from further backdown the tunnel. Keely turned angrily.

   `What the devil have you managed to drop now youclumsy great ox?'

   `Sorry, boss.' A light, delicate voice echoed off the iceand more lights stabbed from the darkness.

   Del winced inwardly. The voice belonged to Keely'sjunior assistant Rwm'dek, and she seemed to get evenharsher treatment from the big construction manager thanDel did. Rwm'dek appeared out of the gloom, strugglingto keep a pile of crates and equipment balanced on ananti-grav sled. `Sled got a little out of control, lost acouple of boxes off the back'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Keely glared at her. `Thought I told you to load itproperly. If you've damaged any of our boffin's delicateequipment '

   `It's all right,' Del butted in quickly. `I'm sure there'sno harm done.'

   Keely ignored him. `And where the devil are thoseflamin' robots I told you to program?'

   Rwm'dek nodded back down the corridor. `They're justcoming.'

   `Really, well so's old age, and I don't want to spend anymore of mine waiting for them to come and do their job.Go and find out what's keeping them.'

   Rwm'dek shot Del a quick smile and hurried off backdown the corridor.

   Keely huffed and shook his head. `Never ask a Flisk todo a man's job. Should never have let 'em stay if you askme.'

   Del felt himself bristle, but this was an argument he'dalready had with Ed Keely and he knew he'd get nowherewith the man's ingrained, outdated, bigoted opinions.Instead, he bit his lip and busied himself with theequipment and the anti-grav sled.

   The Flisk had arrived on Earth twenty years earlier,refugees from a stellar cataclysm that had all but wipedout their entire race.

   No one had known what to do with them at first. Therehad been alien contact before, sure enough, but they hadalways been transitory encounters: sometimes unfriendlylike the Sycorax or the Slitheen: sometimes friendly likethe Svillia or the Hive of Mooj. The difference was that

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

those visitors had always had somewhere to go back to.The Flisk were asking to stay. For good.

   At first the negotiations had gone well. Right up to thepoint where the Flisk had let slip that they were telepathic.With the revelation that the alien visitors had the ability toread minds, panic swept the world. Leaders on both sidesdesperately tried to assure the populace that this uniquetrait proved no threat to privacy or freedom, the Fliskleader even agreeing to a televised meeting with membersof the public to try and dispel fears that they could see intothe minds of ordinary men and women.

   The following twenty years had seen a long anddifficult integration of the Flisk refugees in human society.Their seemingly innate genius with all forms of computerprogramming meant that large numbers of them gainedskilled positions in industry across the world, but theirtelepathic skills, however mild, made them figures ofsuspicion and distrust for a lot of their co-workers andwith their mottled green-blue skin, the Flisk were an easytarget.

   A loud, metallic clumping made Del look up. Six tall,gleaming robots marched in unison down the corridor,blocky red serial numbers stamped on their metal chests.Keely and Rwm'dek followed along behind, the Flisk'spetite figure dwarfed by the towering steel figures. Eventhe bulk of the burly construction manager looked smallby comparison.

   `Right you lot,' bellowed Keely. `Madam here hasprogrammed you with your assignments. So get on withthem.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    The robots spread out swiftly along the icy corridor,light from housings on their heads playing along thefrozen ceiling.

    Rwm'dek crossed to Del's side, giving him a shy smile.`The robots will ensure that there is no chance of thetunnel collapsing whilst we work.'

    As Del watched, the robots lowered themselves ontotheir haunches, steel spikes driving down into the rock ofthe tunnel floor. At the same time, all six of them raisedtheir arms, placing their metal palms flat against the ice ofthe tunnel roof. There was a whine of servos andhydraulic motors and a sharp crack from the ice above asthe robots took up the strain.

    Rwm'dek nodded in satisfaction, her deep brown eyesflickering over the readings of a small scanner on thesleeve of her jacket.

    Keely stamped over to her. `Come on you lazy Flisk,no slacking. No point checking on the remote relays. Iwant manual confirmation readings from all these mobilepit props before we even bother unpacking the sonicdrill... And you,' he glared at Del. `Don't do anythinguntil I tell you it's safe to do it, all right?'

    Keely lumbered off towards the first of the robots. Delstuck his tongue out at the big man's receeding back,immediately regretting it as Rwm'dek stifled a giggle.

    He turned to the girl. `Why do you put up with him?Do you not just want to... punch him in the nose orsomething?'

    Rwm'dek shrugged. `He's the best in the field.'

    `He's a bully.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `I can handle him.'

   `You shouldn't have to handle him, you should just...'Del sighed. `I dunno what you should do.'

   Rwm'dek squeezed his arm and flashed him a dazzlingsmile. `You're very sweet, but I'm not a helpless little girl.If you really want to take my mind off Keely, stop beingso shy and ask me if I'd like to go to that new café on theharbour.'

   Del's mouth dropped open in surprise. The Flisk girlshrugged. `I've been waiting five days for you to ask me.Unless of course you don't want...'

   `No, no, no,' Del shook his head. `I do.'

   `Good.' Rwm'dek smiled at him again. `It's a date then.Now I'd better get on with these confirmation checks.Catch you in a bit.'

   `Right. Yes. Bye.' Del watched as she hurried over tothe nearest robots. Keely started his constant barrage ofchastisement as she drew near. A broad smile spread outover the young museum curator's face. This trip wasturning out to be better than he could have possiblyimagined.

   He turned back to the ice wall, trying to dismissthoughts of Rwm'dek's deep brown eyes and toconcentrate on the task in hand. He hoped that he'dactually put some half-decent clothes in his suitcase aswell as his work gear and equipment.

   With new purpose, he swung the digital camera fromhis shoulder. Keely might not want him to touchanything, but he couldn't stop him taking somephotographs. It was vital that the excavation of the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

paintings was documented at every stage. There was noknowing how the pigments would react once they wereexposed to the air.

   He gave a cry of pain as he caught hold of the metalcasing of the slim camera, almost dropping it. Stupid. He'dnot put his glove back on and the cold metal had taken theskin from his palm. He shook his hand. Keely had beenright. Taking his glove off had been daft. Everything wasso cold down here that he'd been lucky not to tear a greatchunk of flesh off.

   Cursing his stupidity, Del stooped down to pick up hisdiscarded glove. He snatched it up off the floor andfrowned.

   It was wet.

   He stooped down again, shining the light from hishelmet across the floor. The floor was sodden, rivulets ofwater trickling towards the centre of the tunnel. Delshook his head. It was impossible. Everything should befrozen down here.

   The rivulets had become a small river now, and slushwas starting to pool around his feet. He could feelsomething too, a tremor that seemed to be coming frominside the ice itself. Del nearly called for help thenstopped himself. There was probably a perfectly simpleexplanation and he had no desire to make himself lookany more stupid than Keely already thought he was.

   He placed his gloved hand lightly on the ice wall.There was a vibration from inside the ice, and somethingelse... Del bent forward to get a closer look. There. Backin the depths. A dark shadow, distorted out of all

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

recognition by metre upon metre of frozen water. It wasbig. How had they missed it before? Del struggled tomake out the shape, leaning until his nose was almosttouching the ice wall. The silhouette didn't seem human.Were those legs he could see? Four, no six...

   The thing in the ice moved.

   Del tumbled backwards landing painfully on hisbackside, sending boxes crashing from the anti-grav sled.He could hear Keely bellow from the darkness.

   `What the devil is going on? I thought I told you not totouch anything.'

   Before Del could reply, there was a deafening crackand the ice in front of him fractured from floor to ceiling.Slush poured from the fissureDel cried out in shock as theicy water sluiced over his legs.

   He felt strong hands grasp the hood of his jacket,hauling him to his feet. He was spun round, Keelycatching hold of his collar, the light from his torch right inDel's face. The big man stared in disbelief at the gapinghole in the ice. There was a low rumble, and a chunk ofice crashed to the floor from the tunnel ceiling. Rwm'dekappeared at his shoulder, her eyes wide. `What did youdo?'

   `We'll worry about what he did later,' snapped Keely.`Reposition those robots before the entire place comesdown on us.'

   Del waved frantically at the crack, trying to force outthe words past his chattering teeth. `In the ice... s-s-something...'

   `What are you jabbering about?' snarled Keely.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

`There's nothing '

    Like striking cobras, two thin, black arms whiplashedout of the hole in the collapsing ice. Long fingers woundaround the construction manager's grizzled skull and, witha snap, he was dragged into the fissure, his body bouncingacross the floor like a rag doll.

    Del McAllen and Rwm'dek stared at each other instunned silence for what seemed like an eternity. Thenthere was a horrifying scream from somewhere deep inthe ice.

    `Run,' said Del.

    Eyes full of fear, the Flisk girl turned to run, but therewas another terrifying crack and a huge section of thetunnel wall collapsed. Del could see something huge andfast moving through the chaos.

    `Rwm'dek!' Del screamed her name. He could seethose thin, sinuous arms snaking down the tunnel, fingersgrasping. Trying to block out the terrified screams Delscrabbled desperately over the blocks of ice towards her.He crashed into something hard and metal: one of therobots. Rwm'dek was clinging onto one of it's legs,kicking at the fingers that wound around her leg. With abellow of anger, Del threw himself forwards, snatching upa pickaxe from the floor and swinging it with all his mightat the snake-like arms.

    The axe chopped into flesh and muscle and there wasan unearthly shriek of pain. The arms snatched back, andDel scrambled over to where Rwm'dek lay gasping.

    `Are you all right?'

    She nodded, ducking as more ice crashed around them.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

`But this entire place is coming down.' Del looked up atthe robot towering above them. It had a `12' stencilled inbright red letters across it's chest. He could hear servosdeep in its torso whining under the strain of trying tosupport the tunnel ceiling. It turned a blank metal facetowards them and spoke:

   `+STRESSES              BEYOND           ENGINEERINGTOLERANCES. REQUEST INSTRUCTIONS.+'

   Del could hear something skittering over the rubblebehind them. Claws scraping across the ice. He turnedand saw the long grasping fingers of the unseen creaturefeeling their way across the floor towards them.

   He looked desperately for any way out. Even as hewatched, another section of the tunnel collapsed, buryingthree of the robots. He stared at Rwm'dek in despair. TheFlisk caught hold of his hand. `It's too late.'

   Del shook his head. `No, we'll find a way.'

   `It's too late,' she repeated.

   The claws of the creature were close now. He couldsee the fear in the girl's eyes. Del nodded weakly. `Do it.'

   Rwm'dek leaned back, shouting up at the robot.`Project compromised. You are to ignore previousinstructions and abandon your post.'

   `+FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH INSTRUCTIONSWILL RESULT IN LOSS OF INTEGRITY OF TUNNEL.+'

   The scrabbling claws were getting closer.

   `Just do it!' screamed Rwm'dek.

   `+UNABLE TO COMPLY. INSTRUCTIONS WILLRESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH TO HUMAN

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

WORKFORCE.+'

   `We're already dead you stupid machine.' Del started tolaugh. `We're already dead.'

   He kicked out at the long, black fingers that had startedto clasp at his boot. There was a hiss of triumph from thecreature.

   `Emergency override code Delta two zero!' screamedRwm'dek.

   `+UNDERSTOOD. ABANDONING POST.+'

   Del clasped Rwm'dek's hands and stared deep into hereyes, feeling the warm touch of her mind in his as therobots released the ceiling and the tunnel collapsed.

Out in the endless corridors of the Vortex, the police-boxshell of the TARDIS spun and twisted, blown on the timewinds like a ship at sea. Inside, in the organic jumble ofthe impossibly large central console room, Martha Jonesthrew back her head and laughed out loud as the Doctoremerged from an interior door clutching a large inflatablebanana.

   `Oh, very elegant.'

   `What?' The Doctor looked at her indignantly. Insteadof his usual pinstripe suit and long, brown overcoat, hewas in large baggy shorts, Hawaiian shirt and sombrero.He pulled on a huge pair of sunglasses and threw his armswide. `Perfect for a beach holiday, don't you think?'

   `Absolutely. Elton John would be proud of you!'

   `I got these from him I think.' The Doctor pulled off thesunglasses and peered at them with a frown. `Either himor the Mogadeesh of Replanak. Always get those two

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

mixed up' He tossed the glasses onto the central consoleand thrust the banana at Martha. `Now then.' He crackedhis fingers. `Where to go? Where to go?'

   Martha wedged the inflatable behind the console roomchair and joined him at the controls. She was dressed in along, light dress and sandals, quite a change from herusual jeans and leather jacket. The Doctor has promised abreak from their adventuring, a day or two away fromdanger and excitement. A chance to recharge theirbatteries.

   The Doctor seemed more excited about it than she did.He'd been unearthing all sorts of stuff from cupboardsdeep in the TARDIS; deck chairs, Lilos, even a bucket andspade.

   He twisted a control, peering at a readout. `Sun, Seaand Sugary Shiplanos, that's what's in order.'

   `Sugary what?'

   `You've never had a Sugary Shiplano? Aw, you haven'tlived! It's like a liquid candy floss, but it's lighter than air,so it floats and you have to hold onto the straw that youdrink it through to stop it floating away.'

   Martha shook her head. `I never know if you'rewinding me up or not.'

   `It's true! Were all the rage in 2050, bloke in Weston-super-Mare found the recipe in the wreck of an Androgumspace hopper that crashed in the Bristol Channel.'

   `So that's where we're going is it?' Martha folded herarms. `All the beaches in time and space, and you're gonnatake us to Weston-super-Mare?'

   `Course not.' The Doctor grinned at her, darting around

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the console prodding at switches, twisting dials. `I know alovely little place, nice beach, good hotel, nicerestaurants...'

   The glass column in the centre of the control roomstarted to glow with power, and hidden engines started togroan and grind. The entire room was shuddering.Martha gripped the edge of the console. She always lovedthis, the moment just before they stepped out intosomewhere new.

   There was a loud thump, and the TARDIS gave a lurch.

   `OK,' Martha's eyes were shining. `Where are we?'

   The Doctor snatched his sunglasses off the console,grabbed her by the hand and dragged her towards thedoor. `Saudi Arabia. Late twenty-first century. BestBeach of the Century in Bartholomew's PlanetaryGazetteer and Time Traveller's Guide.'

   He hauled open the door and Martha gave a yelp ofsurprise as a blast of icy wind hit them. The Doctor staredin disbelief at the snow and ice that stretched out ahead ofthem.

   `Sun, sea and Sugary Shiplanos?' gasped Martha,glaring at him and desperately trying to rub some warmthback into her bare arms.

   The Doctor gave a big sigh and wiped the snow fromhis sunglasses. `Don't suppose you'd fancy a frozenShiplano instead?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    T  he Doctor locked the door of the TARDIS, thrust the

       key deep into his jacket pocket and wandered over to

    where Martha was waiting for him. He was now in his

    usual suit and coat, and Martha had changed into clothes

    more suitable for an arctic environment heavy ski pants

    and a thick parka.

       The Doctor's earlier exuberance had given way to

    puzzlement. He had checked the readings on the console

    and everything appeared to be normal, no anomalies or

    temporal distortions.

       `So, have you worked out where we are yet?' Martha

    asked, shivering.

       `Right where we should be.' The Doctor squinted

    through the glaring snow. `Persian Gulf, just down the

    coast from Dubai.' He nodded through the swirling snow.

    `World's tallest hotel should be that way. The Rose Tower.'

       `It would be called that,' Martha muttered under her

    breath.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    The Doctor shot her a quizzical glance.

    Martha just smiled sweetly at him. `So how comewe've ended up in a blizzard then?'

    `Dunno.' He set off across the snow, coat tails flapping.

    Martha hurried after him. `Hang on a minute, whereare we heading off to then? Bit daft heading off with thevisibility like this. Can't we just hop back into the TARDISand try again?'

    `Gotta find out what's gone wrong first. Can't just goshooting off into time and space without checking wherewe are, can we?'

    He set off through the driving snow, seeminglyoblivious to the cold and biting wind.

    Martha groaned and pulled up the hood of her parka, allchances of a relaxing beach holiday getting further behindevery minute. She struggled after the retreating figure, herboots sinking deep into the snow. It was madness.Despite the Doctor's assurances, Martha was sure that thePersian Gulf was the last place on Earth that they were. Infact, there was a fair chance that they weren't on Earth atall.

    She struggled up a steep incline. The Doctor wasstanding at the top, peering through the worsening storm.Her feet skidded on the icy rock and she caught hold of theDoctor's arm.

    He nodded through the snow. `There's something overthere. A cliff of some kind.'

    `Cliffs. Great.' Martha could see nothing but greynessthrough the swirl of white. `Perhaps we can do some rockclimbing instead of sunbathing.'

    `Exactly.' The Doctor grinned at her. `Come on.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Keeping a firm grip on his arm Martha followed himover to what seemed like a sheer cliff face, caked in snowand ice. Ridiculously sheer in fact. Martha craned herneck back. `It goes up for ever.'

   The Doctor was frowning. `Yes. It does seem thatway.' He reached out and touched the surface. `Toosmooth to be natural.'

   `Man-made?'

   `Dunno.' The Doctor rubbed the surface with hissleeve. `Hang on... I can see something. Through the ice.'

   He fumbled in the pocket of his coat and pulled out astubby cylinder of metal. His sonic screwdriver. He madea few adjustments and held it out in front of him, pushingMartha behind him.

   `Just in case.'

   There was a flare of blue light and a high-pitchedwhine as the sonic vibrations cracked and crazed the icesurface. Frozen shards tumbled into the snow and awarm, glowing light started to pierce the gloom.

   The Doctor bent down and rubbed at the patch he hadcleared with his hand. He stepped back abruptly, astartled expression on his face.

   Martha caught her breath, `What is it?'

   The Doctor gestured towards the hole. `See foryourself.'

   Hunkering down, Martha peered into the light. Shestared at the face looking back at her. A young woman. Ayoung woman in a bikini.

   With a laugh, the woman waved and ran off. Marthacould see along a vast expanse of golden sand, heaving

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

with holidaymakers. The sky overhead was a brilliantblue, the sea alive with the sails of yachts. Martha tappedat the cliff with her knuckles. It was glass. She looked upat the Doctor in disbelief. `It's a dome. We're inside ahuge glass dome. On the beach.'

    `Hah!' The Doctor hauled her to her feet and twirledher round in the snow. `How could you ever have doubtedme!'

Ahmed Jaffa slumped down into the chair in his borrowedoffice in Snowglobe 6 and stared out of the window.Outside, nestled on its artificial island in the crystal-clearwaters of the Persian Gulf, the slim graceful curve of theBurj Al-Arab Hotel arced gracefully into the brilliant bluesky. Further along the beach, surrounded by gentlycurving date palms, Snowglobe 7 shone in the glare of theafternoon sun.

   He wished he was out there in the sun, instead of beingtrapped inside with problems and no answers.

   Jaffa tapped the screen of the computer terminalbringing it out of sleep mode. He read the email for thehundredth time: a request for urgent medical assistance.His hand hovered over the `send' button, unsure what heshould do.

   He rubbed a hand across his face wearily. Worldresources were being stretched by the tornado seasonsweeping through northern Europe; a mysterious viraloutbreak in the playground of the rich and famous washardly going to be a priority. He watched the newsfootage this morning of St Paul's Cathedral, its dome torn

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

apart by a class-three tornado that had swept throughcentral London. The human race was being torn apart bythe very planet that they were trying to save.

    Jaffa grunted. Too little too late. They were paying theprice now for lack of action a hundred years earlier.

    The buzzer on the desk shattered the quiet.

    He stabbed at the button impatiently. `Yes?'

    `Dr Jaffa.' It was Marisha, the senior nurse.

    `Yes, Marisha, what is it?'

    `Director Cowley is here.'

    Ahmed groaned inwardly. `All right, send her in.'

    He sighed and leaned back in his chair. The Directorwould want answers, and he wasn't sure he had anyanswers to give her.

    The door to the office swung open with a soft hiss andBeth Crowley entered. She was a tall woman, with long,black hair cascading down the back of her crisp, dark suit.Elegant designer glasses perched on the end of her nose.It had always baffled Jaffa that she never sought to pursuelaser surgery or use contact lenses to correct her shortsightedness.

    He rose to greet her, hurriedly minimising the email inhis drafts folder. `Director, I'm sorry. I meant to get overto see you as soon...'

    Cowley shook her head and smiled a thin smile. `Noneed to apologise, Ahmed. I'm aware of how busy youmust be.' She gestured for the sweating doctor to sit backdown. `Please.'

    Jaffa sat back down.

    The director sat in the chair opposite him, hands resting

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

neatly on her crossed legs. `Now, have we made anyprogress?'

    Jaffa licked his lips, knowing that Cowley wantedresults.

    `My team are working on the egg sacs, but we've stillhad no success in matching them to any known creature,living or dead. Really, we're at much the same place aswe were. Those in the medical bay are stable, the newcases that we admitted yesterday are the last onesreported. So far at any rate.' He leaned forward acrossthe desk. `For God's sake, Beth, we need to get a fullmedical team in here. I'm a medical officer for a smallfacility, I can't handle something of this scale. We couldput in an emergency request to the World MedicalCouncil. Get a quarantine of the area '

    `No.'

    `But we've still not established cause.'

    `I will not ask for the imposition of a quarantine thatwill cripple hundreds of businesses.' Cowley's voice wassharp. `Not until you provide concrete evidence that oursituation here poses a danger to the outside world.'

    `Until you've signed your deal with that shark O'Keefeyou mean.'

    Cowley frowned. `Discourtesy doesn't suit you, DrJaffa.'

    Jaffa licked his lips, already regretting his words. `I'msorry, Director. It's just...'

    `You don't like O'Keefe, and you don't like that I haveagreed to deal with him.' Cowley's tone softened. `I likeit even less than you, Ahmed. But the economics of our

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

situation are fairly straightforward. Either we acceptO'Keefe's offer, or we lose everything. So, if we can keepthis little mishap under control until I have secured ourfuture...' The woman flashed him a dazzling smile.`Well?'

   Jaffa nodded.

   `Good. I knew you could be reasonable.'

   `But you've got to listen to me. If I even begin tosuspect that this could spread...'

   Cowley's smile didn't waver. `Of course, Dr Jaffa.'She rose from her chair. `Now, I have to meet O'Keefe.'

   Smoothing down her jacket, Cowley crossed to thedoor which slid open with a soft sigh. She paused in thedoorway.

   `Cheer up, Ahmed. Look at it this way. At least you'rea senior doctor in charge of a major facility now... Enjoyit while it lasts.'

   The door slid shut, and Jaffa slumped back in the chair.He held his head in his hands. He had an unknown viralinfection to deal with, too few senior staff, and a boss whoseemed to think that the entire occurrence was no morethan a mild inconvenience. What the hell was he going todo?

Marisha El-Sayed watched as Snowglobe 7's Director ofOperations glided out of the office and crossed to the lift.She didn't even give the nurse a second glance.

   Marisha didn't like the tall Englishwoman. No. Itwasn't that she didn't like her, it was that she didn't trusther. She glanced over at the office where Dr Jaffa had

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

taken up residence. The young doctor was out of hisdepth and he knew it. She turned her gaze to the isolationward. Their senior consultant, Dr Abdul Al-Bakri, hadbeen amongst the first to be struck down. Six of the seniormedical personnel shortly afterwards.

   She flushed with anger. Why hadn't Jaffa called forhelp? It was glaringly obvious that this wasn't the minorviral contagion that he thought. She rose from her seat,summoning up the courage to confront the obviouslyfloundering doctor when a buzzer sounded from the ward.One of her patients needed assistance.

   Snatching up her mask, Marisha hurried into theisolation ward.

Martha stumbled in the snow for what seemed like themillionth time, cursing under her breath.

    `You OK?' The Doctor looked back at her.

    `Oh yeah. Just great. Having a whale of a time!'

    `Fabulous!' The Doctor grinned, seemingly oblivious toher sarcasm, and set off through the blizzard again.

    They had been following the curve of the wall fornearly fifteen minutes now. The Doctor had surmised thatif they were in a man-made structure designed to keepthe cold in and the heat out there would have to be anairlock of some kind. All they had to do was follow theedge of the dome until they found it. Martha had pointedout that the curve of the dome was so gradual that it couldbe nearly five or six kilometres in circumference, and theyhad no idea which direction this supposed airlock mightbe. The Doctor had merely set off in an anticlockwise

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

direction saying that he had a `hunch', and she'd had nochoice but to follow in his footsteps.

    Man-made or not, the weather inside the dome wasdecidedly unruly, and the snowstorm continued to batter atthem. Keeping a wary eye on the Doctor's receding form,Martha stopped to shake the snow from her hood. TheDoctor was acting as if it was a gentle walk on a summer'sday. How that whippet-thin body was staying warm shehad no idea.

    She was about to set off after him when a dark shapeflickered across the edge of her vision. Martha stopped,peering through the swirling snowflakes. Had sheimagined it?

    No. There. The shape was motionless amongst thebrilliant white, no more than a blur in the distance. Shestrained to see. There was a noise barely audible abovethe wind, a harsh, cricket-like chirruping.

    `Doctor,' she called out, not taking her eyes from theshadow in the snow.

    There was no reply.

    `Doctor?'

    Martha turned to where he had been. With a suddenpanic she realised that she couldn't see him any more. Sheglanced back at where the shadowy shape had been.

    It had gone.

    Slowly she started to move, wading through the knee-deep snow, following the trail left by the Doctor. Way offto her left, something darted past her, circling ahead.Gasping, Martha tried to move faster, the snow fightingher at every step. There was a burst of harsh clicking

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

from somewhere behind her and, to her horror, Martharealised that there was another shape stalking her throughthe blizzard. The clicking from behind her was answeredby more from her right. Whatever these things were, therewere three of them!

   Martha threw herself forward, snow stinging her eyes.She no longer tried to keep track of the shapes around her,her only thought was to get to the Doctor.

   His trail in the snow was getting more and moreindistinct. With horror, she realised that the worseningstorm was starting to cover his tracks. Her heart waspounding with the effort of moving through thesnowdrifts. `Doctor!' she yelled, gasping for breath.`Where are you?'

   She stopped, breathless, hands resting on her knees,trying to summon up reserves of energy. A barrage ofchittering echoed off the huge vertical expanse of thedome wall. With a cry of fear, Martha forced herself on.

   And a dark shadow loomed up in front of her.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    M    artha lashed out blindly, and her fist connected with

         something hard. There was a cry of pain.

       `Ow! Watch it. That hurt!'

       Martha felt relief wash over her.

       `Thank God! I thought I'd lost you.'

       `Well, I could hardly go far, could I, we're in a dome,

    remember?' The Doctor rubbed at his arm. `That's gonna

    bruise, you know. You don't know your own strength,

    Martha Jones.'

       `Doctor, there's something in here with us.'

       The Doctor stopped rubbing his arm and fixed her with

    a searching stare. `Something? What sort of something?'

       `Well, I don't know, do I?' Martha gestured into the

    glaring whiteness. `I saw a shape. Three shapes. Small,

    fast. There was a noise...'

       On cue, a barrage of clicking and chirruping erupted in

    the distance.

       `A noise like that by any chance?' The Doctor's head

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

was cocked on one side, listening intently. `Interesting.'He closed his eyes, holding his head back, straining tocatch sounds above the wind. `They're using echo-location, like whales or dolphins.'

Martha clutched at his arm as dark shapes flitted about inthe distance.

   `Ow!' The Doctor winced. `Watch my bruise.'

   `Doctor, they're getting closer.'

   `Yes they are. I wonder what they are.'

   There was more clicking and the shapes came closer.

   `Hungry?'

   `Quite possibly.'

   `You don't suppose it's like a zoo, do you? You know.Wildlife park at a holiday resort?'

   `And I've landed us in the equivalent of the bear pit?'The Doctor grinned at her. `Not a bad deduction, MissJones!'

   `Thanks, but can you save the flattery for after we getout of here?'

   `Yes, you're probably right.' The Doctor rummaged inhis pocket and pulled out his sonic screwdriver again. `Ifthey're communicating by sonar and echo-location, then Ishould be able to make things a little bit uncomfortable forthem.' He held the slim tube out in front of him. `Coveryour ears.'

   Martha clamped her mitten-clad hands to the sides ofher head. The Doctor pressed a button, and there was ablaze of electric blue light and piercing whistle. Eventhrough her gloves, the noise set Martha's teeth on edge: itwas like a dozen nails being drawn slowly down a

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

blackboard.

   The effect on the unseen creatures was immediate.Their clicking became high-pitched and agitated and, witha flurry of snow, the dark shapes vanished.

   The Doctor nodded with satisfaction and caught hold ofMartha's hand.

   `Right. That's seen to that lot for the moment, but let'snot hang around.'

   Holding the sonic screwdriver out ahead of him like atorch, the Doctor hauled Martha through the snow. Frombehind them, the clicks and ticks of the creatures settledback into their regular pattern. They were being stalkedonce more.

Beth Cowley stepped from the lift into the atrium of themain administration building of SnowGlobe 6. Tworeceptionists sat behind a huge, curving desk of polishedteak, and near the doors a bored-looking security officerstared out of the wall-length window.

   Beth crossed to the doors, heels clicking on the marblefloor. The security guard straightened as she approached,not quite snapping to attention, but acknowledging Beth'sauthority. She liked that. It was more respect than she gotfrom her own administrative staff.

   She had taken over the administration of SnowGlobe 6less than four months ago. The previous Director ofOperations had made a number of stupid errors ofjudgement, and at one time there had been fears that theenvironmental damage to the ice might be irreversible.The SnowGlobe Initiative had insisted that, even though

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

SnowGlobe 6 was primarily a leisure facility, theadministrative control should rest with someone with therequisite scientific knowledge to ensure that the ice sheetwas protected.

   Beth gave a deep sigh. If she had realised just howmuch work the leisure facility required, and just howmuch it would disrupt her own precious projects atSnowGlobe 7, she might never have agreed to take over.But then, if she had never taken over the running ofSnowGlobe 6, she'd never have met Maxwell O'Keefe...

   Huge glass doors slid open with a soft hiss, and Bethstepped out onto the decked veranda, her glassesdarkening, adjusting to the glare. From below her camethe babble of excited voices, the clink of china and theswish of skis on snow.

   Beth leant on the railing for a moment. SnowGlobe 6was beautiful. The vast glass dome gleamed above her,the sun blazing through thousands of crystal-clear panes.Thin polycarbide struts criss-crossed the blue of the sky,vanishing into a haze where wispy clouds wreathed thedistant mountain peak. Behind her, the administrationbuilding swept up in elegant tiers, following the curve ofthe glass, arcing round to link up with the hotels andchalets that clung to the circumference of the dome.

   Below her, steps led down to a wide promenade dottedwith cafés, bars and restaurants. The more expensiveestablishments hugged the dome wall, offering theirclientele a choice of views: snow-capped mountain on oneside; sun-drenched sea and palm-dotted beaches on theother.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   O'Keefe had already chosen one of those restaurants fortheir meeting. She could see him an inelegant lump of aman in an ill-fitting suit perched at a table on one of thebalconies. He was a man with expensive tastes, but thenSnowGlobe 6 was not a place to come if you were tryingto holiday on a budget.

   Beth felt a wave of anger wash over her. She wasabout to hand her life's work to a billionaire playboy, ashallow, worthless waster who had had wealth andcelebrity thrust into his hands without the slightest efforton his part. Beth clenched her fists. It was so unfair.

   She took a deep breath, composing herself. Unfair ornot it was the only choice that they had left. WithoutMaxwell O'Keefe or to be more precise withoutMaxwell O'Keefe's money then SnowGlobe 7 wasfinished, and she had worked too hard to let it all end now.All she had to do was to keep their little incident underwraps for a few hours longer.

Ku'ra Debrekseny rubbed his aching back and glancedover to where his manager was peering intently at a largemechanical digger, inspecting the machine with militaryprecision, copious notes being scribbled into the small,flat PDA that constantly hung around his neck.

   Ku'ra groaned. There was no question as to who wouldbe typing up those notes when they got back to the hotellater. He straightened, wincing as his back crackedalarmingly.

   `Hey, Brian,' he called across to where his colleaguewas photographing pieces of mining equipment laid out in

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

neat rows on the concrete floor. `What do you say we getourselves a couple of hours on the slopes this evening?'

   Brian Williams lifted his head and shook it solemnly.`I'm not sure when you think we're going to get any timefor that sort of thing. Mr Harrison has got a very busyschedule for us.' He turned back to his work.

   Ku'ra gave a deep sigh. That much was certain. MrHarrison had had a very busy schedule for them from themoment that they had boarded their plane. He hadn't beenable to believe his luck when this assignment had comeup. Dubai. Sun-soaked beaches, crystal-clear oceans.Plus the added bonus of one of the world's best indoorwinter sports facilities.

   Ku'ra stared around at the dark, echoing, emptyentrance hall of SnowGlobe 7. This was not quite what hehad in mind.

   Ku'ra, Brian and Harrison were part of the investigativeteam sent out by the insurance company to assess thedamage caused by the tragic construction accident of afew days ago. They were by no means the largestcompany of their kind, nor the best known, but so many ofthe larger companies were embroiled in the constantstream of devastation being wrought across Europe by theever-worsening climate.

   Ku'ra had actually been watching the newscast aboutthe accident when his phone had rung. It had beenLaurence Harrison telling him to get a bag packed and tobe ready to meet him at the airport in the morning.

   On the plane, Harrison had proudly told them that theywere to prepare reports for the British Museum in London

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

and for Maxwell O'Keefe. Ku'ra still couldn't work outwhy a vacuous sponger like O'Keefe would have anythingto do with a conservation project like the SnowGlobeInitiative, but a trip abroad was a trip abroad.

    He'd been stuck in the underground tunnels or in thedarkened, disused rooms of SnowGlobe 7 ever since. Theonly glimpse he'd had of the sun or the opulent majesty ofSnowGlobe 6 was from the bus to and from here everymorning and evening.

    Ku'ra sighed and turned back to his work. They'd beengoing two days and so far it seemed fairly straightforward.A tunnel collapse, most probable cause at this stage adefective construction robot. There had been threecasualties: two human males and a Flisk girl. They stillhadn't found the bodies under the rubble. Ku'ra felt apang of sadness. There were too few of his kind on thisplanet to lose one to such a stupid accident.

    He shook his head. He was being selfish. All threedeaths were senseless, not just the death of one of his ownkind. He picked up one of the rock fragments that had, inits way, been responsible for bringing about that accident.At first glance it was just a nondescript piece of stone, itssurface faintly grooved. It was only when you lookedcloser that you realised the grooves were ordered, notrandom, and the hand of man suddenly became apparentin its design.

    Ku'ra couldn't understand what all the fuss was about,but the team from the British Museum had been adamantthat these scrawlings from the ancient past were importantand Mr Harrison had been equally adamant that they

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

would all be fully catalogued.

   Ku'ra placed the stone fragment back in its tray. Hewas reaching for another memory stick for his digitalcamera when a metallic clang made his start.

   From across the deserted expanse of the foyer from theSnowGlobe facility, a warning light has started to flashnext to the airlock door. Ku'ra frowned. The place wasmeant to be deserted, the only people inside were the threeof them and the security team. He put down his cameraon the abandoned ticket desk and made his way over tothe huge steel shutters. There was another clank and thewhine of motors starting up.

   `What on earth do you think that you are doing, MrDebrekseny?'

   The low, melodious voice in his ear made Ku'ra jump.

   `Mr Harrison.' He turned and saw the accusing face ofhis employer peering at him.

   `I thought I asked you to make a full inventory of thearchaeological specimens, not go wandering off andcausing a fuss, hm?' The broad Welsh accent echoed offthe metallic doors. Harrison frowned as more metallicclangs rang through the cavernous space. `Have you beentouching things that you shouldn't?'

   Ku'ra shook his head. `I was by the counter when Iheard something. Came to see what it was.'

   `Sounds like someone inside the dome, Mr Harrison.'Brian Williams had joined them, peering up at the hugedoors.

   `Nonsense, Brian. Don't be so daft. Who's going to beinside the dome now, eh?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   A klaxon started to blare and a metallic voice gratedfrom hidden speakers.

   `PLEASE STAND CLEAR. AIRLOCK DOORSOPENING.'

   With a deep throbbing hum, the doors began to move.

   The three men backed away.

   Laurence Harrison adjusted his tie nervously. `Brian,would you be so kind as to alert the security guards at theentrance that we may have intruders, please.'

   Brian Williams didn't wait to be asked twice. With abackwards glance at the door, he vanished at speed acrossthe dark foyer, footsteps ringing out through the gloom.

   Ku'ra tensed. In the gap between the doors, somethingwas moving.

   Harrison gave a shrill cry as two figures burst into thefoyer in a flurry of snowflakes.

   One of the figures, a man, darted across to the doorcontrols, his hands dancing across the buttons in a blur.The other figure, a woman, slumped to her knees, gaspingfor breath.

   The klaxon sounded again.

   `PLEASE STAND CLEAR. AIRLOCK DOORSCLOSING.'

   With a resounding clang, the doors slammed shut.There was a few moments of almost deafening quiet, thenthe man let out a delighted whoop of triumph.

   `Oh yes! Well done, Martha Jones. If they awardmedals for escaping from unseen arctic predators, thenyou just got the gold.'

   The woman struggled to her feet. `The next time you

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

decide to take me on a holiday, can we just settle onSpain, or the south of France. Somewhere simple!'

    The man bounded over to her and gave her a quick hug,then stopped, noticing Ku'ra and Harrison for the firsttime.

    `Oh. Er, hello. Sorry, didn't see you there.'

    Ku'ra shot a look at his manager, waiting for him to saysomething. Harrison was watching the two strangers inopen-mouthed disbelief. He shook his head as if trying toprove to himself that it wasn't some bad dream, thenflushed a deep purple with indignation.

    `What the devil do you think you are doing, sir? Don'tyou realise that you are trespassing in a restricted area?'

    The man gave an embarrassed shrug. `Are we?Terribly sorry. Got ourselves a bit lost. Well, I say a bitlost, actually we're exactly where I thought we'd be,only...' He tailed off, peering around the gloom, his nosewrinkled in puzzlement. `Where is here exactly?'

    `It's a zoo isn't it?' The woman pulled down the hood ofher parka. `We're in a zoo of some kind?'

    `A zoo?' Harrison spluttered. `You are in SnowGlobe7, as you must certainly know!'

    `SnowGlobe. Right. Lovely.' The man looked aroundat the deserted foyer. `Off-season are we?'

    `Sir!' The word practically exploded out of Harrison.`Would you kindly tell me what who on earth you are andwhat you are doing here!'

    The new arrivals looked at each other for a moment,then the man started rummaging in his jacket. `Just a mo.Got some papers here somewhere. I'm the Doctor, this is

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Miss Jones...'

   `Doctor?' exclaimed Harrison.

   `Yeees.' The man stopped his frantic rummaging.`Doctor.'

   `Well why the devil didn't you say so? I was hopingthey'd sent for you days ago.'

   A look of surprise crossed the man's face. `So... You'vebeen expecting me?'

   `Of course we have!' Harrison stepped forward andshook the man firmly by the hand. `Laurence Harrison.From Harrison, Wheedle and Kr'eekst, loss adjusters.Delighted to meet you, Doctor!'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    M   artha had to hand it to him, the Doctor knew how to

        keep his cool, even when he was totally out of his

    depth. Despite his obvious surprise, he had swiftly

    managed to take complete control of the situation,

    ingratiating himself with Harrison and managing to divert

    him from asking any uncomfortable questions as to how

    they managed to get inside the dome in the first place.

       `Been telling those idiots to get you over here from the

    day we arrived,' Harrison blustered. `Let me introduce

    you to my team. This is Mr Debrekseny.'

       A tall man with a delicate, blue-green tint to his skin

    gave the Doctor a nod, then turned to Martha with a

    dazzling smile. `Martha, was it?'

       She nodded. `That's right.'

       `I'm Ku'ra.' He shook her hand. His skin was cool and

    incredibly soft. He gestured to the steel doors. `What

    were you doing inside the dome?'

       Martha felt her heart sink. It had been going so well.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `Oh, well, you know... Thought we'd get in early.' Shestruggled to shrug out of her parka. `Check things outwhilst it was quiet.'

   A frown crossed Ku'ra's face. He obviously wasn'tbuying it.

   `Why didn't you come to the administration block first?Surely you'd have contacted the Director?'

   Martha was getting worried. This was beginning tosound like an interrogation, and she wasn't sure quite whatshe should be saying. She decided to brazen it out. `TheDoctor and I thought it would be best if we made our owninitial examinations before contacting anyone. Form ourown conclusions.'

   Ku'ra nodded thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing.

   Martha held the young man's gaze, pleased withherself. That sounded convincing enough. There wassuddenly a slight tickle at the back of her mind. Sheshook her head.

   The Doctor was suddenly at her side, helping her withher jacket. `You're a Flisk aren't you?' he smiled thinly atthe blue-skinned young man. `Not a Flisk name, is it,Debrekseny?'

   `Er, no.' Ku'ra looked flustered. `Flisk mother, Polishfather.'

   `Interesting. Does the Polish side influence yourtelepathic ability at all?'

   Ku'ra flushed a deep sea-green and looked away. TheDoctor shot Martha a warning glance. That had been forher benefit. The tickle in her head had been Ku'ra. Shefelt herself getting angry. How dare he!

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   The sudden awkward silence was broken by the soundof booted feet ringing through the dark. A short, breathlessman accompanied by three security guards in neat, lightuniforms, crossed to Mr Harrison. The guards eyed theDoctor and Martha suspiciously.

   The Doctor rolled his eyes at Martha. `I get the feelingthat the psychic paper might be working overtime in aminute,' he whispered. `Let's just hope it works withFlisk.'

Beth Cowley sipped at her coffee and tried to keep herselfcalm.      Maxwell O'Keefe seemed oblivious to herdiscomfort, telling her his grand plans for therevitalisation of SnowGlobe 7 between huge mouthfuls ofomelette.

   Beth had tried to impress upon him the importance ofthe conservation side of the SnowGlobe project, how theyshould be looking at keeping as much of the ice sheet aspossible as untouched as they could, but O'Keefe haddismissed her with a contemptuous wave of his hand.

   `People are bored with conservation. The only waythat they're going to keep giving you money is if they'regoing to get some fun out of it. Look at this.' He hadgestured expansively at the people around him. `Everyone of these lovely people is paying more than you earn ina month just to be here; meanwhile you struggle withfunding, just because you can't agree to loosen up a little.'Ignoring her protests, O'Keefe had started to talk about skislopes, ice hockey, even a toboggan run between the twodomes.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Now Beth took a deep breath and shuffled the paperson the table in front of her. It was all that she could do tostop herself screaming. `But you do agree that thereshould be a commitment to continuing the scientificresearch that we are doing here?'

   `Sure.' Bits of egg tumbled down O'Keefe's expansivebelly. `I'm a great fan of science, always have been.'

   `So, you will agree to sign the contract in it's currentform?'

   O'Keefe gace her a humourless smile. `Let me finishmy breakfast, darling, then we can talk about the exactterms of your contract here.' He winked at her and wentback to demolishing his omelette.

   Beth raised her coffee cup to her lips, restrainingherself from throwing its contents all over the brutish oafin front of her.

   Her phone suddenly rang. She jumped, spilling coffeeover her shirt. Cursing under her breath, she pulled thephone from her jacket. The number displayed was Jaffa.

   `This had better be important, Ahmed.'

   `I think you'd better come outside.' The doctor soundedpanicked.

   `I'm a bit busy at the moment,' she hissed.

   `A doctor has arrived... Two doctors.'

   `What? I warned you Jaffa...'

   `I swear it's nothing to do with me, but I just had a callfrom security. Mr Harrison reported an intruder inSnowGlobe 7, and it seems it's a doctor and his assistant.'

   `I'll be right there.' She snapped the phone shut, herheart pounding.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    O'Keefe looked at her, with amusement in his eyes.`Problems, Director Cowley?'

    `A small matter that requires my attention, nothingmore.' She stood, dabbing at the coffee stain on her shirtwith a napkin. `Would you excuse me for a few minutes?'

    O'Keefe grinned at her. `I'm in no rush, Director. Youtake all the time you need. I'll just finish my breakfast andthen have a leisurely look at the terms of your contract.'He pulled a red pen from his jacket. `Perhaps make a fewlittle adjustments here and there.'

    Forcing a smile to her lips, Cowley turned and left therestaurant, hurrying towards her office.

    Dr Jaffa was waiting for her on the veranda, pacingnervously. She resisted the urge to pick him up by thecollar and shake him till his teeth rattled.

    `What the hell do you think you are doing, Jaffa?' shegrowled. `I warned you...'

    `I didn't do anything. I've no idea where they camefrom.'

    Aware that their raised voices were attracting unwantedattention, Cowley caught the quivering medical officer bythe arm and led him away from the veranda.

    `Get over to my office. Stall them.'

    Jaffa shook himself loose. `Don't be stupid, Beth. It'sover, we can't cover this up any more. We should tellthem everything.'

    Cowley shook her head, feeling panic rising. `We're soclose, Jaffa. O'Keefe is reading through the contract now.If he finds out '

    `But this Doctor, he can help! With luck, we can

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

contain the outbreak now, stop it in its tracks.'

    Cowley nodded. Perhaps Jaffa was right. The problemwasn't keeping the infection secret from everyone, justfrom O'Keefe. And only for the next few hours. `Allright, Jaffa. You head over to the office. I'll stall O'Keefeand meet you there.'

    Dr Jaffa nodded.

    `And Jaffa. Impress upon them the need for discretion.If this falls apart now then it's as bad for you as it is forme.'

    Jaffa scurried away through the crowds. Cowley took adeep breath. So close. She was so close...

Martha stared out through the windows of the coach as itcrept its way along the beachfront. The beach itself wasbeautiful, a picture-postcard combination of clear bluewater, pale white sand and gently swaying date palms.

   Every few metres, driveways peeled off from the road,snaking out along whitewashed jetties to needle-thinhotels perched on artificial islands, their rooftopspeppered with helicopter pads and shuttle bays. It was aplayground, albeit a very expensive one.

   Martha grinned. `I hope you've got a robust creditcard, Doctor,' she murmured.

   Ahead of her, rising from the sand like a vast jewel,was another of the glass domes, similar to the one thatthey had just left. Mr Harrison has insisted that heaccompany them to SnowGlobe 6 so that he couldintroduce them to Director Cowley.

   The Doctor seemed quite relaxed about things, but

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Martha had a feeling in her bones that, despite the idyllicsurroundings, he'd managed to land them in trouble again.

    She tugged at the neck of her thermal vest. She feltuncomfortable, despite the air conditioning of the coach.What had been perfectly fine for the sub-zerotemperatures was now horribly inappropriate.           Shedesperately hoped that they'd be able to get back to theTARDIS at some point to change.

    She reached inside her parka jacket and pulled out acrumpled brochure that she'd picked up from the desertedfoyer of SnowGlobe 7. `The SnowGlobe Initiative aBold Conservation Project for a Changing World,'proclaimed the cover. Martha started to flick through it,her curiosity turning to shock as she started to grasp therealities of a world that was only a few scant years aheadof her own.

    By the middle of the twenty-first century, globalwarming had changed the climate dramatically. Extremeweather was now commonplace throughout the northernhemisphere, and Martha looked in disbelief at thephotographs of destruction wrought by tornadoes in citieslike Paris, Rome and London.

    With temperatures rising and the ice sheets in both theArctic and the Antarctic looking increasingly likely to belost for ever, the governments of the world had made aconcerted effort to preserve what little they could. Twelvehuge domes the SnowGlobes were constructed at keycities throughout the world. Then vast areas of ice wereliterally scooped up from both the Arctic and the Antarcticand set down in their new locations, preserved from the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

ever-rising temperatures on the planet.

   A first, the domes had been a purely scientificendeavour, a noble attempt to keep a threatened ecosystemsafe for future generations but, as time went on, the costof maintaining the domes had begun to become both aneconomic and political issue.

   Reluctantly, the SnowGlobe Initiative had agreed toaccept funding from private businesses, and thosebusinesses had their own ways of ensuring that the domesmade money. Winter sports, an industry that had almostbeen wiped out, was now the latest craze sweepingthrough the rich and famous. Of the twelve domes, onlythree were still purely scientific establishments:SnowGlobe 3 in the Australian Outback, SnowGlobe 9 inJapan and SnowGlobe 7 here in Dubai. The rest were skiresorts, winter retreats, exclusive hideaways for film starsand politicians. The planet's greatest conservation projecthad become a thriving entertainment industry.

   Martha closed the brochure, unsure of whether to beappalled at hos such a noble endeavour had beensubverted or happy that, against all odds, a uniqueenvironment had been preserved.

   She stared out at the happy holidaymakers scatteredacross the beach, wondering just what the rest of theplanet that she called her home must be like in this futurethat was so terrifyingly close.

The Doctor glanced over to where Martha sat transfixedby the view. He smiled. A holiday in a place like this wasjust what they needed to recharge their batteries. He

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

craned his neck to look back at the impressive glass domethat they had just left, his smile fading. Unfortunatelythey had landed in the middle of something that mightwell interrupt that holiday. As usual.

   The Doctor gave a deep sigh, `It never rains...'

   `Doctor?'

   The Doctor turned. The young Flisk, Ku'ra, slid intothe seat next to him, a sheepish look on his face. TheDoctor said nothing.

   `I just wanted to say... sorry.'

   The Doctor fixed him with a piercing stare. `I don'tthink it's me that you should be apologising to.'

   Ku'ra was practically squirming in his seat. `No, it'sboth of you I've offended. I've tried approaching MissJones, but she can be a little...'

   `Intimidating?'

   Ku'ra gave a nervous smile. `Yes.'

   The Doctor's tone softened. `Keep at it. If I knowMartha Jones, she'll probably accept that apology,eventually.'

   `I hope so.'

   `She might make you work for it though.'

   Ku'ra took a deep breath. `Thank you.'

   `Are there many Flisk in Dubai?' The Doctor leanedback in his seat. `I would have thought it was a little hothere for a damp-loving race like yourselves. Hardly theM'treeki lakes.'

   Ku'ra stared at him in surprise. `You know about myhome world?'

   The Doctor gave a thin smile. `I was onboard the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

medical frigate Talaha when the rift opened during thecrossing of the Opius Expanse.'

   Ku'ra's jaw nearly fell open. `You were with the Fliskarmada? But that was nearly forty years ago, you can'thave been more than...'

   `Oh, I was a different man back then.' The Doctorignored Ku'ra's puzzled expression and let his memorydrift. `You would have liked Flissta. An entire planet oflakes and hills.'

   `My mother showed me pictures...'

   The Doctor shook himself in reverie. `You shouldspend some time in the Lake District. Closest thing theyhave on Earth to where you come from.'

   Ku'ra nodded. `A lot of my people settled there. I keepmeaning to go.'

   `Which brings me back to what brings you to Dubai.'

   Ku'ra nodded to where his boss, Mr Harrison, wasseated. `The accident.'

   `Yes, the accident.' The Doctor stroked his chin.`What can you tell me about that?'

   Ku'ra shrugged. `I'm not sure I can tell you much morethan you already know.'

   `Tell me anyway.        It's good to get a differentperspective.'

   `Sure.' If Ku'ra still had any suspicions about theDoctor and Martha, these were pushed aside by his desireto make amends for his earlier indiscretion. He explainedhow SnowGlobe 7 was in the process of being convertedfrom a purely scientific establishment to a leisure facility,similar to SnowGlobe 6, and how that work had been

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

interrupted by the discovery of prehistoric artefacts thatmust have been scooped up when this particular section ofthe Arctic had been excavated.

   The Doctor leaned forward, intrigued. `What sort ofartefacts?'

   `Carvings, mostly. Pictures on pieces of rock. Thatdiscovery caused uproar of course. The entire scientificcommunity up in arms, pointing out that this sort ofdiscovery was precisely the sort of thing that the globeswere set up to protect.'

   `How come they had only just been discovered?'

   `They were widening one of the access tunnels.They're planning a toboggan run between the two globes.'

   The Doctor gave a wry smile. `So the discovery wasmade by the very people that the scientific community areobjecting to.'

   `They had an expert over from the British Museum todo a survey when the tunnel collapsed.'

   `Anyone hurt?'

   Ku'ra nodded. `Three people were killed. The museumguy and two engineers. They've still not found thebodies.'

   The Doctor pursed his lips thoughtfully. `But theymanaged to find the rock paintings.'

   `And a couple of construction robots. Then they closedthe tunnel down.'

   `Closed it down, why?'

   `The first team to arrive after the accident ended up inhospital. Infection is the rumour. They're not telling usmuch.' Ku'ra frowned. `That's why you're here, surely?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `Yes. Of course. Thanks, you've been really helpful.'

   `Mr Debrekseny, could I trouble you for a moment?'Harrison's rich voice rang through the coach.

   Ku'ra groaned. `Sounds like I'm needed.'

   `No rest for the wicked.'

   Ku'ra slid out of his seat. `If you'd tell Martha...'

   The Doctor smiled. `I'll put in a good word for you.'

   `Thanks.'

   The Doctor watched the young Flisk make his waythrough the coach to where his employer was waiting forhim. Through the windscreen ahead of them, SnowGlobe6 gleamed in the sun. The Doctor narrowed his eyes.Mysterious creatures, ancient artefacts and a strangeinfection. `I'd be surprised if those three things aren'tlinked somehow,' he murmured to himself.

   He looked up as Martha sat down next to him.

   `Been chatting with our telepathic friend, have you?'She glared at him.

   `Our somewhat sheepish telepathic friend. You mightwant to give him a second chance.'

   `Yeah, well, we'll see. So what's the deal here?'

   `I'm not sure yet. There's a lot of unknowns.'

   `Why does that not surprise me!' Martha groaned. `DoI get the idea that our relaxing holiday is becoming a moreand more remote possibility?'

   The Doctor just smiled at her.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    D   eep in the snow and ice of SnowGlobe 7, the thing

        stirred fitfully in the ice. Around it, the mews and cries

    of its three offspring echoed through the biting wind. The

    prey had eluded them and they were getting hungry. The

    warm-blooded things that it had sensed had all gone now,

    but it could feel the minds of so many more outside the

    walls, out in the heat and the glare.

        Claws scraped on rock. The huge black bulk quivered

    and the creature gathered last reserves of energy. It had

    been dormant in the ice too long, slept for millennia. Now

    it needed to build its strength. To do that it needed to feed.

        Brian Williams gave a deep sigh and settled back down

    to get at the work in hand. It was typical of Ku'ra to jump

    ship as soon as there was some distraction or other.

        The two of them had been working together for the last

    three months. It wasn't that Brian didn't like the young

    Flisk, but Ku'ra just didn't seem suited to the job, his mind

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

always wandering, always on the lookout for somediversion.

    Brian, on the other hand, was happy to concentrate onthe tasks that he had been given. The work that they weredoing out here in Dubai was an important break for thecompany. Mr Harrison was convinced that it could be thebeginnings of something big for Harrison, Wheedle andKr'eekst. Brian was determined that he was going to beright there at the forefront when the break came.

    He scanned down the list on his laptop. If he could getthe assessment of all unaccounted excavation equipmentcompleted by the time Mr Harrison returned...

    He looked over to where the three security guards werestill loitering on the far side of the darkened foyer,chattering animatedly in Arabic. One of them shot awithering glance in his direction. Brian flushed. Theguards hadn't been too pleased to discover that the`emergency situation' he had insisted was taking place wasjust a false alarm. They were even less pleased to be toldthat they were to wait in the foyer and be of assistance toBrian whilst Mr Harrison and the others were over atSnowGlobe 6.

    Brian took another deep breath. If he needed their help,then they would just have to do as he said. Mr Harrisonhad delegated responsibility, and Brian was going to takethat responsibility seriously.

    He stood up, smoothing down the creases in his shirt,and crossed to where the security team two tall men andan even taller woman were leaning against the receptiondesk. They went quiet as he approached, eyeing him

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

suspiciously. Brian cleared his throat.

    `I was wondering if you could help me with some ofthe machinery that was brought up from the tunnels?'

    One of the men rolled his eyes and the womanmuttered something under her breath. Brian mentallykicked himself at his choice of words. I was wondering ifyou could help me. Not exactly showing that he was incharge there, was he? These were soldiers. Theyunderstood orders. He glanced at the nametags sewn ontothe breast pockets of their lightweight uniforms. The menwere privates, Kassim and Balsora; the woman, Farrah,was their commanding officer.

    He pulled himself up to his full five foot six. `Rightnow, if you don't mind, Captain Farrah.'

    Farrah straightened, towering over Brian, glaring downat him. Brian held her gaze, suddenly and unexpectedlytransported back to his childhood, to the myriadencounters with the gangs of girls that always seemed torule the playground of his old-style comprehensive school.He could see the smiles on the faces of the woman'scolleagues, recalling similar smiles on the faces of bulliesall through his life.

    The noise cut through the foyer with shockingsuddenness. A crash of metal ringing out through the foyerlike the clash of a huge cymbal.

    The security guards' entire demeanour changed in aninstant. Rifles were unshouldered with frightening speed,needle-thin lines of scarlet light from laser sights slashingthrough the darkness.

    The noise came again and again. A metallic booming,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

deafeningly loud. Brian stared, his mouth agape, as thehuge airlock doors to the SnowGlobe quivered underimpact after impact. Farrah caught Brian by the arm,pulling him behind her protectively, one eye pressed to thesight of her rifle. With a flick of her hand, she gestured toher colleagues. They fanned out across the foyer, balancedon the balls of their feet, guns trained on the huge doors.

   One of them scurried to the wall of the dome, rubbingat the glass with a gloved hand, peering into the swirlingsnow beyond.

   `What is it?' hissed Farrah.

   Kassim leaned closer to the glass, cupping a hand overhis eyes. `I can't see.'

   `All right. Open the door. Slowly, Kassim.'

   Kassim tapped a series of commands into the panel onthe wall. Klaxons started to blare and, with a grinding ofgears, the huge doors started to inch apart. When theywere open about half a metre, he hit the emergency stopbutton and with a clunk the doors stopped moving.

   Brian held his breath, eyes fixed on the snow thatswirled through the gap. Kassim edged forward, his gunwedged tight against his shoulder, finger hovering overthe trigger.

   `Anything?' snapped Farrah.

   Kassim shook his head. `I'll try to--'

   Two long, black arms whipped out through the gap inthe doors, thin, sinewy fingers winding about the soldier'shead. With an anguished cry, Kassim was snatchedthrough into the dome, his body bouncing off the metaldoors with a sickening crack and vanishing into the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

swirling snow.

   There was a moment of stunned silence. The tworemaining security guards stared at each other in disbelief,then darted forward, rifles raised. They had barely made ithalfway across the foyer when something large and darkstepped out through the doors.

The coach swung through the elegant airlock ofSnowGlobe 6 and pulled up in a sweeping car park justinside the wall of the dome. The doors swung open with ahiss, and the Doctor hopped out into the crisp, cool air.

   Martha stepped down beside him, staring at hersurroundings in awe. Despite herself, she had to admit thatthey had done a fantastic job of converting a scientificproject into a holiday resort. The centre point of the domewas a vast mountain peak, one side a gentle curve of softsnow and ski slopes, the other a harsh crag of rock. Cablecars criss-crossed the vast interior of the dome and the sunglinted through the delicate tracery of steel trusswork highabove them. Hotels and restaurants jostled for space, andeverywhere were people in brightly coloured winter coats:climbers, skiers, families. The entire place exuded wealth.

   The Doctor took a deep lungful of air. `Not bad for aprimitive bunch of apes.' He flashed a dazzling smile ather. `You should be proud, against all odds this has beenpreserved for the future.'

   Martha nodded. `I guess so.'

   Behind them, Laurence Harrison struggled off thecoach, bulging briefcase in hand. Ku'ra stepped downbeside him.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    `Right-ho, Doctor,' puffed Harrison. `We should get onup to the Director's office, get you properly introduced.'He nodded at one of the cable-car stations. `That's thequickest way, awful lot of stairs otherwise.'

    The Doctor nodded thoughtfully. `Tell you what, MrHarrison, why doesn't Mr Debrekseny take Martha tomeet the Director, whilst you and I take a closer look atthese service robots that were found in the tunnel?'

    `What?' Harrison looked flustered.

    `Surely you've checked on the remains of the robots?'

    `Well, a preliminary assessment has been made.'

    `Then let's make a follow-up assessment! If thememory banks of these robots can be accessed thenperhaps we can get a better idea of what caused theaccident.'

    `But the Director, the medical officer. . .'

    `Oh, Dr Jones is perfectly capable of assessing themedical implications. I'd far rather get to the heart of theinvestigation. You and me, Mr Harrison, cutting throughthe red tape.'

    `Well, if you think that it's important, then of course.'Harrison swelled with pride. `Now, Ku'ra, if you can takecare of these.' He handed the briefcase to his bewilderedassistant, fumbling with various notes and papers.

    Martha crossed angrily to the Doctor's side. `Thanks abunch!'

    The Doctor caught her by the arm, leading her to oneside. `Look, Martha, I need you. Something's not righthere, and there's certainly more going on than Mr Harrisonis aware of.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `You think it's got something to do with thosecreatures?'

   `Well it would be a huge coincidence if it wasn't.Whatever it is, I want to find out sooner rather than later.If we split up, we've got a better chance of finding outwhat's going on before anyone realises we're not who wesay we are. Get up to the medical bay, bully your way inand see what you can find out about an infection thatmight be connected with the tunnel, I'll get in touch withyou later. Besides. . .' He winked at her. `It'll give youngKu'ra a chance to apologise to you properly and, whoknows, perhaps a holiday romance is just what's in order.'

   With a grin he bounded across the car park. `Come on,Mr Harrison. Let's go and see what we can find out.'

   Martha watched him go. `A holiday romance. Right,Doctor, that's just what I was hoping.'

   She turned to where Ku'ra was waiting forlornly forher. He gave her a shy smile.

   Martha sighed. `Come on then. Lead on.'

Brian Williams stared in horror at the creature that hadstepped from the swirling blizzards of SnowGlobe 7.

   It was as if someone had thrown together a strangeamalgamation of monkey, spider and bat. It was tall,nearly two metres, its thin body covered in a thin layer ofcoarse, wiry fur. Eight long, stick-like limbs sprang from asquat torso, thin spidery fingers feeling tentatively at floorand walls. It moved slowly, while a long tail, tipped withbarbs, curled and thrashed agitatedly in the air behind it.The head was large and rounded. Brian could see no eyes,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

but a twisted, fleshy nose sniffed at the air.

   Strange clicks and chirrups filled the air, the thingcocking its head this way and that between each burst ofnoise. Brian could feel vibrations deep in his stomach, likea very low bass note at a rock concert.

   The creature turned in his direction, and Brian took aninvoluntary step backwards, his shoes scraping on theconcrete floor. The thing threw its head back andscreamed, revealing layer upon layer of sharp, yellowingteeth.

   With terrifying speed, it launched itself forward.

   Time seemed to slow for Brian, he felt his foot catch onsomething, could feel himself start to fall backwards, armspin-wheeling frantically as he tried to regain his balance.He could see Farrah dropping into a low crouch, swingingher rifle up to take aim, the red dot from her laser sightstartlingly bright on the black fur of the monster. On theother side of the doors, Balsora already had his rifle up,shouting something in Arabic, his own laser beamtracking the creature as it bounded across the foyer.

   Brian hit the ground hard as both security guardsopened fire.

   The noise was terrifying. Brian screamed and rolledhimself into a ball as shots ricocheted off stone and metal.Spent bullet casings bounced off the concrete floor likemetal raindrops. The creature gave a shriek of pain asbullets tore through flesh, sending it crashing to the floor.

   Farrah and Balsora darted forward, firing burst afterburst into the thrashing, twisting shape. Long, graspinghands flailed in the air, the creature lashing out at its

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

tormentors. Farrah danced out of the way as the creatureslashed at her, the clawed fingers tearing ragged gouges inthe floor. She kicked at the flailing arm with her boot,ducking in closer and lining up her laser sight on thecreature's head. There was the rattle of machine-gun fire,then silence.

   Brian raised his head, looking in terrified disbelief atwhere the two security guards stood panting over thetwisted corpse of the creature.

   Farrah prodded at the corpse with the barrel of her gun.She looked up at Balsora nodding grimly.

   `It's dead.'

   Balsora swore loudly. `What's dead? What is it?'

   Farrah turned towards Brian, her eyes cold. `You. Doyou know anything about this?'

   Brian shook his head. `No. Why should I knowanything?'

   Farrah crossed to where he lay, dragging him to hisfeet. `Because you said that there were strangers in thedome earlier. Did they mention anything about this. . . thisthing?'

   `The girl. . .'

   `What about her?'

   `She asked if this was a... a zoo of some kind. I thoughtthat it was odd at the time--'

   `You thought that it was odd?' Farrah gave a sniff ofdisgust. `But you didn't think to mention it?' She jerked athumb back at where her colleague was examining thesprawled corpse. `What do you think this is?'

   `I don't know, I. . .'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    The words died in Brian's throat. He grasped at Farrah'sarm. `Behind you!'

    Farrah turned, colour draining from her face as a harshmetallic clicking rang through the foyer.

    Two more of the creatures had emerged from the dome,feeling their way almost delicately with their long blackfingers. Alerted by the creatures' staccato sounds, PrivateBalsora struggled to get a new ammunition clip into hisgun.

    Brian watched in despair as the old clip clattered to theground and the creatures' heads snapped towards thenoise. Like striking cobras, the pair launched themselvesat the unfortunate security guard. Balsora didn't even havetime to scream. There was a frenzy of limbs as themonsters engulfed him.

    Farrah gripped her rifle, her knuckles whitening.

    `Get out of here,' she whispered.

    Brian continued to stare at the feeding monsters, unableto move.

    `I said get out of here!' Farrah grasped his arm, hernails digging painfully into his flesh. `Get over to theother dome, tell them what's happening.'

    Both the creatures were looking towards them now,their eyeless heads bobbing and weaving, clicking andtapping.

    Brian turned and started to run. Behind him he heardthe roar of gunfire and the bellowing of the monsters.Ahead of him, sunlight streamed through the windows setinto the main doors.

    All he had to do was make it through those doors and

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

he would be safe.

    Brian made it no more than a few steps.

    He felt something sharp and strong grasp him by theankles, and he crashed painfully to the floor. Winded, hetried to struggle to his feet but a dark shadow loomed overhim.

    Brian screwed his eyes up tight, not wanting to see thenightmare that he knew was behind him. The sound ofgunfire had been replaced with Farrah's screams of painthen, mercifully, Brian could hear no more.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    T  he Doctor followed Laurence Harrison down a long,

       wide service tunnel that snaked around the outer edge

    of SnowGlobe 6. Little had been done to add frills or

    niceties to these corridors and passageways, unlike in the

    rest of the facility: all the style and elegance had been

    reserved for the paying guests.

       Harrison puffed and panted his way down a winding

    stairwell, trying to impress the Doctor with facts and

    findings that they had made since arriving in Dubai.

       The Doctor felt a brief pang of guilt about deceiving

    the earnest Welshman, but he needed to find out as much

    as he could as quickly as he could, and a service robot

    collected from the scene of this accident seemed like his

    best bet.

       Harrison stopped in front of a set of gleaming metal

    doors. `Here we are.' He waved his ID badge across a

    reader, and the doors slid open with a soft hiss.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   The Doctor stepped into a huge, well-equippedworkshop. Workbenches lined one wall, piled high withtools and machine parts. Well-maintained machinerydotted the workshop floor and at the back of the room,dominating everything, were the robots.

   `Oh, aren't you gorgeous!' The Doctor gave a whistle ofadmiration and crossed the room to look at them. Therobots were a good two metres tall, each one set into analcove in the workshop wall. Wires and tubes fromdiagnostic machinery wound around the glittering metaltorsos. The Doctor glanced at the numbers stencilled onthe chests of each robot. Alcoves 11 to 15 were empty.

   `Excuse me, can I help you?'

   A broad Yorkshire accent made the Doctor turn. A tallman in an oil-stained boiler suit was crossing theworkshop towards him.

   Laurence Harrison bustled forward to make theintroductions. `Doctor, this is Robotics TechnicianRoberts. Mr Roberts, the Doctor, recently arrived to assistus in our enquiries.'

   Roberts wiped the oil from his hand with a rag. `Goodto meet you, Doctor.' He shook the Doctor's hand. `Cometo see the remains of our robots?'

   `Yes, I was rather hoping that our robotic friends mightbe able to shed some light on what happened.'

   Roberts gave a snort of amusement. `If you can getanything out of them at all, then you're a better engineerthan me. Over here.'

   He led the Doctor and Laurence across the workshop towhere the remains of several robots were laid out on the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

floor. `As you can see, they didn't quite come out of thetunnel intact.'

   The Doctor looked in dismay at the twisted wreckage.He crouched down, picking up one of the robot's severedarms. `This is how they were found?'

   `Pretty much.'

   `You found them?'

   Roberts shook his head. `That was Ibrahim, ChiefEngineer. He and two of the lads.'

   The Doctor didn't look up. `And they're all in thehospital, I guess?'

   `Yup.' Roberts squatted down beside him, toying idlywith some of the mangled robot parts. `Still waiting tohear exactly what the trouble is, never tell us nowt downhere.'

   `And what have you managed to glean from our deadrobots, Mr Roberts?' The Doctor fixed him with a steadygaze.

   `Not much so far, Doctor. VINTEK System servicerobots are designed for load-bearing, used a lot in theconstruction industry, did most of the early constructionon our SnowGlobes here.' Roberts poked a finger into agash in one of the battered torsos. `Most of this is impactdamage from when the roof collapsed.' He paused. `Wedid find some odd markings on one of the robots, though.'

   `Oh?' The Doctor raised a quizzical eyebrow.

   `Been getting the lads to look at it. It's over here.'

   The Doctor got to his feet and followed Roberts to oneof the workbenches.

   The upper half of one of the robots lay partially

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

concealed by a dust sheet. A number `12' was just visibleon the scarred torso.

   Roberts pulled off the dust sheet, nodding at a set ofdeep parallel grooves across the robot's metallic skin.`Don't know what to make of those.'

   `Nasty.' The Doctor bent close, pulling a set of thick-rimmed glasses out of his jacket pocket and slipping themonto the end of his nose. `You've been in the wars haven'tyou, big fella.' He pulled out his sonic screwdriver,playing the electric blue light across the harsh gashes inthe metal.

   `Don't suppose you've had any problems with predatorsrecently? Any reports of strange animals?'

   `Animals?' Harrison gave him a puzzled look. `Whaton earth do you mean? What kind of animals?'

   Roberts gave another snort. `Think that we've got somerogue polar bears or something, do you, Doctor? You'vebeen reading too much in the gutter press. Been wildstories about animals scooped up in the excavations eversince the SnowGlobes started being built.'

   `Not polar bears, no. But something scooped up in theexcavations, Something in the ice. . .' The Doctor heldRoberts' gaze. `Is that so fantastic a possibility?'

   `Let me get this right.' Harrison's brow furrowed. `Areyou seriously suggesting that these robots were attackedby some kind of creature in the tunnels?'

   The Doctor stood up, slipping off his glasses andtoying with them idly. `Those artefacts that were found,anyone manage to put a date on them?'

   Harrison shook his head. `There was some speculation

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

that they were Stone or Bronze Age. That's why MrMcAllen was in the tunnels. To extract the fragmentssafely and start the process of dating them.'

   `Stone Age...' The Doctor chewed on the arm of hisglasses. `So whatever it is has been in the ice for a verylong time indeed. Hibernating, suspended, probably wokeup hungry...'

   `You're serious aren't you?' Roberts was incredulous.

   `Oh yes,' said the Doctor. `It's a perfectly feasibletheory. But don't take my word for it, Mr Roberts, let's seeif we can get our metal friend here to tell us.' The Doctortapped the metal torso on the bench.

   Roberts shook his head. `You won't get anything fromthem, Doctor. I've tried every trick in the book, they're justscrap metal.'

   The Doctor held up his sonic screwdriver and grinned.`Well, I've got a few little tricks of my own. I hope youdon't mind if I try?'

   Slipping the glasses back onto his nose, the Doctor bentover the workbench and started to unbolt the robot's chestplate.

With an unpleasant smile on his face, Maxwell O'Keefewatched Director Cowley make her way out of therestaurant. It had been obvious that the womandesperately needed to get away from him, and he hadtaken great pleasure in finding excuse after excuse to stopher.

   He mopped up the last remnants of his breakfast with apiece of toast and sat back in his chair, dabbing at his

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

mouth with a crisp white napkin.

    He looked round at where a figure loitered at anothertable and waved him over. The little man scurried to hisside, pulling up a seat and looking at him expectantly.

    `How did it go, Mr O'Keefe?'

    O'Keefe smiled. He liked Rabley. He liked anyone whomade him feel important and powerful. Rabley had beenhis eyes and ears for several years now, a little man with alot of useful connections and a weakness for expensivetrinkets. It hadn't been difficult to ensure that he alwaysworked in O'Keefe's best interests. It had been Rableywho had alerted him to the SnowGlobe Initiative'sfinancial difficulties in the first place.

    O'Keefe nodded at the receding figure of the BethCowley as she picked her way through the tourists thatthronged on the veranda outside the window.

    `You were quite right about her, Rabley. Quitedesperate to sell, and not too many complaints providingwe promise to look after her precious SnowGlobe.'

    `So she's going to sell at a good price, Mr O'Keefe?'

    `Oh, it's good.' O'Keefe took another look at thecontract spread out in front of him on the food-stainedtablecloth. `But not good enough. She's hiding somethingfrom us, Rabley. Something that she thinks might changeour minds.'

    `What sort of thing, Mr O'Keefe?' Rabley lookedpuzzled. But then Rabley always looked puzzled.

    `I don't know yet.' O'Keefe folded up the contract withhis hastily scrawled amendments and slipped it into thepocket of his jacket. `But we shall find out and make a

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

better profit on this deal than you can possibly imagine.'

   He looked out through the far window at the crystalslopes of SnowGlobe 7 gleaming in the sunlight furtherdown the beach.

   `Is there anyone over there at the moment?'

   Rabley followed his gaze. `A few security guards, andMr Harrison and his team, of course.'

   `Ah yes, our petty little inspector. We'll need to have aword with him before too long, Mr Rabley. Every man hashis price, though I can't imagine in the case of MrHarrison that his price is going to be too exacting, eh?'

   Rabley chuckled. O'Keefe liked people who laughed athis jokes.

   O'Keefe stood up, brushing crumbs from his jacket. `Ithink that we should take a look at our prospectivepurchase, Mr Rabley, a little tour just to reassure ourselvesthat Miss Cowley isn't trying to pull a fast one on us.'

   Rabley hurried to help with his chair. `I'll go and getthe car, Mr O'Keefe. I'll get them to call the lift for you.'He scurried off, harrying waiters as he went.

   O'Keefe gave a satisfied sigh and looked at the dozensof contented, comfortable and wealthy people that milledaround him. Soon he would own SnowGlobe 7 and, oncehe did, he was going to be richer than all of them puttogether.

Martha stood in the lift watching as the indicator abovethe door counted steadily upwards.

    Ku'ra was standing behind her, and the silence in thelift was starting to get uncomfortable. All the way from

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the car park, Ku'ra had done his best to be polite andcourteous, obviously trying to find the right moment toapologise to her.

    Martha hadn't given him a chance. It was mean of her,she knew, but the Doctor running off and leaving herhadn't exactly put her in the best of moods.

    She knew that she should be flattered. He obviouslytrusted her to go off on her own and glean as muchinformation as she could. It was just that this was meant tobe a holiday, time for the two of them to spend some timetogether on their own without some alien threat ordangerous situation getting in the way. Travelling in theTARDIS rarely offered that kind of option.

    With a soft chime, the door of the lift slid open and shestepped out into the corridor. A slight, dark-skinned manhurried forward, grasping her hand, practically gabblinghis words.

    `Thank God you've come, I was beginning to thinkwe'd have to deal with this all by ourselves. I wanted tocall you earlier, but Director Cowley insisted we keep it asan internal affair.' He peered past Martha into the emptylift, completely ignoring Ku'ra. `It's just you? I'd hopedthere would be a team. Dr...?'

    `Jones.' Martha extricated her hand. `Martha Jones. TheDoc... My colleague is examining the service robots withMr Harrison. You are?'

    `Ahmed Jaffa. Chief Medical Officer of SnowGlobe 6.Come this way, please.'

    Jaffa ushered her along the corridor. Martha couldn'tunderstand why he was in such a blinding hurry.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    `What happened to Dr Al-Bakri?' asked Ku'ra.

    Jaffa turned, licking his lips. `You're one of Harrison'smen, yes?'

    The Flisk nodded.

    `He's ill, same as the others. He collapsed in his officeearly yesterday.'

    Ku'ra shot a glance at Martha. `That's been kept veryquiet.'

    `A lot of things have been kept very quiet. Now wemust hurry, please. If you could wait in the Director'soffice she'll be along shortly.' Jaffa urged Martha on downthe corridor towards the medical facility.

    `I'd like to come along,' said Ku'ra.

    Jaffa shook his head. `I'm sorry, that's impossible.'

    `I'm sure that Mr Harrison will need to know ifanything is going on that might be relevant.'

    Jaffa cursed under his breath. `Very well, but hurry,please.'

    The three of them made their way along the plushcorridor. At a double set of glass doors, Jaffa stopped,tapping his security code into a keypad on the wall. Thefirst set of doors slid apart silently. Jaffa ushered Marthaand Ku'ra inside the airlock, pulling white lab coats off thewall. `Put these on please.'

    As the two shrugged into their coats, Martha shot Ku'raa dirty look. `Keeping an eye on me?'

    `Seeing if I can be of help. I am trying to apologise toyou, remember.'

    Martha sighed. The boy was trying his best, and he wasright she could do with some help.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `All right, Ku'ra. Thank you. Apology accepted. Justkeep out of my brain, OK?'

   Ku'ra flushed, then smiled.

   Martha was aware of Jaffa looking at them curiously.

   `Is everything all right?'

   `Yes, Dr Jaffa. A personal matter, that's all.'

   A green light flicked on above the second set of doorsand they slid apart. Martha felt air rush past her head intothe room. Negative pressure, designed to stop anymicrobes or bacteria escaping when the doors wereopened.

   They stepped into a gleaming bright medical bay, neat,ordered and better equipped than any hospital Martha hadever been in. A tall, strikingly beautiful Arab woman in acrisp nurse's uniform looked up from her desk. Jaffahurried over to her.

   `Marisha, this is Dr Jones. She and her colleague havejust arrived to offer their assistance.'

   Relief flooded over the woman's face. Martha began tofeel nervous. Whatever was going on here was obviouslyterrifying the medical staff. She desperately hoped that theDoctor hadn't dropped her into something that she couldn'thandle.

   She was wondering how on earth she was going tobluff this one out when Ku'ra clasped at his head and, witha scream of agony, collapsed on the gleaming tiled floor.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    'I don't believe it.' Roberts stared in disbelief as the robot

       stretched out on his workbench gave a brief electronic

    burble and swung its newly attached legs onto the floor.

       `Come on now, big fella, take your time,' the Doctor

    encouraged it.

       The robot rose unsteadily to its feet and took a few

    tottering steps across the workshop floor.

       `Ha!' The Doctor clapped his hands in delight.

       Roberts scratched his head. The Doctor had worked at

    bewildering speed, building circuitry and mechanisms that

    the tall Yorkshireman could only guess at. The workbench

    was awash with discarded components, bits pulled from

    the Doctor's coat pocket, and countless lengths of

    coloured wire.

       The rest of the technicians had looked on in amazement

    as the Doctor had practically vanished into the guts of the

    robot, rewiring, replacing. Deep within the circuitry of the

    robot's open chest, Roberts could see the dismembered

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

remains of two coffee machines, a control panel for one ofthe workshop doors and Mr Harrison's electronic notepad.

   Everything Roberts knew told him that the lash-up theDoctor had constructed shouldn't have worked. Butsomehow it did, and he'd managed to achieve in minuteswhat Roberts and his team had failed to do in days.Roberts was determined that, when this was over, he andthe Doctor would sit down over a coffee (once they'd gotthemselves a new coffee machine) and have a long talk.

   With the bulk of the Doctor's unorthodox repairsfinished, two of Roberts' team had helped attach therobot's torso to a new set of legs and were now chargingup the depleted power cells.

   The Doctor snatched up the chest plate from the bench,gave it a quick polish with the sleeve of his shirt andsnapped it into place on the towering robot.

   `Now then. Let's see what you can remember, hm?Identification?'

   There were a series of clicks and whirrs from deepwithin the robot's metallic skull.

   `+IDENTIFICATION. VINTEK CONSTRUCTIONROBOT. SERIES 9. PERSONAL IDENTIFICATIONNUMBER TWELVE.+'

   `Nice to meet you, Twelve.' The Doctor grinned. `Howare you feeling?'

   The robot turned its blank face towards him.`+QUESTION NOT UNDERSTOOD.+'

   `Course not. Silly of me.' The Doctor's tone becamemore serious. `Perform memory diagnostic.'

   There were more whirrs. `+MEMORY SIXTY-EIGHT

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

POINT THREE PER CENT INTACT.+'

   Roberts shot the Doctor an admiring glance. `Not bad.'

   The Doctor shrugged. `Depends if that sixty-eight percent is the bit we want.' He nodded at the techniciansmilling around them. `I'm not sure that an audience iswhat we need at the moment.'

   Roberts nodded. `Right you lot. Good work. Teabreak.'

   As the technicians wandered off towards the rest room,the Doctor called to Harrison who was dozing in a cornerof the workshop. `Mr Harrison, you might want to comeand listen to this.'

   Harrison stretched and crossed where to the Doctor andRoberts stood in the shadow of the patiently waiting robot.The Doctor took a deep breath. `Access memory. Relaylast given instruction.'

   There was a long pause. For a moment the Doctorthought that he had failed, then noise blared from speakershidden deep within the robot's torso.

   `Emergency override code Delta two zero!' The voiceof a young woman screamed the words, then there was adeafening crash of falling rock, then silence.

   Harrison took an involuntary step backwards. `GoodGod.'

   The Doctor closed his eyes. `Access memory. Replayprevious two minutes.'

   There was another pause.

   `+MEMORY CORRUPTED. ONLY PARTIALREPLAY AVAILABLE.+'

   The Doctor nodded. `That's OK.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    The speakers cracked into life again. A man's voicejoined that of the girl's, their words indistinct and broken,and in the background the sound of something angry andinhuman, shrieking and hissing.

    `... ject compromised... ignore previous inst... ctionsand aban... your post.'

    `+FAILURE TO ... PLY WITH INSTRUCTIONS ...LOSS OF INTEGRITY OF TUNNEL.+'

    `Just do it!'

    `+UNABLE TO COMPLY... WILL RESULT ININJURY... DEATH TO HUMAN WORKFORCE.+'

    `We're already dead you stupid machine! ...alreadydead!'

    `Emergency override code Delta two zero!'

    `+UNDERSTOOD. ABANDONING POST.+'

    The audio stopped, plunging the workshop into silenceonce more.

    The three men looked at each other.

    Harrison took a handkerchief from his pocket andwiped the sweat from his forehead. `What the devilhappened?'

    `I think it's fairly clear.' Roberts' voice was sombre.`They deliberately ordered the robots to let the ceilingcollapse.'

    `But why? Why?' Harrison slumped down into a chair.`It makes no sense.'

    `Oh, I think it makes perfect sense.' The Doctor's facewas grim. `That was the only option left to them. Youheard it, didn't you? In the background, the hissing, thesnarling. Something was in there with them, and letting

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the ceiling collapse was a better option than allowing it toget at them. Or letting it get anyone else.'

   `This wretched creature of yours?' Harrison wastrembling. `We've just heard three people die, Doctor.'

   The Doctor nodded. `Yes... Three people. And howmany more are here in this dome?' He turned back to therobot. `Access memory. Two minutes prior to previousaudio.'

   There was another series of rapid clicks.

   `+UNABLE TO COMPLY. MEMORY FILESCORRUPT. UNABLE TO COMPLY. UNABLE...+'

   `All right, all right, ssssh.' The Doctor patted a metalarm soothingly, then turned and snatched up his jacket offthe workbench.

   `Mr Harrison. I think that we should find someone inauthority and let them know what we've found out.'

Harrison nodded. `Director Cowley should be informed atonce.'

   `Good.' The Doctor struggled into his jacket thenturned to Roberts. `Do you think that you could carry onhere, see if you can get any more out of Twelve'smemory?'

   Roberts nodded. `I'll do my best.'

   `Do you also think you could isolate the frequency thatthe creatures are using for their echo-location?'

   `There's a good recording, so it shouldn't be toodifficult. I can run it through the isolators that we use tocalibrate the sonic lances.'

   `Good man.' The Doctor set off towards the workshopdoor, coat flapping. `Come on, Mr Harrison, no dawdling.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Harrison hurried after him.

   Roberts turned back to the waiting robot and picked upa screwdriver from the bench. `Right then, let's see whatelse you've got tucked away in that metal head of yours,shall we?'

Ku'ra was still unconscious, and Martha didn't knowwhether to scream at him for making her life morecomplicated or thank him for providing the perfectdiversion.

    She had only just managed to catch him before hecracked his head on the tiled floor, and she and Jaffa hadmanhandled him onto a nearby hospital gurney.

    Marisha was pulling a hospital blanket over him.

    Martha crossed to her. `How's he doing?'

    `He seems OK.' Marisha gave a shy smile. `I'm afraidthat I'm not too familiar with Flisk biology, but he seemsfine. Here...'

    She handed Martha a slim plastic pad, readoutsflickering across a small screen.

    Martha panicked for a moment at the unfamiliar pieceof equipment, but as she scanned the figures on the littlereadout she relaxed a little. Pulse, respiration, heartbeat.All were labelled clearly. Most of them seemed normal.Normal for a human at any rate. She remembered what theDoctor had said back in the dome. `He's only half-Flisk.Apparently his father was human.' She frowned. `Heartrate seems a little high.'

    Marisha nodded. `That's what I thought. For a momentI was worried that...' She tailed off.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `That what?'

   `That he was going to be like the others.' Marishanodded towards the ward. `I have a horrible feeling thatthis is just the beginning.' She shook her head. `I'm sorryI'm being morbid. You'll want to see the patients, ofcourse.'

   `Of course.' Martha hoped her voice sounded moreconfident than she felt.

   `I'll just get you a mask.' The nurse hurried off.

   Martha stared through the glass door at the dozen or sopatients lying silently in lines of beds in the ward. Sheprodded idly at the small diagnostic pad. It seemed to be acombined patient's chart, thermometer, stethoscope andpersonal computer. `Dr McCoy eat your heart out,' shemurmured. `I could have done with one of these back atmedical school.' She pressed a few controls, bringing avariety of different screens up. It seemed relatively simpleto operate and was certainly going to help her if she had tobluff her way through this without the Doctor to help out.`Here you go.' Marisha appeared at her elbow and handedher a small plastic earpiece.

   `Thanks.' Martha took it, trying to pretend that it was aperfectly familiar object to her, watching surreptitiously asMarisha slid her own device behind her right ear.

   Martha did the same and there was a sudden tinglearound her nose and mouth and a slight antiseptic smellcaught at the back of her throat. The device was obviouslysome kind of high-tech sterilised mask. She could see afaint twinkling haze around the nose and mouth of theyoung nurse.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   `Cool.'

   Marisha glanced at her. `I'm sorry?'

   `Nothing.' Martha shook her head, reminding herselfthat she would have to stop getting excited by things thatthe people around her took as everyday items.

   `I'm sorry if the settings on the steri-masks are a littlehigh, but we really can't afford to take any chances.'

   `Of course.'

   Marisha swiped her ID card across a panel on the wall.The door swung open softly and the two of them steppedinside the ward.

   It immediately struck Martha that, apart from one ortwo unfamiliar pieces of equipment, the ward could easilyhave been one of the private wards back at the RoyalHope Hospital. The beds were neat and ordered, pillowsand sheets were crisp and white, and all around there wasthe soft, rhythmic beep of machinery and steady breathingof the twelve men and women that lay in the cooldarkness.

   Marisha nodded at the nearest patient, an Arab manwith a lean, angular face.

   `Dr Al-Bakri.'

   Martha leant forward to get a closer look. The man'seyes were flickering violently under the lids. Martha shotMarisha a puzzled look.

   `Dreams,' the nurse explained. `It's the same with all ofthem.'

   Martha moved from bed to bed. The faces of all thesleeping patients were the same, each of them in thethroes of something that kept their brains and minds

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

tormented even as their bodies slept. Martha studied thelittle diagnostic pad in her hand, looking for somethingthat might help. There. Encephalographic functions. Sheslid her thumb over the touch-sensitive controls, and anangular graph line started to etch its way across thescreen.

    Martha frowned. `There's a huge amount of mentalactivity! How long have they been like this?'

    `Within hours of collapsing.' Marisha sighed. `It's beengetting steadily worse hour by hour. If only Dr Al-Bakrihadn't been affected.'

    `Dr Jaffa's here though.'

    Marisha rolled her eyes. `I meant a proper doctor, not amedical officer from a government facility who's probablynever had to treat anything more serious than a grazedknee.' Suddenly realising that she might be talking out ofturn she shot a glance back at the office. `That was unfairof me. He's doing his best, it's just that he seems a little...'

    `Out of his depth?'

    Marisha nodded, her face falling. Martha felt sorry forthe young nurse. She gave her arm a squeeze. `Nevermind. The Doctor, my Doctor, is the best there is. He'llknow what to do.'

    `Good. Perhaps he can finally get to the bottom of whatthese are too.'

    Martha followed Marisha's gaze to a long windowlooking into a large, well-equipped laboratory. On a lowexamination table were three grey, spherical objects, eachsitting in a shallow stainless steel tray. Martha waspuzzled.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    `Eggs?'

    Marisha shrugged. `As far as we can tell.'

    Martha crossed to the window to get a closer look. `Buteggs from what?'

    `We don't know yet. It's been driving Dr Jaffa crazy.'

    `Can I get a closer look?'

    `I'd rather you didn't.' She nodded at the patients. `Sofar everyone who has come into direct contact with thosethings has ended up in here.'

    Martha took another look at the egg-like objects. Thetrays they sat in were filled with a thin layer of grey dust.As she watched, a section of the egg broke away in ashower of particles. `You think it's the dust don't you?That breathing in the dust has put these people into acatatonic state.'

    Marisha nodded. `Every hour that goes by, they breakdown further. It's like they're crumbling away before youreyes.'

    Martha stared at the eggs, thinking back to the thingsthat had stalked her and the Doctor through the snow andice of SnowGlobe 7. Three mysterious creatures, threeeggs. More than ever Martha wished that the Doctorwould hurry up. Marisha, Jaffa and the others desperatelyneeded help, and she was starting to get scared.

    Raised voices suddenly shattered the calm, the noisecausing several of the patients to moan and twist in theirbeds. Marisha hurried between them, whisperingsoothingly. Martha turned angrily towards the door.Outside in the office, Jaffa was arguing heatedly with atall woman in a business suit. Outraged on behalf of `her'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

patients, Martha marched across the ward, pushing openthe glass door.

   `What the hell do you two think you're playing at!'Silence fell.

   Jaffa cleared his throat. `Dr Jones, this is the Director--'

   `I don't care who you are,' Martha hissed. `Thesepeople are sick and need rest. If the two of you are goingto scream your lungs out at each other, you can do itoutside!'

   For a moment, Martha thought the woman was going toexplode. Jaffa visibly cringed as he waited to see what hisboss would do. Martha braced herself for the inevitableshowdown.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    'I s this a private argument or can anyone join in?' A

       familiar voice drifted across from the doorway, and

    Martha turned in relief as the Doctor entered the room, Mr

    Harrison bustling along behind him.

       The Doctor caught hold of Jaffa's hand shaking it

    vigorously. 'Dr Jaffa, I presume. I see you've been

    introduced to my colleague. Marvellous bedside manner

    Dr Jones has, don't you think?' He glanced over to where

    Ku'ra was sleeping on the hospital gurney in the corner of

    the room. 'Hello, what's been going on here?'

       He bent down, lifting up one of the young Flisk's

    eyelids and examining him curiously.

       'Good heavens!' Harrison hurried over to Ku'ra's side.

    'What on earth happened?'

       The Doctor raised a curious eyebrow at Martha. 'Do I

    gather that you decided not to accept his apology?'

       'Hey!' Martha was indignant. 'I didn't do anything to

    him.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    'Doctor.' Cowley had regained her composure and wasregarding him impatiently.

    'Hello? Yes. Sorry. Lots to take in. Miss Cowley, isn'tit?'

    'Director Cowley.' The woman's tone was icy.

    'Director Cowley, righto.' The Doctor smiled. 'Sorry.Now then, Director, what seems to be the problem here?'

    'I wasn't aware that we had a problem, Doctor. And I'mcertain that I've not asked for any assistance.'

    'Really?' The Doctor peered through into the ward atthe sleeping figures. 'Twelve beds full of patients with anunidentifiable disease and you don't think that you've got aproblem?'

    'A minor contagion that is under control. Dr Jaffa--'

    'Dr Jaffa has apparently been asking for additionalassistance for some time. Never wise to disagree withyour doctor.'

    'Jaffa is modest about his abilities.'

    'Or perhaps it's just that you're too ignorant to realisethe danger that you're putting everyone in.'

    Cowley looked as though she had been slapped. 'Howdare you!'

    'Mr Harrison.' The Doctor's face was grave. 'Perhapsyou'd like to tell Director Cowley here what we've justdiscovered.'

    Harrison fumbled with his tie nervously. 'It seems asthough there is an animal of some kind that may well havebeen responsible for the accident.'

    'An animal?' Cowley was incredulous.

    'Like those things that we saw in the dome?' asked

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Martha.

   The Doctor nodded. 'Seems likely, don't you think?'

   'What are the two of you blathering on about!' Cowleywas red with anger. 'There are no animals in the dome!'

   'Well that's where you're wrong, Director.' The Doctor'svoice was like a whiplash. 'Mr Harrison and I have justexamined the remains of one of the construction robotsthat has been recovered from the site of the accident. Itsmemory banks confirm that just prior to the tunnelcollapse the people in there were attacked by one or morepredatory animals. Dr Jones and I were also stalked bysome kind of animal inside SnowGlobe 7. You havetwelve people including your senior medical personnel in a comatose condition, and Mr Harrison here tells methat you recovered some egg sacks from the accident site.So shall we stop pretending that there isn't anything goingon here and start trusting each other, or shall we just waituntil this jolly little holiday camp is knee-deep in bodies?'

   All the fight left Cowley's face and she slumped backonto a chair, drained.

   Jaffa hovered at her side. 'He's right, Beth. It's gone toofar. We need their help.'

   Beth Cowley nodded weakly. 'Yes, you're right.Ahmed, would you show the Doctor what data we havecollected so far, please.'

   Jaffa nodded. 'It will take me a few moments.' Hehurried away to his office.

   Martha slid over to the Doctor's side. 'So what are theseanimals, then?' she asked curiously.

   The Doctor shrugged. 'Dunno. Not enough information

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

about them yet. Where are these mysterious eggs?'

   'In there.' Martha pointed at the laboratory. 'They'redisintegrating fast though, turning into some kind of dust.'

   'Interesting.' The Doctor rubbed his chin thoughtfully.'And what about Mr Debrekseny? If you didn't deck himthen what happened?'

   'Not sure.' Martha looked over to where the young manlay. 'He just went out like a light as soon as he set foot inhere.'

   'Did he say anything?'

   'Nope, just clutched his head and collapsed.'

   The Doctor's eyes narrowed. 'Something affecting himon a mental level perhaps.'

   'Wouldn't surprise me.' Martha passed him herdiagnostic pad. 'All of the patients have got abnormallyelevated mental activity.'

   The Doctor peered at the readouts, fingers dancing overthe controls. 'And with Ku'ra being more receptive tomental stimulation than most humans. . .' He grinnedbroadly at her. 'Outstanding work, Dr Jones. I'm beginningto think you don't need me at all.'

   'Hardly. When this is all over, you are really going toowe me that holiday.'

   The Doctor squeezed her arm reassuringly.

   There was a groan from the far side of the room. Ku'raraised his head from his pillow, lifting a hand to shade hiseyes from the light.

   'Your patient appears to be reviving,' said the Doctor.

   The young Flisk was struggling to raise himself up onhis elbows.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Martha caught hold of his arm, helping him sit up.

   'How are you feeling, my boy?' Harrison was fussingover him like a concerned uncle.

   'Groggy.' Ku'ra licked his lips. 'And parched. Got anywater?'

   'I'll get it.' Marisha hurried over to a water cooler, filleda paper cup and handed it to him.

   'Thanks.' Ku'ra drank greedily.

   'Hey, slow down. You'll choke yourself.' Martha tookthe cup from him.

   Ku'ra settled back down onto the stretcher. 'Whathappened?'

   'We were rather hoping that you'd be able to tell usthat.' The Doctor was watching him intently.

   'I'm not sure. I remember coming up in the lift withMarth- Dr Jones. I remember Dr Jaffa meeting us in thecorridor and then...' Ku'ra frowned, obviously trying todredge something up from his subconscious. His eyeswidened and he gripped Martha's arm. 'I felt her! Felt herpain!'

   'Felt?' The Doctor leaned forward. 'You mean atelepathic contact?'

   'Yes. In terrible pain. I wasn't ready for it.' Ku'raslumped back on the gurney. 'It's something I've alwaysstruggled with. Having a human father has meant that Inever had the same level of control as my mother did.When a Flisk is near death, there are a lot of. . . unwantedtelepathic contacts. When they are in pain. . .' Ku'ralooked up at Marisha in anguish. 'You didn't tell us thatthere were Flisk infected as well. That some of my people

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

were dying.'

    Marisha frowned. 'But we don't have any Flisk in here.All of our patients are human.'

    The Doctor tapped his teeth thoughtfully. 'Are you stillgetting this mental contact?

    Ku'ra half closed his eyes, concentrating. 'It's not aspowerful as it was before, but it's still there, yes.'

    'Doctor?' Jaffa leaned out through his office door. 'Wehave that data for you.'

    The Doctor patted Ku'ra on the arm. 'You get some restKu'ra. Come on, Dr Jones.'

    Martha followed the Doctor through into Jaffa's office.It was small and bright, with a long window looking outonto the beachfront. Martha longed to just get out thereinto the sun. Director Cowley followed them in and satdown on a low leather couch. She seemed to haveregained some of her composure. Jaffa beckoned theDoctor over to the desk.

    The Doctor dropped down into a chair and pulledhimself up to the slim computer, slipping his glasses ontothe end of his nose. Data and graphs jostled for positionon the screen.

    'You've been a busy man, Dr Jaffa.' The Doctorprodded at the keyboard. 'Skin samples, sweat samples,cardiographs, encephalographs. . .' He peered at the youngdoctor over the top of his glasses. 'A lot of informationtelling us absolutely. . . nothing.'

    Jaffa looked uncomfortable. 'We've checked thesymptoms against every known disease in the database.'

    'So I guess that tells us that it's not a known disease.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

What about these eggs?'

    Jaffa leaned over his shoulder and brought up morefiles of data. 'We've had the automatic systems analysingthem ever since they arrived in the laboratory. Under strictquarantine, of course.'

    'Of course.' The Doctor's nose was practically touchingthe screen. 'And everyone who has come into contact withthese things has ended up unconscious?'

    Jaffa nodded. 'The rescue team, Dr Al-Bakri, half adozen paramedics and several of the medical staff here.'

    'Interesting. And you've had no luck identifying speciestype?'

    Jaffa squirmed again, his gaze flicking between theDoctor and Director Cowley. 'Not so far. Again, we'vechecked and cross-checked against every animal in thedatabase and are getting no matches.'

    'With any known species.' The Doctor took off hisglasses and leaned back in his chair. 'So we're dealing witha species that is extraterrestrial in origin or one thatpredates the fossil record, or...' He fixed Jaffa with apiercing stare. 'Did you include human or Flisk DNA inyour comparison tests?'

    Jaffa shook his head, frowning. 'Of course not. They'reeggs. We started with birds and reptiles and expanded oursearch parameters from there.'

    'But Mr Debrekseny is convinced that he had mentalcontact with a dying Flisk mind. . .' The Doctor leanedforward, hands dancing over the computer keyboards. 'Ilove computers, I really do, but they only tell you whatyou want to hear, and are never very good at just coming

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

up with ideas of their own.' He finished typing with aflourish. 'But you can ask them to run even the mostludicrous ideas through their little metal minds and ifthere's an answer there then they'll find it.'

   Jaffa stared at the screen in horror. 'That's not possible.'

   'I'm afraid it is.'

   'What is it?' Cowley had got up from the sofa. Jaffalooked over at her, his face white. 'There's a match. Theeggs. Flisk and human DNA.'

   'But what does that mean?'

   'That the "eggs" aren't eggs at all.'

   The look on the Doctor's face made Martha go cold.

   'Oh, something hatched from them all right,' he wenton. 'Several somethings in fact, several somethings thatare currently taking up residence in the blizzards ofSnowGlobe 7. But the creatures hatched from the remainsof your archaeological team. The eggs are the mutatedremains of their skulls.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    F  rom inside his air-conditioned limousine, Maxwell

       O'Keefe watched impatiently as Rabley scampered

    round the doors of SnowGlobe 7, peering through the

    glass and shooting puzzled expressions back at his

    employer.

       O'Keefe sighed. The little man was useful, but he

    wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. Curtis Rabley had

    come to his attention after a failed attempt to rob a wages

    shuttle at an O'Keefe casino in Las Vegas. The job had

    gone badly wrong but something about the man's ambition

    had appealed to O'Keefe. In a strange way, he could see

    something of himself as a younger man. Oh, his security

    advisers had all told him that he was a fool, that

    employing a man who had just attempted to rob them was

    madness. But O'Keefe had ways and means of buying

    loyalty, and Rabley had proved himself very loyal indeed.

       O'Keefe settled back into the leather seats of the limo

    and stared out at the huge expanse of empty car park

    surrounding the SnowGlobe. It summed up the difference

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

between this dome and the other: the spaces here wereempty; SnowGlobe 6's were filled with every luxuryvehicle known to man. By the time he had finished, thiscar park would be full to bursting too.

    Money had been the driving force behind Maxwell'slife. It opened doors and buried secrets, it made himpopular and respected. It gave him power. Power overlittle people like Rabley, power over principled losers likeCowley. He smiled. Taking the dome away from Cowley watching the effect it was having on her was verysatisfying indeed.

    A tapping on the tinted window brought him out of hismusings. O'Keefe pressed a stud and the smoky glass slidinto the door with a soft whirr. Hot air wafted into the coolof the car's interior, and Rabley's sweat-beaded facepeered in through the window.

    'Problems, Mr Rabley?' O'Keefe raised an expectanteyebrow. 'Security blathering on about "restricted areas"and "authorised personnel"?'

    'That's just it, Mr O'Keefe.' Rabley wiped at his facewith a grubby handkerchief. 'There isn't any security. Theentire place is wide open.'

    O'Keefe tutted. 'Typical of a government operation.'

    Rabley shook his head. 'It's not that, Mr O'Keefe.Something's definitely not right. There's no one around atall, and the doors to the SnowGlobe itself look as thoughthey're open.'

    'Open?' O'Keefe snorted derisively. 'I doubt that verymuch. Director Cowley would have their guts for gartersif anyone so much as breathed on her precious "protected

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

environment".'

   'I'm telling you, Mr O'Keefe, the doors are open.There's snow blowing all over the reception area.'

   O'Keefe sighed and hauled himself out of the car ontothe baking tarmac. As he'd been saying to himself earlier,Rabley wasn't the brightest of men. Some ventilationsystem was obviously open, or Harrison's men wereconducting some kind of survey. A perfectly obviousexplanation, yet Rabley was seemingly unable to sort itout for himself.

   'Come along, Mr Rabley. Show me.'

   O'Keefe followed the little man across the car park,smiling to himself as Rabley practically tripped overhimself as he hurried to open the tall glass doors intoSnowGlobe 7's entrance foyer.

   He looked around the darkened interior with distaste.Typical of the lack of imagination of a government-runscientific endeavour. Lines of dull ticket booths, a pitifullysmall shop selling books and trinkets, and an endlessprocession of informative posters stretching out in a curvearound the dome.

   Dull, dull, dull. He had never seen the attraction ofplaces like this. He had never liked museums or artgalleries. He'd never liked anywhere that purported to beeducational. He'd always preferred circuses to zoos,arcades to galleries, shops to exhibitions. All of his ownenterprises were bright, audacious and, above all, fun.

   Cold air made him shiver. He frowned. Rabley seemedto be right. The airlock doors did appear to be open, a lineof windswept snow building up on the concrete floor.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Strange...

   Rabley hovered at his shoulder, skittish and nervous,one hand hovering near the small blunt-nosed pistol thathe always had hidden in his jacket.

   O'Keefe nodded at the open door. 'See if you can getthat closed, Mr Rabley. It wouldn't do for us to buy thisdome only to find all of the snow had melted, would it?'

   Rabley hesitated, and for a moment O'Keefe actuallythought he was going to argue, but the little manobviously thought better of it and hurried over to the doorcontrols on the far side of the foyer.

   O'Keefe wandered towards the gift shop. In his mind,he could already see how it would look when he hadfinished rebuilding, could already see the happy crowds,hear the chink of cash registers.

   He stumbled over something in the dark, cursing loudlyas he almost overbalanced.

   'Are you all right, Mr O'Keefe?'

   'Of course I'm all right,' he snapped. 'Just hurry up andget that door closed and then see if you can get somelights on in here before I break my damn neck.'

   'Right you are, Mr O'Keefe.'

   O'Keefe peered down at the shadows at his feet to tryand see what he had tripped over. The floor was sticky.O'Keefe wrinkled his nose in disgust. If he was going tohave to bring in specialist cleaning contractors, he wouldhave to have words with Cowley about reducing her saleprice still further.

   With a series of dull clunks, the lights started to comeon all over the foyer.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    'I've found the lights, Mr O'Keefe.'

    'Thank you, Rabley. That much is obvious.'

    The lights had illuminated the thing he had trippedover. It seemed to be a football. A leathery sphere, aboutthirty centimetres in diameter. He nudged it with his foot.The sphere rolled slightly, dust flaking from its surface.The top was open and cracked. It was more like a giant,half-eaten boiled egg than a football.

    O'Keefe lifted his shoes in distaste a thick goo coatedthe soles. He looked around for something to wipe his feeton. There. A bundle of rags lurked under the sales counter.He bent to grab them, then stopped in horror. The ragswere the remains of a shirt, and inside the shirt were theremains of a body. O'Keefe backed away, staring at theegg. Suddenly there was so much more detail. Theremains of what had once been eye sockets, a mouth,wisps of hair.

    'Rabley,' he croaked, his mouth dry.

    'Nearly got it, Mr O'Keefe. These door controls are alittle bit tricky, that's all.'

    O'Keefe turned angrily towards his assistant, ready tobawl him out for wittering on about doors when hisemployer was knee deep in body parts. His anger turnedto abject terror as he caught sight of the thing that wassliding silently though the open airlock. O'Keefe backedhimself up against a wall as the monstrosity shambledforwards on thin, spindly legs. Amazingly it had walkedright past Rabley, who was still hunched over the airlockdoor controls.

    Silently, the creature padded forward. When it reached

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the centre of the room, it paused, head cocked back, fleshynose sniffing at the air. Abruptly it let out a stream ofhigh-pitched clicks and whistles that O'Keefe could feel inhis gut.

    Startled, Rabley spun, hand reaching for the gun in hisjacket. His jaw dropped open at sight of the creature,which turned, emitting another stream of noise.

    The sound of the gun was deafening. With a screech,the creature skittered backwards, arms flailing wildly.Rabley fired two more shots in quick succession, both ofthem sending flesh and fur flying from the creature's torso.With a turn of speed that belied his stature, Rabley threwhimself towards the main doors, shooting wildly over hisshoulder as he ran. O'Keefe held his breath as the creatureseemed to gather itself into a ball then hurled itselfforward, claws scrabbling on the concrete floor.

    At the last moment Rabley threw himself to one sideand the creature flew past him, crashing against a stack ofcrates and boxes, sending them flying. For a moment,O'Keefe thought that Rabley was going to lose his balanceamongst the tumbling debris, but, with another volley ofgunfire, he regained his momentum and sprinted for thedoors.

    The creature hissed its displeasure, sending shatteredcrates flying across the foyer as it clambered back onto itsfeet. Spitting forth a barrage of clicks it scampered afterits prey.

    Even though he knew what was coming, O'Keefecouldn't take his eyes from the scene. Rabley was so close,but the creature was so very, very fast. Almost in slow

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

motion, Rabley dived towards the double doors, thesunlight outside tantalisingly close. O'Keefe could see theterror on the man's face as the hammer of his gun clickeduselessly onto an empty chamber. The creature's armswere reaching out for him. Arms, fingers grasping...

    As the beams of sunlight from the door touched thecreature's flesh, it gave an unearthly, high-pitched,agonised scream and recoiled, writhing on the concretefloor. O'Keefe could swear that he actually saw steamrising from its skin.

    Rabley skidded to a halt in the pool of sunlight, unableto believe that he was still in one piece. The door slidsilently open, and a waft of warm air swirled though thecool foyer. The creature scrabbled backwards, armsflailing, its cries almost pitiful as it raged against the manthat had eluded it.

    Rabley stood silhouetted in the doorway, lookinghelplessly back into the foyer.

    'Mr O'Keefe.'

    O'Keefe gave a strangled cry, fear and panic renderinghim mute. Surely Rabley wasn't going to leave him herealone, not after all these years?

    'I'm going to get help, Mr O'Keefe. I'm sorry.'

    Rabley vanished into the sunlight and, for a few briefseconds, all that O'Keefe could hear was the pounding ofhis own heart and the short, sharp breaths of his ownragged breathing. He strained to hear the whimpering ofthe creature, trying to judge where it was. He was lucky it still hadn't seen him. The scrabble of claws on metalmade him start. The creature had retreated to the relative

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

cool of the open airlock, he could see it squatting in thedrifting snow, licking at its wounds. With a jolt of horror,he realised that another of the things was slowlysqueezing its bulk though the narrow gap.

   In desperation, O'Keefe tried to judge how long thedistance was from him to the door. It couldn't be morethan fifteen or twenty metres. Could he make it that farbefore they caught him?

   Taking a deep breath, he pushed himself off from thewall, willing himself towards the beckoning sunlight. Assoon as he started to move, he knew in his soul that hewas never going to make it. Too many years of fine livingat the expense of others had given him a physique thatwas never meant to move at speed. Above the pounding ofblood in his ears, O'Keefe could hear the clicks and ticksof the creatures as they gained on him and a low, drawn-out wail that he only realised was his own screamingvoice as needle-sharp claws brought him crashing to thefloor.

In Dr Ahmed Jaffa's office there had been a few momentsof stunned silence and then everyone seemed to bespeaking at once. Jaffa kept shaking his head, refusing tobelieve it, insisting that the Doctor was wrong. Harrisonjust puffed away saying how preposterous it was. In theend, it had been Marisha who had managed to restoresome kind of order, pointing out that they were doctorswho were behaving like children and that they had aresponsibility to their patients.

   Even the Doctor had been cowed by the young

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

woman's forceful bellowing. Martha grinned. She wasstarting to like Marisha more and more.

    The one person who had remained conspicuously quietthroughout everything had been Beth Cowley. Everythingthat Martha had been told about her pointed to a forceful,domineering woman, used to having her instructionsfollowed without question. Indeed, the glimpse of her thatMartha had got when Cowley first entered the medicalbay had reinforced that impression. But now... It was as ifthe realisation that she was no longer in control had takenall the strength out of her. Martha got the impression thatshe had been fighting hard for so long, struggling to keepthings under her control, that she had given up noweverything was starting to unravel, resigning herself tobeing a spectator as events unfolded without her.

    Martha had seen patients in a similar way back at theRoyal Hope. The moment when, for whatever reason, theycouldn't see the point in carrying on any more and all thefight left them. The Director was just slumped on the sofa,face blank. Martha was getting worried about her. She hadtried to talk to the woman, but had got nowhere. Shewould have to talk to the Doctor, see if he agreed with her.

    The Doctor had been working frantically with Jaffa forover twenty minutes now. Once the young medical officerhad got over his initial disbelief, he and the Doctor hadrun the tests again, confirming what the Doctor hadsuspected. The eggs were indeed the remains of the threeinitial casualties. They didn't have records for the Britishman, but they had been able to bring up files for both theconstruction engineers, and the DNA samples matched.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   The Doctor and Jaffa were making a detailedexamination of the eggs, the two of them encased incumbersome bio-hazard suits, looking for all the worldlike deep-sea divers or spacemen as they lumbered aroundthe cramped confines of the laboratory.

   The eggs themselves the remains of the poor victimsof the creatures' attacks were rapidly disintegrating and,if the Doctor was right, the dust that they created washorrifically contagious. Martha couldn't get over howquickly the transformations must have taken place, thespeed with which the alien pathogens had been able totransform three healthy human beings into hosts for thesethings.

   She pulled herself up. Not three human beings twohuman beings and one Flisk. Not for the first time, shefound her terms of reference to be out of place in theplaces that she ended up with the Doctor. It wasn't somuch a question of learning something new wheneverthey landed, more that she had to unlearn everything thatshe took for granted from her old, mundane life.

   She looked over to where Ku'ra was sitting sipping at amug of hot tea. The young man had taken the revelationhard. With so many hardened professionals around, thosesurrounded by death on a daily basis, Martha hadforgotten how it could hit those unfamiliar with it.

   She sat down next to him. 'How you doing?'

   'OK.' He smiled.

   'You sure?'

   'Well, not that OK.' He took another sip of his tea,watching the Doctor and Jaffa through the glass of the lab

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

wall. 'What could do that to a person? Why wouldsomething do that to a person?'

   'If the Doctor's right, then these things might not evenhave any conscience about it, this might be just the waythey survive.'

   'And that's meant to make it all right?'

   'No, of course not.' Martha squeezed his arm. 'You'reworried about Brian and the others, aren't you?'

   Ku'ra nodded. 'What is taking Harrison so long?'

   Martha glanced at the clock on the wall. Mr Harrisonhad been the first to remember that there were still peoplein the dome Brian and the security team and hadhurried off with strict instructions from the Doctor thatthey were just to get out of there as fast as possible.Harrison had cautiously pointed out that the security teamwere heavily armed and they might be able to finish thisas quickly as it had begun, but the Doctor had beenadamant that they mustn't take any kind of action againstthe creatures until they knew what they were dealing with.At present, his plan seemed to be containment and study,and to that end he was trying to avoid getting theauthorities involved until the last possible moment.

   In her heart, Martha knew that any authorities wereunlikely to have the Doctor's detachment about the deaths.The creatures might have been unique, unprecedented, butthey had proved themselves to be hostile killers.

   'Right, we're done in here, is the decontamination suiteready?' The Doctor's voice came over the intercom, wordsmuffled by the bulky suit.

   Marisha nodded. 'You first, then Dr Jaffa.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    The Doctor manoeuvred himself clumsily into thesmall glass booth in the corner of the lab. The door swungshut behind him, and Marisha punched at a set of controlsset into a small panel on the wall. A bright white lightflooded the booth, the glare making Martha wince. Theglare faded, and Marisha consulted a small readout. 'OK,you're clean.'

    Marisha pressed another button, and the door on theother side of the booth swung open. The Doctor steppedthrough, shrugging out of the bulky biohazard suit andbundling it into a locker. He crossed to Martha, his facegrim. Martha handed him his coat. 'You find out anythinguseful?'

    'We found out lots. Whether it's useful or not...' Hetailed off, looking at the heavy metal case that Dr Jaffawas manhandling into the decontamination booth. 'We'vesealed all three skulls into a bio-containment crucible. I'mnot sure I can stop the disintegration, but we can at leastensure that the dust that they are creating doesn't infectanyone else.'

    'Any idea what sort of creature we're dealing with yet?'

    The Doctor chewed his lip in irritation. 'No. Not yet.Whatever it is, its life cycle is unbelievably complicated.'

    'And it requires humans as hosts?'

    'Not just humans. It could just have easily have beenrats, mice, birds. It just so happens that the first thing itfound when it thawed was humanoid.'

    Martha felt a chill. 'So if this spreads. . .'

    'Then we're looking at a pandemic that could spreadacross every species on the entire planet.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    C  urtis Rabley sat in the driver's seat of Maxwell

       O'Keefe's vintage 2029 Bentley hybrid, trying to calm

    his breathing. He cursed as sweat dripped from his brow

    onto the seat, spotting the tan leather. He pulled his grimy

    handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at the damp

    patch, frowning worriedly. O'Keefe would kill him...

       He stopped, a short barking laugh escaping from his

    lips, and shot a nervous look back at the doors of the

    SnowGlobe. There was no sign of movement from inside,

    no sign of the creatures that he had so nearly fallen prey

    to. Presumably something, or rather someone, else had

    taken their attention.

       'Sorry, Mr O'Keefe,' he murmured.

       Rabley reached into the glove compartment, pulled out

    a small box and shook a dozen bullets into the palm of his

    hand. He wasn't going to take any chances.

       Checking that no one could see him, he calmly

    reloaded his pistol, sliding each bullet into the chamber

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

with methodical precision, giving himself a chance tothink, to work out what he was going to do next.

   Going back in to try and rescue his employer was awaste of time: it was obvious that he didn't stand a chance.That left him with contacting the authorities. Rableysniffed with disdain. Even if they believed his story aboutravening monsters (and Rabley was still having difficultybelieving that himself), going to the authorities wouldstart a long complicated chain of questions about who hewas and what his background was and that would leadto nothing but trouble.

   No, his best bet was to contact Mr O'Keefe's office, letthem sort it out, though even then Rabley could see that hewasn't going to have an easy ride. O'Keefe's head ofsecurity a South African thug called Bunta had neverexactly been enamoured of him, had tried to stop O'Keefegiving him the job in the first place. What was he going tothink when he found out that Rabley had let O'Keefe gethimself killed. No, there was no way that Bunta was goingto accept that this hadn't been Rabley's fault. There was noway he was going to believe that Rabley hadn't engineeredthe death himself, and that this wasn't somehow connectedwith the three million dollars in World Currency thatO'Keefe had stashed in the hotel safe.

   A bullet slipped from Rabley's hand, clattering into thefootwell. The deposit. Three million. His heart was racing.When he had first taken the job with O'Keefe, he hadalways been on the lookout for an opportunity to defraudthe man, to carry out the robbery that he had beenintending when he got caught. Gradually, though, he had

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

begun to gain a grudging respect for his employer.O'Keefe had always treated him well, had given him smartclothes and good accommodation, had trusted him in away that no one had ever trusted Rabley in his entire life.But now. . .

   Rabley stared at the doors to the SnowGlobe. NowO'Keefe was dead, and it had only been the man who hadcommanded Rabley's loyalty; not the company, not thelackeys and hangers-on, the man.

   Rabley snapped the pistol shut, his mind racing. He andO'Keefe had been seen leaving SnowGlobe 6 together,that was certain, and the last person to have spoken tothem was Cowley. Sooner or later, someone was bound tofigure out that O'Keefe had gone to look over hisinvestment, and the Bentley certainly stood out in theempty car park.

   Rabley licked his lips nervously. If he was going to getaway with this, everyone would have to believe that hehad died at the hands of those creatures, just like hisemployer. Then he'd need to get back into their hotelunseen, siphon off just enough of the deposit to make therest of his life comfortable and vanish for ever. Rabley felta jolt of excitement. This could work!

   Carefully, Rabley scrutinised the car park. His firstconcern was to ensure that he hadn't been seen leavingSnowGlobe 7 and getting back into the car. He needn'thave worried: the place was deserted. The only people hecould see were too far distant to worry him, and they weremore interested in getting to the beach than in somevintage car.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   He shook the shells that he had just put into the pistolinto the palm of his hand. He had fired enough shots toensure that the empty casings would be found easilyenough. Now he just needed to convince people that hehadn't escaped.

   Throwing the bullets back into the glove compartment,Rabley shrugged off his jacket and bundled it around hisgun. With a final look around the car park, he slipped outof the car, locking it behind him and sprinting across thebaking tarmac to the big double doors of SnowGlobe 7.He peered through the glass. No sign of the creatures, orof Mr O'Keefe. Tensing himself, he stepped in front of thedoors, triggering the sensors. As the doors slid apart,Rabley thought that he could hear a muffled scream andthe staccato screeching of the monsters. For a moment, hehad a pang of guilt. He shook it from his mind, hurled hisbundled jacket with all his might, then turned and fled.

The Doctor and Jaffa were busy transferring the casecontaining the three mutated skulls into a deep-freeze unitin the hospital morgue. The morgue was small anddiscreet presumably because the last thing that peoplewanted to be reminded of on their holidays was theprospect of death.

    Martha watched as they carefully slid the sealed caseonto one of the examination tables. Jaffa was still in hisbulky bio-suit. Marisha had not been happy about that,keen that he followed established protocols, but Jaffa wastired and stressed and in no mood to play things by therules.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   The sound of booted feet and raised voices outside inthe foyer made Martha start. Mr Harrison had returned,and he wasn't alone: half a dozen stern-looking securityguards had arrived with him. The Welshman was sweatingand agitated, surrounded by people all asking questions atonce. One of the security men a captain was speakinganimatedly in Arabic with the young nurse.

   The Doctor looked up at Martha and raised a quizzicaleyebrow. 'Problem?'

   She shook her head. 'Mr Harrison is back. Withcompany.'

   The Doctor winced. 'Are you happy to finish up here,Dr Jaffa?'

   Jaffa nodded. 'I'll get this sealed into one of the vaults.'

   'Good man.' The Doctor crossed to Martha, peering atthe pandemonium outside. 'What's your professionalopinion about Director Cowley, Dr Jones?'

   Martha gave him an admiring glance. Despiteeverything, the Director's slightly odd behaviour hadn'tgone unnoticed by the Doctor either.

   'I think that too much has happened to her too quickly.She looks like she's well on the way to a total breakdown.Ever since we arrived, it's almost as if she's been sittingback and letting events take their course around her.'

   The Doctor nodded. 'Yes, she's on the verge of somekind of collapse. I think that we should keep a careful eyeon Miss Cowley, don't you?'

   They emerged into the medical bay.

   Harrison practically leapt forward. 'Doctor...'

   'Mr Harrison. All your team safely out, I hope.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    Harrison shook his head. 'I don't think so. Brian isn'tanswering his radio, and they can't raise anyone from thesecurity team.'

    'Doctor.' The security captain pushed forward. He was aman in his mid forties, slim with a neat beard, long, darkhair swept back under a peaked cap. A semi-automaticrifle was swung over his shoulder.

    The Doctor sighed. This was what he had been hopingto put off for as long as possible, the point when theauthorities presented with something that they didn'tunderstand responded with guns.

    'Yes! Hello!' He turned, smiling broadly. The securityguard glared at him.

    'I am Captain Hassan. Mr Harrison informs me that youmight have some information about... creatures... loose inSnowGlobe 7?'

    'Well, yes. That seems as though it might be the case...'

    'And Nurse El-Sayed tells me that there is some kind ofinfection here in SnowGlobe 6 that is connected to thesecreatures in some way.'

    'Yes, also true.' The Doctor scratched at his head. 'Whatyou need to realise is that--'

    'What is wrong with you people?' Captain Hassanpractically exploded. 'We have almost eight hundredpeople in this dome, and it is my job to keep them safe.How am I expected to do that duty when the medical teamand the Director of Operations herself withhold vitalinformation from me?'

    The Doctor's face fell, and, despite herself, Martha hadto stifle a laugh. For a moment, he looked like a

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

schoolboy who had been caught doing something heshouldn't.

    The silence was broken by a crackle from Hassan'searpiece. He crossed to the window, listening intently,then barked a few words in Arabic and turned back to theDoctor.

    'That was one of my security teams. There is no sign ofany of our people at SnowGlobe 7. The main doors areunlocked and there is evidence that the integrity of thedome itself has been breached. They also discovered MrO'Keefe's limousine in the car park. It seems likely that heand his assistant have also gone missing inside the dome.Now if any of you can give me any information that mightbe of help before I send my people in--'

    'No.' The Doctor's voice was like a gunshot. 'You willnot send any more people into that dome.'

    Hassan squared up to the Doctor, eyes narrowing. 'Nowlisten, Doctor...'

    'No, you listen to me, Captain Hassan,' snapped theDoctor, all playfulness gone from his voice. 'You listenvery carefully!'

    Martha held her breath. Suddenly the Doctor seemed todominate the room. All eyes were on him.

    'You don't have the faintest idea of what you aredealing with or how dangerous this situation has become.'The Doctor's voice was low and menacing. 'We aredealing with a creature that is unimaginably old andunimaginably savage. The reason that this dome is notoverrun is through luck, pure and simple, and it is onlythrough the swift action of the people in this room that the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

infection has been halted as quickly as it has. The worstthing that you can possibly do at this moment is to try todeal with this creature as if it was a rabid dog. I have totry and communicate with these creatures, to find out whatthey are and where they come from. To do that I needtime.'

    His voice softened slightly. 'Nothing will be served byturning this into a bloodbath. Don't you agree, Captain?'

    Hassan tilted his head slightly. 'I want no more deaths,Doctor.'

    'Good!' The Doctor clapped his hands. 'That's agreedthen. So if you and your men will escort me over toSnowGlobe 7, we'll see if we can sort this out once andfor all.'

    'Just a minute.' Martha caught hold of his arm. 'Youcan't just go waltzing off. . .'

    The Doctor looked her full in the face. 'Martha, I've gotto. Don't you see. This has gone as far as I can let it go.'

    'Then I'm coming with you.'

    'No, you are not. I need you here, Martha. I need you tokeep an eye on Cowley and help Jaffa and Marisha withthe patients here.'

    'But you can't go in there on your own.'

    The Doctor grinned at her. 'Who said anything aboutme going in there alone?'

Rabley slipped into the foyer of his hotel, peering over thetop of his sunglasses at the concierge, waiting until herback was turned before making his way across to the lift.As the doors slid closed, he relaxed a little. He'd bought

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the sunglasses and a revoltingly loud shirt from one of thebeachfront stalls, and he became immediatelyindistinguishable from the hundreds of holiday-makersthat thronged the seafront as soon as he slipped them on.No one would give him a second glance now. Besides,O'Keefe always made a song and dance when he arrivedback at his suite insisting that they checked to see ifthere were any messages for him, making a big fuss aboutwhat was or wasn't on the menu for breakfast, generallyflirting with any of the girls who were foolish enough tomake eye contact with him.

    Rabley himself had barely exchanged more than a fewwords with any of the hotel staff buried in hisemployer's ample shadow, no one had given him morethan a second glance. That gave him an advantage. Withluck, he would be out of the hotel and on his way to theairport within the hour.

    There was a ping as the lift arrived on the seventeenthfloor. Rabley peered out cautiously into the corridor.Empty. He crossed to his room, swiped his key card in thelock and slipped inside. His room and O'Keefe's were partof a suite on the top floor of SnowGlobe 6's premier hotel.From the huge picture window, the view stretched outdown the ski slopes, the roof trusses practically withintouching distance.

    Rabley pulled a small shoulder bag from his wardrobe,discarding the clothes inside into an untidy heap on thefloor then unlocked the connecting door to O'Keefe'srooms. He crossed quickly to the concealed safe andpunched in the combination. He pulled the door open and

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

lifted out a large attaché case, placing it on the edge of thevast bed and flicking open the clasps. His heart leapt as helooked at the bundles of crisp notes. He licked his lipsnervously. It was so tempting to just try and make off withthe entire case. There was more money here than he'd everneed in his life again, but if he did that then O'Keefe'speople would know that something was wrong. No, forthis to work everyone had to believe that he and O'Keefewere both dead.

    He pulled a bundle of notes out of the case, flickingthem idly through his fingers. He needed to take justenough to make himself comfortable, but not so much thatit would arouse suspicion when O'Keefe's people arrivedto put things straight. Everyone knew that O'Keefe hadexpensive tastes, and he'd certainly not been shy ofspreading a little of his wealth around over the last fewdays. There had even been that one night at theSnowGlobe's modest casino. Rabley nodded to himself.Yes, O'Keefe had certainly gone out of his way to getnoticed on that occasion, any enquiry was bound toassume that he had spent and lost a reasonable amountthat evening.

    He started to transfer bundles of notes from the attachécase to the holdall. When the bottom of the bag was full,he reluctantly snapped the clasps closed on the attachécase and placed it carefully back in the safe.

    He licked his lips. Now was the tricky part. The safehad an internal timer. If he left now, any thoroughinvestigation would show up the fact that the safe hadbeen opened after the point that O'Keefe had been killed,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

and Bunta was bound to be thorough. He had to ensurethat the safe records showed that the last time it had beenopened was the previous night.

   Rabley cracked his fingers. He knew that everyonethought that he was stupid, that his lack of education madehim an ignorant man, but in the field of locks and timershe was a genius.

   Allowing himself a brief smile of satisfaction Rableyset to work.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    T  echnician Roberts looked up in surprise as the Doctor

       burst into the workshop, followed by half a dozen

    security guards and Captain Hassan.

       Hassan looked around the workshop impatiently.

       'We're wasting time, Doctor.'

       'Far from it, Captain.' The Doctor beamed up at the

    towering robot. 'How are you getting on with the big

    fella's memory, Mr Roberts? Anything more of interest?'

       Roberts nodded. 'Fragments, Doctor, nothing more. A

    few more fractured audio files, some corrupt visual data.'

       'Visual data?' asked Hassan. 'You mean you've got

    pictures of these things?'

       Roberts crossed to a small laptop and tapped at the

    keys. 'Not much I'm afraid. It's had to go through a lot of

    image enhancement.'

       The screen flickered to life, and the Doctor crouched

    down peering at the grainy image. 'Ooh, nasty.'

       The image on the screen was blurred and indistinct.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

The Doctor could just make out the shapes of the robots,shovels and oil-drums, and in the background, silhouettedagainst the white of the ice, the creature.

    'What the devil is that?' asked Hassan.

    The Doctor slipped his glasses on, tapping the screenand zooming the image. 'I don't know...'

    'It's big.'

    'Yes. And black. And hairy...' The Doctor slid the imagearound the screen, trying to get some clearer idea of whatsort of creature he was dealing with. It looked partinsectoid, part primate. It at least confirmed his suspicionsthat it wasn't anything from Earth's biology.

    There was a whirr of servos and hiss of hydraulics frombehind him, and the Doctor looked up in surprise. ServiceRobot Twelve had taken a step back from the screen.

    The Doctor shot a quizzical look at Roberts, and thetechnician shrugged. 'Some glitch in its processors. Itseems to react to any sight of old hairy there.'

    'Interesting.' The Doctor scrambled to his feet, pattingthe robot's arm and cooing softly. 'There, there, it's allright.'

    Hassan gave a snort of disbelief. 'Oh, please.'

    'Why shouldn't it be frightened?' snapped the Doctor.'Every generation of artificial intelligence is designed tobetter mimic its human counterpart. Poor old Twelve hereis in the robotic equivalent of shock.'

    'So you're hardly being responsible if you're suggestingthat you take it back to where it received that shock.'Hassan's voice was laced with contempt.

    'Let me be the judge of that. I am the Doctor after all.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

The Doctor looked up at the robot. 'He's the only one whoknows what happened down there. He knows where thecreature's lair is.'

   Roberts crossed to the Doctor's side, rubbing his chin.'There's still a lot of memory damage. I'm not sure howmuch use he's going to be to you.'

   'Let's find out, shall we?' The Doctor stepped back.'Service Robot Twelve, do you feel capable of returning toSnowGlobe 7?'

   '+FOR WHAT PURPOSE?+'

   'To locate the organism responsible for the deaths ofyour co-workers.'

   The robot inclined its head. '+FOR WHAT PURPOSE?+'

   'To attempt communication with it.'

   The robot stared impassively at him for a moment, harddrives ticking within its metal skull.

   'This is pointless,' snapped Hassan. 'We're wasting timehere, the thing is defective.'

   The Doctor waved his hands at him irritatedly. 'No, no,wait.'

   With a whine of servos the robot straightened again.'+THIS UNIT WAS INVOLVED IN THE DEATHS OFCO-WORKERS.             THIS      UNIT     NEEDS         TOUNDERSTAND WHY.+'

   'The only way we are going to get those answers is ifyou accompany me back to SnowGlobe 7.' The Doctorcocked his head on one side. 'So what d'you say, Twelve,hm?'

   '+ACQUISITION OF ADDITIONAL DATA IS

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

LOGICAL.+'

    'Atta boy!' The Doctor snatched off his glasses, slippedthem into his pocket then turned and wrapped aconspiratorial arm around Roberts' shoulder. 'How did youget on with that audio data I asked you to process?'

    Roberts nodded at a small, squat device on the bench.'Frequencies isolated and analysed.'

    'Fantastic!' The Doctor bent over the machine, reachingfor the sonic screwdriver in his pocket. He pressed a studon the audio analyser and a thin, warbling tone filled theair. He closed his eyes, listening to the tone, flicking aswitch on the screwdriver and turning a dial on its sideuntil the trilling from the analyser cut out abruptly.

    With a satisfied smile, the Doctor turned to Roberts.'Now, I don't suppose you'd be able to provide me withany information about the layout of the domes would you?Wiring diagrams, construction blueprints, that sort ofthing?'

    Roberts nodded. 'I should think so.' He pulled a smalldiagnostic pad from his overalls. He hooked it up to thelaptop, transferring data across with practised sweeps ofhis hand. The machine gave a series of bleeps then fellsilent. Roberts detached it and handed it to the Doctor.'Everything you should need there, Doctor.'

    The Doctor grinned at him. 'Mr Roberts, you are a star.'He slipped the pad into his jacket and rubbed his handstogether in satisfaction. 'Right! Come on you lot. No pointhanging around down here. We've got work to do. Chop,chop!'

    Ignoring the filthy look that Hassan gave him, the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Doctor bounded out of the room, whistling at ServiceRobot Twelve as if it were some huge metallic dog. Therobot lumbered after him.

   Roberts watched them go. He got the impression thatbefore long things were going to get an awful lot worse.

In the ice of SnowGlobe 7, the thing stretched its muscles,sharp claws dragging across the frozen walls. Around it,its offspring hissed and snarled, already growing largerand stronger. They had fed well on the warm things thathad come into their domain, but they had learned thatthese warm-blooded creatures could bite, could kill. Thebodies of the dead were not wasted though: the boneswere picked clean, the flesh reabsorbed.

   Its long sleep in the ice had left it weak and vulnerable,but the food it had eaten had renewed it; the young thatsnarled at its feet had given it purpose. The thing stretchedout with its mind. Outside, so many of its prey weregathered, but it could not reach them, not yet. It gathereditself, long arms wrapping around its bulk, straining withsections of its brain long unused. It remembered fromlong, long ago how the food resisted the call, how itstruggled and kicked and screamed.

   It reached out with its mind and started to draw in itsprey.

In Jaffa's office, Beth Cowley drifted in and out of atroubled sleep. The last few hours had gone by in a blur,and she was just a bystander now, watching helplessly asall her dreams and aspirations slipped slowly away from

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

her. She had convinced Jaffa to give her something to helpher sleep, something to dull the headache that had builtand built within her skull.

   She vaguely recalled someone telling her that MaxwellO'Keefe had almost certainly perished at the hands (theclaws?) of the creatures in the dome, but surely that wasjust a fantasy, a dream. O'Keefe had beaten her, he hadwon and she had nothing left.

   She kept going over and over the events of the last fewweeks, always coming back to the same inexorableconclusion. SnowGlobe 7 was finished. Her work wasfinished. She was finished. She curled herself into a ballon the sofa, willing the pounding in her head to stop.Migraines had always blighted her life. Stress, the doctorshad told her, too much time at work and not enoughrelaxation.

   Cowley stifled a laugh. Here she was, in one of themost expensive holiday resorts on the planet, and she wasabout as far from relaxation as she could get.

   She closed her eyes, trying to shut out the babble ofvoices from outside. A frown flickered across her brow.Above the noise, just on the edge of her perception shecould hear something else, a distant voice, insistent andbeguiling. A voice that seemed to fill her entire skull. Thevoice didn't talk to her with words, it spoke to her inpictures, images of the Earth long dead, of distant worldsthat she could never have dreamed existed.

   Cowley sat up, her head tilted, listening. All her painand anxiety suddenly left her and there was nothing leftbut the voice in her head. Suddenly the failure of the dome

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

seemed so unimportant. Why had she ever thought thatshe would be remembered for something so tiny, soinsignificant? O'Keefe had been a fool who hadunderestimated the power of the creature in the dome andhad paid the price for his foolishness.

   The voice in her head showed her more and more. Thecreature had survived millennia in the ice, and now it washere in the dome. Her dome. She was its protector, itssaviour! She could hear, feel what it wanted. To feed. Tosurvive. To make the Earth its new home.

   Suddenly, she knew what she had to do, she knew whatlegacy she would leave the world. She rose from thecouch, smoothing down her suit, and crossed to Jaffa'sdesk. The key to the morgue sat in a tray next to hiscomputer.

   Snatching up the key, Cowley slipped across the roomand peered out into the office. Jaffa and Marisha were inthe ward with Martha and the Flisk boy. Harrison wasslumped on the bench near the reception desk, toowrapped up in his own guilt to notice her.

   She crossed silently to the morgue, unlocking the doorand slipping inside. In the cool silence, the voice in herhead was stronger. She was calmer than she had ever feltin her life. She hurried to the vault where the eggs hadbeen sealed. She knew now that they were the key to thenew world that she would create.

   Opening the vault, she reached in and slid out theheavy case, lowering it to the floor, running her handsover the cold metal. Inside was everything she needed tomake sure that she would be remembered on this planet

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

for ever.

   Resealing the vault, she hefted the case into her armsand crossed back to the morgue door. Marisha had comeback into the reception area, fussing over Harrison.Cowley cursed softly. She would have to wait for hermoment.

The Land Rover skidded to a halt outside the glitteringdome of SnowGlobe 7, tyres squealing on the hot tarmac.Security guards, already jittery about whatever might lieinside the dome, stared in disbelief as a two-metre robotunfolded itself inelegantly from the back of the vehicle,and stomped towards the doors.

   The Doctor swung himself out of the car, coat-tailsflapping in the breeze that had sprung up from the sea.Completely oblivious to the dozen or so gun barrels thatwere trained on him, he followed the robot towards thedoors. He peered through the glass at the deserted foyer,frowning at the chaos inside. A long, dark stain snakedacross the floor towards the open SnowGlobe doors. TheDoctor grimaced.

   Hassan was barking orders at his men. The Doctorturned to him. 'Have any of your team been inside?'

   A dozen heads shook in unison.

   'Good. The Doctor reached into his pocket and slippedthe sterilisation pod behind his ear.

   'You think that the infection could spread?' Hassanasked, his face stern.

   'I think that it would be prudent to ensure that no one isexposed unnecessarily, don't you?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   'And if you contract the infection?'

   The Doctor ignored the question. 'Once I'm inside, I'mgoing to seal the doors. No one tries to get inside thisdome until I say so, is that understood?'

   Hassan flashed his perfectly white teeth. 'Absolutely.'

   The Doctor turned and patted the waiting service roboton the arm. 'Come on, Twelve. In we go.'

   The doors hissed open, and the two of them vanishedinside. Hassan watched them go with grim satisfaction,then marched across to the Land Rover and snatched upthe radio from the dashboard.

   'Get me every man we have. I want both SnowGlobessealed. No one in or out until I say so.'

From inside the dome, the Doctor watched Hassan,already guessing that the security captain had neverintended to simply sit back and wait for him to find outwhat was going on. He was in a race against time now he had to make contact with the creatures before theauthorities could take control.

    He listened carefully for any of the telltale huntingnoises of the creatures. Satisfied that they were on theirown, he looked up at the robot looming over him.

    'How are you with locks, Twelve?'

    '+OPERATING PROCEDURES ARE AVAILABLEFOR ALL MECHANISMS IN THE DOME.+'

    'Good, 'cos there's a terrible draft in here. Be a good ladand close that airlock door, would you?'

    The robot clunked its way over to where the snow wasstill streaming in across the floor.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    The Doctor turned to the main entrance, flicking theswitches on his sonic screwdriver and running the electricblue tip of the little device along the rim of the door.Metal blurred and flowed like molten toffee. Outside, thesecurity men, alerted by the glare of the light, pointed andjabbered angrily, pulling uselessly at the now-sealedmechanism and shouting for Captain Hassan.

    Satisfied, the Doctor nodded. He needed time, andmilitary 'specialists' clumping around after him would justcomplicate matters. They wouldn't get the doors open nowwithout blowing them off, and he doubted that evenHassan would be that reckless. Not until he knew what hewas up against at any rate.

    The Doctor pulled a length of string from his pocket,tied it around the screwdriver and slipped it around hisneck. He pressed a stud, and the tip of the sonic deviceglowed with soft, blue light. Thanks to Roberts' work inisolating the frequencies of the creatures' echo-location, henow had a way of cancelling them out. To the creatures,he was effectively invisible.

    He turned to see how his new mechanical companionwas doing at the airlock. The big robot was hunched overthe control panels, metal hands moving with surprisingsensitivity over the controls. The Doctor smiled. The robotwas like a huge mechanical child. He would have to helpRoberts rebuild its memory before he left.

    A sharp clicking noise from inside the SnowGlobewiped the smile from his face. The robot looked up fromits work, its face unable to express emotion but its posture,its entire mechanical body language, gave the impression

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

that it was frightened by the sound. The Doctor launchedhimself at the doors. Twelve swung its head towards him.

   'Don't just stand there, you great metal lummox!' theDoctor bellowed. 'Get those doors closed!'

   The clicking got louder. Through the doorway, theDoctor could see dark shapes hurtling towards the airlockdoor. With agonising slowness, Service Robot Twelveleaned down and tapped in the last few commands on thedoor access panel.

   The airlock doors slammed shut with a deafeningclang.

   The Doctor skidded to a halt, letting out his pent-upbreath in a long sigh.

   The robot leaned over him. '+AIRLOCK DOORSCLOSED.+'

   From inside the dome, the Doctor could hear thecreatures hissing and snarling, their claws skittering on thethick metal of the doors.

   He looked at the robot disapprovingly. 'You and I aregoing to have to have a long chat about cultivating a senseof urgency.'

'Perfect. We'll make a nurse out of you yet!'

   Martha nodded in satisfaction at the neat hospitalcorners on the bed and grinned at Ku'ra. He had made themistake of offering to help and, after dealing with a wardfull of patients on her own for so long, Marisha hadjumped at the offer. She and Jaffa were checking on eachof the patients in turn, trying a series of tests that theDoctor had suggested, while Martha and Ku'ra followed

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

them around the ward, ensuring each of the patients wascomfortable as they moved on.

   Ku'ra returned the smile, but the young Flisk had noneof the spark that he had had earlier. Martha squeezed hisarm. 'Hey. I'm sure that your friend will be all right.'

   'Are you?'

   'It could just be a faulty radio...' Martha floundered.

   'He's dead.' Ku'ra was direct and blunt. 'You know it. Iknow it. We should never have left him there on his own.'

   'But you couldn't possibly have known--'

   'No, but they did.' Ku'ra shot an angry glance at Jaffa.'He and the Director knew that something was wrong. Youand your friend too. You knew those things were insidethe dome, and you said nothing.'

   'Hey, we're the ones trying to help, remember,' Marthasnapped at him. She reddened, partly out of anger, partlyout of guilt that he might be right.

   There was an awkward silence for a moment, thenKu'ra shook his head.

   'I'm sorry. That was unfair. You're right, no one couldhave known. It's just Mr Harrison. He's taking this sohard.'

   Martha looked out through the glass at where the littleinsurance man sat forlornly on the bench, head in hishands. He had wanted to try and help find his assistant,but the Doctor had been adamant about going alone.Martha knew that feeling all too well, being left alonewhen all you wanted was some task to make you feel asthough you were doing something useful.

   She was wracking her brain for something comforting

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

to say when Ku'ra winced and stumbled. Martha caughthim as he swayed unsteadily, pain creasing his features.

    'What is it?'

    'I'm not sure. Something in my head. . .'

    'Like before?'

    Ku'ra shook his head. 'No. It's not another Flisk mind,it's as if...' His eyes widened with surprise at somethingover Martha's shoulder. She spun to see what he wasstaring at. In the bed behind her, the patient a youngwoman had sat bolt upright, eyes wide and staring,mouth working spasmodically.

    'What the hell?'

    Marisha hurried over to her. 'Oh no you don't.' Thewoman's face curled into a bestial snarl. She lashed out,sending the young nurse crashing to the floor. Jaffahurried forward, trying to push the woman back down.She tossed him aside with unnatural strength, spittingangrily at him.

    'Martha!' called Marisha. 'Tranquilliser pad, on thetrolley there!'

    Martha snatched up a slim silver device. It didn't looklike any tranquilliser she had ever used before. Marishascrambled to her feet snatching it from her, franticallytwisting at controls on the handle.

    'I really don't think that tranquillisers are going to bemuch help.' Ku'ra started to back away.

    All across the ward, each and every patient was sittingup, eyes impossibly wide, their posture stiff and unnatural.One by one, they hauled themselves from their beds,limbs jerking almost as if they were puppets on invisible

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

strings, shambling forwards towards them.

    'What's happening?' Jaffa stammered.

    Martha was pushing Marisha towards the door.'Nothing good, now stop dithering and get out.'

    Marisha slipped an arm around Ku'ra's waist and half-dragged him out of the ward. Jaffa was surrounded by hisformer patients now, vainly trying to push them back.

    'Come on!' screamed Martha. 'Get out of there!Quickly!'

    With shocking suddenness, the young woman who hadattacked Marisha lunged forward, her hands grasping Jaffaon each side of his head, tearing away his sterilisationmask. She leant forward and, for one extraordinarymoment, Martha thought that she was going to kiss him.Instead the woman gave a rasping cough and exhaled athin cloud of grey dust that enveloped the unfortunatedoctor. He dropped like a stone, face frozen in surprise.

    Martha could hear Marisha screaming at her to get out.She turned and hurled herself through the door, landingheavily on the office floor. The glass door slammed shutbehind her, Marisha swiping her card frantically throughthe locking controls. Bolts clunked into place, locking thedoor solid. The patients started to bang their palms on thedoor, pressing themselves against the glass, facescontorted in rage, desperate to get out.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    C  urtis Rabley zipped the holdall shut and glanced at

       himself in the mirror, adjusting his dark glasses and

    wiping the beads of sweat from his brow. Satisfied that no

    one would give him a second glance amongst the hordes

    of tourists, he opened the door to his room, checked that

    the coast was clear and slipped out into the corridor.

       Reprogramming the safe timer had taken longer than he

    had expected, and the longer he stayed in the room the

    more chance there was of someone finding him.

       At one point, the phone next to O'Keefe's bed had rung,

    and Rabley had practically jumped out of his skin. That

    was when he'd realised that he was running out of time. If

    someone was trying to get in touch with O'Keefe, that

    probably meant that the car had been found. He needed to

    get out of the dome, and quickly.

       The lift arrived, and Rabley hurried inside. As it

    descended towards the lobby, he forced himself to relax. A

    lazy smile twitched the corners of his mouth. Despite

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

himself, he was actually starting to enjoy this. Theft hadalways been like a game to him. A complex game ofchess, positioning pieces so that, when the time came,everything was in place for a swift and decisiveconclusion.

   This game was going his way. All his pieces were inplace. All he had to do was make his way to the airport,board a plane and he was away scot-free.

   He was looking forward to spending O'Keefe's money.He was fed up with being baking hot on some manicuredbeach or freezing to death in some crowded ski resort.He'd get himself a nice little place on the west coast ofIreland. A nice pub within walking distance, a nice viewof the sea and a nice Irish girl.

   His smile broadened. Even if that fool Bunta didsuspect that he might have tried something like this, theman certainly didn't have the imagination to look for himsomewhere as low-key as Ireland. No, even if theysuspected him, Bunta would assume that he'd fled toCuba, or Vegas or the Bahamas.

   When the lift doors opened, Rabley stepped into thefoyer with a spring in his step. After a lifetime of peopleputting him down, Curtis Rabley was finally going tocome out on top.

The Doctor slowly made his way along the desertedcorridors of SnowGlobe 7, the light from his torch sendingshadows dancing across the dusty floor. Behind him,Twelve's methodical footfalls echoed alarmingly, and theDoctor began to wonder about the wisdom of trying to

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

explore stealthily with a two-metre service robot in tow.

   He continued to mull over the dozens of possibilitiesthat could account for the presence of the creatures in theice. He was certain in his own mind that they weren'tindigenous. That meant that they came from space. So farthey had shown no sign of intelligence beyond an instinctfor survival, which meant that they had either beenbrought to Earth by some other species or had arrived hereby accident. On top of that, the ice that they were found inmeant that they were old. Very old.

   The Doctor sighed. If Stone Age man armed with rocksand clubs had managed to defeat the creatures, then heshould have no problem at all. In theory. Perhaps it reallywas just a matter of intelligence. He was hoping to avoidconfrontation and violence. Primitive man would have hadno such qualms. A simple case of kill or be killed.

   The Doctor knew that scenario only too well. To knowthat the only way to win was to destroy everything. To bethe last of his kind.

   He stopped and took a deep breath, clearing the flamesof his past from his mind. It did him no good to dwell onthings long dead. He needed to focus. The creatures hadthe ability to operate on some telepathic frequencies. Thatgave him a way in, he was certain of it.

   He had studied the little pad that Roberts has givenhim, scanning through the schematics of the SnowGlobe.There were two sub-levels. The upper one housed officesand laboratories; the lower one had been given over tostorage, server rooms and mechanical workshops. Thetunnel where the creatures had first been found was a

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

service corridor on the lowest level, housing sharedutilities for the two domes electrics, water and mileupon mile of fibre-optic connections. They had beenrunning a spur off that tunnel, burrowing up into the iceand bedrock of the preserved Arctic itself when theaccident had happened. The Doctor was convinced thatreturning to the scene of that accident was the key tounderstanding these creatures.

   His torch beam played across a doorway with a signthat read 'Emergency Stairs'. He pushed it open and peereddown into the gloom.

   'Why is it that I always end up in dark undergroundpassages, eh?'

   The robot behind him whirred.

   '+UNABLE         TO    PROVIDE        SATISFACTORYANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.+'

   'No, I know the feeling. I've never been able to providea satisfactory answer myself.'

   Torch held out in front of him, the Doctor made hisway carefully down the darkened stairwell.

Cowley had watched from the morgue as the patients hadrisen from their beds hissing and shrieking their fury. Herface had wrinkled in distaste. Those imperfect creatureshad no part in the future that she would create, they wereresources, fodder, nothing more.

   They had, however, given her the distraction that sheneeded. Harrison was on his feet staring in disbelief at thechaos, barely aware of her as she lifted the heavy metalcase containing the eggs into her arms and hurried over to

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the main doors, swiping her identity card across thereader.

   As the doors hissed open, Harrison turned towards her,panicked and flustered.

   'Director. What's happening?'

   His eyes flicked down to the case in her arms.Confusion flashed across his face, then horror, as herecognised what the case contained.

   'What... What are you...?'

   Aware that she had lost her element of surprise, Cowleylunged for the door. With surprising speed, Harrisoncaught her sleeve.

   'No! You can't!'

   Cowley lashed out, swinging the case with all hermight and catching him across the temple. He hit the floorwithout a sound.

   Glancing back at the ward to ensure she hadn't beenseen, Cowley slipped out through the doors, locking thembehind her, and hurried off along the corridor.

Martha lay breathless and panting on the floor. Marishawas backing away from the door, her hands clasped to herface. 'Dr Jaffa...' whispered the nurse.

   Martha scrambled to her feet, catching Marisha by hershoulders. 'He's gone Marisha. He didn't stand a chance.'

   Tears ran down the young nurse's face. She couldn'ttake her eyes off the angry faces on the other side of theglass.

   'Will that hold them?' Martha shook her. 'Marisha! Willthat door hold them?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Marisha's gaze snapped back to Martha's face. Shewiped the tears from her face, shaking her head. 'It mighthold them for a while, but it's designed to stopmicroorganisms getting out, not a mob.'

   'And it's only a matter of time before one of themdecides to chuck a chair through the glass.'

   Martha looked at the terrified faces in the medicalcentre, surprising herself by how calm she felt. Behindher, the glass shuddered under impact after impact. Theglass could give way any second.

   'All right, everybody out, now!' she ordered. 'We've gotto seal this entire section off.'

   'Seal it off? Marisha looked shocked. 'You mean justleave them?'

   'They're infected,' Martha told her. 'Whatever thosethings are in the dome, they have infected those people,something in that dust, and if we're not careful they aregoing to infect everyone in this dome. We've got to set upbarriers, quarantine them.'

   She pulled off the sterilisation device from behind herear. 'How many more of these have we got?'

   'I'm not sure.' Marisha looked over at a glass-frontedcupboard mounted on the wall. 'Fifteen, maybe twenty.Probably more down in the stores.'

   'All right then, get them, make sure everyone here hasgot one. Mr Harrison. . .?' Martha looked round for him.

   Harrison was face down by the main doors, an uglygash across his forehead.

   'Mr Harrison!' Martha hurried over to him.

   Ku'ra helped her lift him back onto the bench. The

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Welshman groaned weakly.

   Marisha tilted Harrison's head back to examine thewound, all panic banished now that she was faced with apatient. 'We'll need to get that cleaned.'

   'What happened?' asked Martha.

   Harrison winced as Marisha applied a sterilised pad tohis head. 'It was the Director.'

   'Cowley?'

   'She hit me.' Harrison's eyes widened. 'She had thecase. The eggs!'

   'What?' Martha stared at him in disbelief.

   Ku'ra tried the doors. 'She's locked us in!'

   Martha cursed under her breath. She had known thatsomething was wrong with Cowley, so had the Doctor.They should have done something about her earlier. Shewas unstable and dangerous and, if the Doctor was right,the Director now had the means to infect every animal onthe planet.

   Martha joined Ku'ra at the door, poking uselessly at thelocked door control.

   'We've got to stop her. We've got to get those eggsback.'

   A splintering crash from the ward made them turn. Oneof the patients was swinging a chair again and again at thewindow. A spider's web of cracks was spreading across thetoughened glass.

   Ku'ra shook his head. 'We need to worry aboutourselves first.'

   'We've got the sterilisation masks.'

   'You think that's going to help us? You saw what they

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

did to Jaffa. If they get anywhere near us, we'll becontaminated.'

   Martha stared helplessly around. There was no wayout. The only doors led to Jaffa's office or the morgue.

   She gripped Ku'ra's arm. 'The morgue.'

   'What?'

   'It's solid. They'll never get through that door.'

   'We'll be trapped, Martha!'

   With a terrifying crash, the window to the ward gaveway and the patients spilled out in a spitting tide ofbodies.

   'No choice!' Martha dragged Ku'ra with her as thepatients surged towards them. Martha kicked out, sendingthe hospital gurney sailing across the room. It cannonedinto the patients, sending them toppling like skittles. Thething that had once been Dr Al-Bakri scrabbled forward,grasping Marisha by the hair. Harrison batted uselessly athim. With a bellow, Martha threw herself forward,catching him in the solar plexus with her elbow andsending him crashing to the ground.

   She hauled Marisha to her feet. 'Come on! Ku'ra, youget Harrison.'

   Kicking out at the grasping hands, the four of themdived through the open door of the morgue, Ku'ra pullingit shut with a deafening clang. They could hear fingersscratching on the metal.

   'Lock it, lock it!' screamed Marisha.

   Ku'ra punched at the keypad, and there was areassuring clunk. Martha dropped onto her haunches,breathing heavily. Ku'ra shot her a nervous grin.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   'Well, Dr Jones. We're safe for the moment. Now whatdo we do?'

   Martha shook her head in frustration. 'Hope that it takesthem longer to get out through the main doors than it didfor them to get out of the ward! Doesn't anyone believe insolid doors in this place?'

   'I don't suppose anyone expected them to be keeping abunch of homicidal patients from getting out,' said Ku'ra.

   Martha looked at him thoughtfully. 'Quite desperate toget out in fact.' She looked back at the sea of peoplescrabbling at the ward door. 'Where do you supposethey're trying to get to?'

   Ku'ra shrugged. 'Dunno. Just out.'

   Martha shook her head. 'No, there's more to it than that.This all started right after you felt something in your head.Something telepathic, right?'

   'A signal?'

   'Exactly! A mental signal of some kind.'

   'Do you mean that that creature is talking to them insome way, controlling them by some kind of mentalremote control?' Harrison was looking at her with a newrespect.

   Ku'ra frowned. 'You're kidding, right?'

   'Why not! We know the creature is telepathic in someway. We know that it has infected these people with thedust from its eggs.'

   'But that would mean that all those people are probablytrying to get to. . .' Marisha tailed off.

   'The other dome.' Martha felt sick. 'The creature doesn'tcome out and hunt its food, it makes sure that its food

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

comes to it.'

   'There are nearly eight hundred people in this dome.'Ku'ra's face was a very pale shade of blue. 'If they get out,or if Cowley opens that case. . .'

   Martha's face was grim. Somewhere out there, DirectorCowley was loose with a biological time bomb, and theywere trapped here with the infected.

The Doctor emerged from the stairwell into a long, lowcorridor that curved, like all the others in the building, in agentle arc. Unlike the public areas, everything here wasdull, grey concrete, the ceilings festooned with pipes andwiring. Gingerly, he felt for a light switch. Flickering andbuzzing strip lights juddered into life, throwing harshshadows across the walls.

   He peered at a cluster of signs that hung untidily from ametal beam in the ceiling. An arrow indicated that theentrance to the maintenance tunnel was about a hundredmetres along the corridor to his left.

   He started towards it, then stopped, aware that he wassuddenly on his own. Twelve was motionless at the basethe stairwell. The Doctor could hear a frantic whirr as harddrives spun into life.

   'What is it, Twelve?' he hissed.

   '+THIS PLACE IS... FAMILIAR.+'

   The Doctor hurried back to it. 'Yes, that's right.'

   '+THERE IS DANGER. YOU SHOULD NOT BEHERE.+'

   'We've no choice, Twelve.'

   '+THERE IS DANGER.+'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   'I know!' The Doctor tried to hush the agitated robot.

   '+I DO NOT WISH TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEDEATHS OF ANY MORE HUMANS,+' it told him. '+IAM PROGRAMMED TO PROTECT. YOU SHOULDNOT BE HERE.+'

   'Yes, but..'

   '+I AM... FRIGHTENED.+'

   The Doctor looked up in surprise. 'Twelve, listen to me.I'm frightened too, but people are depending on us. Lots ofpeople. All of the humans in the other dome, all of thehumans outside. You know where the accident took place.I need you to show me. Do you understand?'

   The robot nodded slowly. '+I UNDERSTAND.+'

   It straightened, its head turning smoothly in a completecircle, lights blinking on the panel on its chest.

   '+I AM DETECTING A CONCENTRATION OF LIFEFORMS 227 YARDS TO MY LEFT.+'

   The Doctor nodded grimly. 'That's what we've come tofind.'

   '+ONE OF THE LIFE SIGNS IS HUMAN.+'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    A  s Rabley approached the main airlock doors of

       SnowGlobe 6, he could see that a crowd had formed;

    quite a large crowd at that. He frowned. Instead of the

    usual background babble of excited holiday-makers, he

    could hear raised, angry voices.

       He stopped. There was no way he could get to the exit,

    there must have been forty or fifty people clustered

    around the airlock doors. More worrying, the doors

    themselves were shut, a tourist coach stuck on the exit

    ramp, the driver shrugging and gesturing at the closed

    doors as a dozen or so tourists chattered animatedly at

    him.

       Rabley skirted around the back of the crowd, not

    wanting to draw attention to himself but desperate to find

    out what was going on. He couldn't believe he had got this

    close. Only the doors stood between him and freedom.

       A long balcony area surrounded the coach park inside

    the doors, a meeting point where people waited to greet

    new arrivals or see off departures. Rabley scampered up

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the short stairs, pushing through the half a dozen peoplegathered there, ignoring their grunts of indignation as heforced his way to the railing. Immediately, he had to fightdown the urge to turn and run. Standing in front of themain doors of the SnowGlobe were half a dozen armedsecurity personnel led by a tall bearded man Hassan,was it? Rabley seemed to remember him from when heand O'Keefe had arrived. There were at least a dozen moreguards scattered along the rim of the dome. Rabley hadbeen around in enough similar situations to see that theguards were jittery, fingers hovering over triggers. Thecrowd seemed oblivious to that fact.

    Rabley tried to slow his breathing, aware that he wasstarting to sweat. This couldn't possibly be about him.They couldn't possibly have had time to work out that hehad survived the attack in the SnowGlobe.

    He strained to hear what was being said. The touristwho seemed to be the self-appointed leader of the growingmob was German, or at least spoke with a heavyGermanic accent. He was purple with rage, demanding toknow why he was being barred from leaving the dome.

    The security leader regarded him with barely disguisedcontempt, waiting until the man had finished his diatribebefore calmly raising his microphone.

    'If I might have your attention once again.' CaptainHassan's voice boomed from speakers set over the door.'As I have explained to you, a situation has arisen that hasmade it necessary to seal the dome for a short period. Thematter is one of security, and I am not at liberty to divulgeits nature at the present time. For your own safety, I must

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

ask you to return to your hotel rooms or chalets. Facilitiesinside the dome will continue as normal, but for the timebeing I must ask that you assist the security services anddo not attempt to leave the dome. Now I must please askyou to disperse quietly and in an orderly manner.'

    An angry tide of voices rose from the crowd oncemore, cut dead as the security captain pointedly raised hisrifle. 'Please have no illusions about the seriousness withwhich I make this request. Anyone attempting to forcetheir way out, or impeding my men in any way will bearrested.'

    There was a moment of shocked silence. The Germancouldn't have looked more angry if he had tried, and for amoment Rabley honestly thought that the man was goingto try and tackle the security captain with his bare hands.Fortunately, his ample wife hauling on his arm broughthim to his senses, her eyes never leaving the captain'srifle, and the man reluctantly allowed himself to be ledaway.

    Rabley leant on the railing, his mind racing. He wascertain now that this wasn't about him it was probably asecurity exercise of some kind but that didn't helpmatters. Every minute he remained in the dome was aminute where he might be recognised, and if thathappened then his entire plan came crashing down aroundhis ears.

    As he turned, intending to tuck himself into a corner ofone of the quieter bars until this security alert was over, afigure stepped in front of him. Rabley glanced up andfroze.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Director Cowley was standing on the balcony less thana metre from him, staring down into the grumbling crowd,a large metal case in her arms.

   Rabley started to back away, praying that she wouldn'tsee him. Even with his 'disguise', he had spent too longaround the woman for the last few days for her not torecognise him. His heart was pounding. If he could justget down the stairs and into the surge of millingtourists. . .

   Cowley turned and looked him full in the face.

   Rabley stopped, like a rabbit caught in headlights, hisdreams of living out a quiet, idyllic existence dispersinglike the crowd. For what seemed like an eternity shestared at him, then, miraculously, she turned and walkedaway.

   Rabley watched her go, unable to believe that shehadn't realised who he was. But there had been norecognition on her face. Truth be told, there had beennothing in her face, no expression whatsoever. It wasalmost as if she was stunned, or drugged.

   Puzzled, Rabley watched as the Director weaved herway through the rapidly thinning crowd. Surely, if therewas a security alert, she should be involved in some way.Yet she had been staring at the closed gates as if she wasas bemused as the tourists around her. As she hurriedaway, she kept checking over her shoulder, almost as ifshe was anxious that the security teams didn't see her. Sheclutched the metal case hard to her chest as if her lifedepended on it. His curiosity getting the better of him,Rabley followed her, keeping a discreet distance.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Cowley turned off from the main path, ducking under asign that said 'Authorised Personnel Only' and busyingherself at a security pad set into the dome wall next to aheavy steel door. She vanished inside, and Rabley hurriedover, catching the door before it swung closed.

   Cautiously, he peered inside. Metal steps led down to along service corridor. He could smell fuel oil and mustywarm air. Cowley was out of sight, but Rabley could hearthe click of her heels echoing down the corridor.

   Rabley rubbed his chin. He didn't like changing hisplans on the hoof, but he certainly wasn't going to get outthrough the main doors carrying a bag with nearly amillion dollars whilst there were armed security guardsstomping about. Besides, there was a faint chance that thismight lead him to an alternative way out. . .

   Mind made up, he quickly checked to make sure thatno one had seen him, then slipped through the door afterCowley.

The Doctor picked his way carefully through thewreckage that littered the tunnel floor. The servicecorridor was a mess of broken equipment and jaggedchunks of ice and rock. He was nearing the site of theaccident.

   The tunnel ahead of him was dark, the few lights thatwere still functioning strewn across the frozen ground,casting long shadows up the walls. The tunnel itself was amess and huge sections of the ceiling had given way,revealing long, dark chasms stretching deep overhead, therock frosted and glittering with ice. Here and there were

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the broken twisted limbs of service robots, their metalbodies still buried under tons of rubble.

   The Doctor had left Service Robot Twelve back alongthe corridor for the time being. Hassan had been right, therobot's positronic mind was in a very fragile state and,desperate as he was for information, the Doctor didn'twant to run the risk of causing a complete breakdown. Hehad no idea if the robot would react as a human mightwhen confronted with half a dozen corpses. It wasdifficult to tell. Artificial intelligence was a verycomplicated science, even for him.

   He stopped to examine one of the fallen robots. Thesalvage team had obviously made a start at trying torecover as much equipment as they could, they couldn'thave had more than a couple of minutes before theysuccumbed to the dust given off from the eggs.

   He shone the light from his torch over the shatteredwalls, muttering to himself. 'If this is where the accidenthappened then somewhere around here should be... Ah-ha!'

   Light glanced off a jagged fissure in the ice, a great tearthat went from floor to ceiling. The floor wastreacherously slippery, glassy and smooth like an ice rinkwhere the ice had melted and then refrozen. Cautiouslythe Doctor edged forward. He peered into the crack in theice. The fissure was narrow, but seemed to open up furtheralong. He squeezed himself into the narrow gap, gaspingas the cold leeched through his clothes. There was justenough room for him to ease himself forward.

   As he edged his way deeper and deeper into the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

passageway, he became aware of shapes behind the frozensurface, rocks embedded deep in the ice, their surfacesalive with ancient pictures. The Doctor squinted, trying tomake out the details, but the thick ice distorted everything.

   Abruptly, the passageway opened out. The Doctorstopped, staring in wonder at the images in the rock thatarced overhead, images that had remained hidden forcenturies, that might never have been found if humanbeings hadn't been desperate to preserve the wilderness oftheir world.

   He craned his neck back, trying to get a better look atthe paintings. Like all prehistoric art, there was ritual aswell as storytelling involved. There might be something inthe pictures that could help him.

   A harsh clicking made him freeze. Ahead of him, hecould see a dark shadow moving stealthily along thefissure, long spider-like legs scraping on the ice.

   The Doctor pressed himself hard against the wall asone of the creatures emerged into the opening, clingingtight to the ceiling, head moving to and fro. It stopped,hanging there like some huge spider on the ceiling, icesplintering noisily where its claws dug in.

   The Doctor was torn between his instinct to run andfinally having the ability to study one of the creatures upclose. It really did seem to comprise of all the parts of acreature from nightmare. The heavy, swollen bodyquivered under pockmarked skin that was swathed in thickwiry fur. The fleshy, bat-like nose was wrinkled and wet,thick trails of mucus stringing off it. Each of the eight legswas long and bony, stiff bristles squeaking shrilly as they

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

brushed against each other. The front two legs ended intwo long, sinuous, strangely elegant fingers, constantlytouching and feeling their surroundings.

   The creature seemed jittery and nervous, its movementsclumsy and unsure. With a sudden shock, the Doctorrealised that it was a newborn, a recent addition to whatmust have been an ever-growing number of thesecreatures.

   The grasping hands reached out, and the Doctor had toduck as long, bristle-covered fingers poked and prodded atthe rock behind him. He held his breath as the creature'sdigits picked and pawed at the frozen surface, pushinginto crevices and cracks. Finding no food, it let out anangry hiss and, in a shower of splintering ice, scuttled pasthim out into the service corridor. The Doctor let out hisbreath in a rush. He could hear the rattle of the creature'secholocation and the squeal of a rat as it finally locatedsome prey.

   He started gently edging his way down the passagewayfrom which the creature had come. Ahead of him, a low,insistent noise started to build, a constant staccatochattering, like a field full of crickets on a summer's day.Behind the noise, right on the very edge of his perception,the Doctor was aware of another sound, something that hecould hear with his mind rather than his ears. It wasn't anice sensation.

   Gritting his teeth, the Doctor pushed forward. Thepassageway had narrowed again, but he was certain hecould see where it ended. A dull, bluish light was spillingback along the fissure.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    He crept to the mouth of the passageway and peeredout. Before him was a vast cavern, a cathedral of hugefrozen shapes carved in the ice. Light filtered downthrough narrow tears in the roof, throwing long shafts ofbrightness across the icy floor.

    In the centre of the cavern, picked out in the slashes oflight, a huge creature sat like some vast, bloated Buddha.Each of its eight arms was wrapped around its huge blackbody, long fingers flexing and kneading at the thick,blubbery flesh. It swayed slowly, moving back and forthin time with its stentorian breathing, wet nose flickeringand pulsing. Half a dozen of its young scampered aroundit, clicking and mewing, batting at each other viciously ifthey came within touching distance, occasionally dartingaway, but always returning to lurk in the shadow of thehuge, quivering bulk.

    The Doctor felt his hearts sink. Six young. If three ofthose were the ones that had hatched from the eggs theyalready knew about then the others had to have hatchedfrom either Brian Williams, the security team or MaxwellO'Keefe and his assistant. That there weren't more than sixof the creatures meant that either the security team hadmanaged to destroy some of them, or that not everyonehad been used as a host. The Doctor gritted his teeth. Thecreatures were carnivorous, he just hoped that theyoccasionally took their food back to keep in the larder.

    He winced as another wave of mental energy waftedacross him. The creature's mind was getting stronger andstronger, and he was beginning to understand therelationship between the creature and the comatose

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

patients back in the sick bay. He had to find a weakness inthese things, and quickly.

    Concentrating, he started to focus his mind, intendingto relax his telepathic barriers for a fraction of a second,letting the creature's consciousness touch his, trying to seeif there was anything in its design that he could reach.

    The mental surge caught him totally unprepared.Suddenly his mind was full of rage and pain and hungerand an overwhelming desire to give himself up to thethings in the cavern below.

    Reeling, the Doctor staggered back, desperately tryingto hang on to consciousness as his mind closed down,defence systems shutting out the mental hold of thecreature. His vision blurred and he lost his footing on theicy rock. Limbs like lead, the Doctor felt himself pitchforward, falling headlong, then he knew nothing.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    M   artha sat on the floor, her back against the cold metal

        wall of the morgue, listening to the sounds of

    destruction that raged outside the door. She couldn't recall

    ever feeling so helpless. The patients had failed to break

    their way out of the medical bay, that much was clear. But

    she and the others were effectively prisoners for as long as

    the patients were out there, and she knew that Cowley was

    getting further and further away with every minute that

    passed. Ku'ra was pacing the room, angry at finding

    himself trapped. Harrison just stood there wringing his

    hands with worry, jumping at every unfamiliar noise from

    outside the doors.

       Martha jumped herself as a particularly loud thump

    made the door shudder.

       'What if they get in?' said Harrison nervously.

       Marisha shook her head. 'They won't.'

       'They got out of the ward.'

       'That was a glass door. This is different.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   The door shook again from a series of heavy blows.Harrison shuffled backwards towards the corner of theroom. 'I hope you're right.'

   Marisha slid down the wall to sit next to Martha. 'He'sright you know,' she whispered conspiratorially. 'This doorwasn't designed to be sealed from the inside. If Jaffaremembers the right sequence on the door release. . .'

   Martha shook her head. 'They didn't look as thoughthey were acting rationally to me. I don't think they're stillthinking like normal people. If Ku'ra is right then they'reoperating on the most basic of levels, just one thought intheir frenzied little heads. Get to the other dome and handyourself over to be eaten.'

   'Infecting everyone they pass on the way.'

   Martha grimaced, remembering the cloud of chokingdust that had spewed from the mouths of the infectedpatients, and how fast Jaffa had succumbed. What was itthe Doctor had said? A pandemic that could infect theentire planet. She had let Cowley escape. She had let theDoctor down. She had let everyone down.

   There was a thump from the far side of the room and amuffled curse came from Ku'ra. Martha looked up. 'What'sup?'

   Ku'ra kicked at a bundle on the floor. 'Tripped over thisblasted bio-suit.'

   Marisha stared at him. 'What did you say?'

   'I said that people should put stuff away and not leave iton the floor for people to trip over. Aren't these thingsmeant to be put in a sterilised locker or something?'

   Marisha scrambled to her feet and hurried over to

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

where Ku'ra was rubbing his shin. On the floor in anuntidy pile was the biohazard suit. She snatched it up.

   'It's Jaffa's. He was wearing it when he and the Doctorwere examining the eggs,' said Marisha. 'I told him thatthey weren't meant to be worn outside the lab, but he wasstruggling with the case and I wasn't in the mood to arguewith him.'

   'OK, sure, but what use is that to us?' asked Martha.

   Marisha pointed at a small tag sewn into the sleeve. 'It'san emergency override for the doors. We can get out.'

   Martha grinned at her.

   Ku'ra shook his head. 'Now hang on a minute. There'sonly one suit.'

   'Only one of us has to go after Cowley.' Martha's facewas grave.

   'Forget it, Martha. Open that door, they'll be all overyou.'

   Martha plucked the little sterilisation headset frombehind her ear. 'Look, these have been the only protectionthat we've had, right? And they're no use against thosepeople out there 'cos they can just tear them off, butthis. . .' She held up the bio-suit with its bulky helmet.'They'll never get through this. Not without a lot of effort.I have to go after her. I have to stop her.'

   'You're not suggesting that we let those things in here,just so that you can escape?' Harrison's voice was shrilland trembling.

   'You heard what the Doctor said. If she opens that casethen everyone is infected.'

   There was silence in the morgue for a long while, then

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Ku'ra gave a grim smile. 'Sounds like we've got a plan.Let's do it.'

   Ignoring the protests of Mr Harrison, Martha started tostruggle into the bulky bio-suit.

Rabley hurried along the long corridor, hugging theshadows against the wall, keeping Cowley in sightwithout risking being seen himself. Rabley hadn't realisedthat the sub-levels were so extensive. If he lost her downhere, he'd have a devil of a job finding her again, orfinding his way back out.

    Cowley had a specific destination in mind, of thatRabley had no doubt. Her movements were too precise,too deliberate for this to be some random journey into thebowels of the facility. She moved at a brisk pace, andmore than once Rabley had had to proceed faster than hewould have liked in order to keep up with her.

    He stepped through a doorway into a corridor that waswide and straight, seemingly stretching on indefinitely.Cowley's slim form wandered in and out of the pools offlickering, intermittent light from the fluorescent tubesthat hung from the low ceiling.

    Rabley looked around, his brow furrowing. Mr O'Keefehad mentioned an accident that had occurred in sometunnels underneath the SnowGlobe. But if that was wherethey were, then. . .

    Rabley's heart started pounding as he realised thatCowley had led him down to the service corridor thatconnected the two SnowGlobes. If he followed Cowleydown this corridor then he was going to end up right back

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

where he started. In SnowGlobe 7 with those... monsters.

   Rabley stopped, gripped by a sudden urge to turn andrun, to put the money back in the safe and forget about hisbold plan altogether. Cowley couldn't possibly know whatshe was walking into.

   He felt a sudden pang of guilt. Could he really justleave and let the woman walk into the arms of thosethings? Rabley punched the wall angrily. He had been soclose. . .

   He focused on the multitude of warning signs andhealth and safety instructions that decorated the wall,trying to calm himself down. One particular sign madehim stop and stare, and a broad smile started spreadingslowly across his face.

   'In Event of Emergency Use Ventilator Shaft as Exit.'He read the words out loud, unable to believe his luck.

   Cowley wasn't heading for the other dome at all. Shewas heading for the ventilator shaft. Hefting the bag ofmoney up onto his shoulder, Rabley hurried to catch upwith her.

The first thing the Doctor was aware of was the smell aripe, all-pervading smell of rotting meat. Groggily, heforced his eyes open, his nose wrinkling in distaste. Hewas flat on his back, staring at the icy ceiling, snowflakesdrifting through the cracks in the roof and landing wetlyon his cheeks.

   He struggled to raise his head, and wondered how he'dmanaged to survive the fall without breaking his neck.The entrance to the fissure he had fallen from was about

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

four metres above him. As his elbows sank into somethingbristly and soft, the Doctor realised that his fall had beenbroken by the dead and bloated body of one of thecreatures.

   With a cry of disgust, he rolled himself off the spongycorpse, staggering unsteadily to his feet. His head was stillpounding, and he weaved unsteadily for a moment as hestruggled to regain his balance. He'd been totallyunprepared for the raw, primal force of the creature'sthoughts. 'Stupid, Doctor. Really, really stupid,' hemuttered to himself.

   Shaking his head to try and clear the lingeringfuzziness he felt, the Doctor looked around at hissurroundings. He was in a pit gouged in the ice, the wallsstained with red. In the gloom, he could make out bodies:one was the creature he had fallen onto; the others were amore familiar shape, their outlines softened by the gentlyfalling snow.

   Grimacing at the unpleasantness of his task, the Doctormade a swift examination of the corpses in the pit. Thebody of the creature was nearly half-eaten, but the causeof death had clearly been an automatic weapon of somekind. Ragged holes were torn in the thick fur, the edgescaked with dried blood. Clearly, the things had no problemwith cannibalising their own kind.

   What was left of the other bodies showed no sign ofgunshot wounds, just ragged tears that could only havebeen caused by the frenzied attack of a predator. In allfour cases, the bodies were only partial. The Doctor's facewas grim, knowing full well what had become of the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

missing parts. The four victims had been used both asfood and as hosts.

   The Doctor straightened. He was too late to doanything for these people, but Twelve had detected ahuman life sign and, unless any other unfortunates hadstumbled into the claws of the creatures, that could onlybe Maxwell O'Keefe or his assistant.

   The Doctor peered around the gloomy pit, aware of thescuffling and clicking from the cave, and of howdangerous his position had become. To one side of the pitthe drifting snow had formed a large mound. There was aleg sticking out from underneath it. Tentatively, the Doctorstarted to dig at the mound of snow. His fingers brushedagainst something clammy and wet. Crouching down onhis haunches, he raised his torch. There was a face in thesoft snow, the features made nightmarish and grotesque bythe harsh white light.

   'Maxwell O'Keefe, I presume.'

   The Doctor reached down, feeling for a pulse in theman's neck. As his fingers touched O'Keefe's skin, theman practically exploded from the snow, eyes bulging andwide.

   The Doctor tumbled backwards, caught completely off-guard.

   O'Keefe clawed at him, like a man possessed. TheDoctor desperately tried to calm him, but the big man wasstrong and panic-stricken. A flailing hand caught in thestrap hanging from the Doctor's neck, snapping it andsending the sonic screwdriver tumbling to the floor.

   The Doctor watched in horror as the slim tube hit the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

ice with a hard clunk.

   And shut off.

   From above them there was a sudden violent barrage ofclicks and whistles and the sound of dozens of spiderylimbs clattering across the ice.

   Snow and splintered ice showered down around theDoctor's head. He looked up to see the creatures loomingover the rim of the pit, bat-like noses wrinkling andtwitching, thick drool splattering on the floor.

   In unison, all six creatures bared their razor sharp teethand shrieked in fury.

Martha stood in front of the morgue door, trying to calmher breathing, which was starting to mist up the faceplateof the clumsy bio-suit. The air in the suit was stale andmusty; there had been no way of recharging the oxygenbottles strung across her back. Marisha had estimated thatshe had ten minutes of air at most. That didn't worryMartha too much: if she didn't manage to get out of themedical bay in ten minutes, the chances were that she'd bebetter off suffocating.

   'You OK in there?' Ku'ra's voice was muffled andmuted through the helmet.

   Martha gave him a thumbs-up. The young Flisk lookedas nervous as she felt. She couldn't blame him. As soon asthey opened the doors, he'd be fighting for his life.

   On the far side of the room, Marisha was trying to keepHarrison under control. The Welshman was terrified.Martha had a horrible feeling that of all the things thatcould go wrong, Harrison might turn out to be the most

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

unpredictable element of all.

    Marisha gave Ku'ra a subtle nod. Harrison had finallycalmed down. If they were going to do it, then now wasthe time.

    Ku'ra squeezed Martha's arm. 'You be careful out there.'

    Martha braced herself. Once the door was open, shewas simply intending to run headlong until she reachedthe main exit. Then she just hoped that she could fight thepatients off long enough for the chip in the suit to get thedoor unlocked. She hefted the aluminium chair leg thatshe held, uncomfortable with the weapon. Ku'ra hadinsisted that she took it. The patients showed no remorseat the damage they inflicted in their need to escape, so shehad to be equally single-minded.

    Ku'ra had his ear pressed to the door, listening to thesounds from outside, trying to time the moment formaximum advantage. Abruptly, he straightened andgripped the door handle.

    'This is it, here we go!'

    As Ku'ra deactivated the lock and hauled open theheavy door, Martha launched herself forward, head down,arms tucked in against her sides. At the very samemoment, Harrison pulled himself loose from Marisha andthrew himself at the opening door, screaming hysterically.

    Taken completely by surprise, Ku'ra gave a grunt ofpain as the little man barrelled into him. He lost hisfooting on the smooth floor, and the two of them crashedinto the door. Their combined weight slammed it intoMartha's shoulder. Her arms flailed wildly as shestruggled to stay upright, but the cumbersome biohazard

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

suit hadn't been built for athletics.

   She crashed to the floor, skidding into the ward. Atonce, a dozen twisted, angry faces turned in her direction.Winded, Martha tried to catch her breath. She could hearKu'ra screaming at her to get up. She caught hold of theedge of the reception desk, trying to haul herself upright.With an angry scream, the patients surged forward.Martha lashed out with the chair leg. There was a dullthump as it connected with one of the flailing bodies, anda patient crashed to the floor.

   Martha felt hands dragging her to her feet. Through thevisor in the helmet she could see nothing but angryscreaming faces. A woman loomed close, lips curled backin a savage snarl. A cloud of grey dust billowed from hermouth, obscuring Martha's view. She lashed out blindly,hearing her heavy glove connect with something soft, andthe grip of the grasping hands slackened momentarily. Shepulled herself free, backing herself up against the wall,swinging the chair leg in a wide arc.

   The medical bay was in chaos. Furniture andequipment lay in shattered piles, medical files andprintouts strewn everywhere. The ward itself was a jumbleof upturned beds and broken glass. Amazingly, the doorout to the rest of the building and the window in Jaffa'soffice were unbroken. Whoever had built this place haddone their job properly.

   There was a frightened scream from the other side ofthe ward. Dr Jaffa and three of the other infected peoplewere clustered around the door to the morgue. Marthacould see Ku'ra, Harrison and Marisha struggling to pull it

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

shut. Two of the patients had managed get a grip onHarrison's jacket and were hauling him through the gap.His face was a mask of terror as he desperately tried tohang on to Marisha's arm. There was a cloud of blackdust, and Harrison vanished into the throng with astrangled cry. Snarling, Jaffa gripped the lip of the door.Inch by inch, he hauled it open. They would be in themorgue in moments.

    Martha tried to focus on the exit. Her vision blurred. Itwas getting harder to breathe. Her exertions were using upthe oxygen faster than she had expected. The chair leg wasstarting to feel heavy.

    She swung it again at the patients encircling her andfelt it slip from her grasp. Shouting with frustration, shetried to force her way through the angry crowd, but theweight of numbers dragged her to the floor.

    Choking, Martha could feel hands on her chest, aroundher neck. She tried to draw in breath but nothing came.

    Harrison had been right, they didn't stand a chance.

    She had failed.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    T  he Doctor snatched up the sonic screwdriver and

       climbed slowly to his feet, backing away from the

    creatures. One of them hissed angrily, clambering down

    the side of the pit like a vast spider. The Doctor fumbled

    with the screwdriver's controls, knowing that he had no

    chance of resetting his sonic camouflage before the

    creatures had a hold of him. Long fingers were already

    stretching out for him.

       He closed his eyes as fingertips brushed across his face.

    A low rumble started to reverberate through the cavern.

    Abruptly, the probing fingers withdrew. The Doctor

    opened one eye. Snow and shards of ice were being

    shaken from the pit wall. The creatures were backing

    away, nervous and agitated. The rumbling got louder and

    louder then, with an explosion of ice and rock, something

    huge and metallic burst through the ice wall and into the

    cavern.

       The creatures scattered as rock and ice tumbled to the

    floor. The Doctor grabbed O'Keefe by the collar and, with

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

superhuman effort, hauled the big man to one side asService Robot Twelve landed with a deafening crash inthe centre of the pit. At once, the creatures launchedthemselves forward, spitting their fury at the intruder thatwas keeping them from their prey. Twelve batted at themwith huge metallic arms, pistons hissing. The creaturestumbled like skittles, skidding across the ice, mewling andchittering.

   The robot hauled itself out of the pit, ice splinteringunder its feet. The creatures circled it warily, snarling andspitting, the clicks and pops from their echo-locationreverberating around the cavern. One of them leapt ontoTwelve's back, claws scrabbling on the smooth metal. Therobot twisted, catching hold of one of the creature'sspindly legs and swinging it high into the air.

   The creature bellowed its anger as the robot twirled itlike some bizarre bolas. The cries were cut short with ahorrible wet popping noise as Twelve smashed it onto thehard ice.

   The cavern was immediately filled with a cacophony ofscreeching and snarling. Above the noise, the Doctorcould hear something deeper, more malevolent. Rousedfrom its telepathic trance by the death cries of its young,the parent creature unfolded itself slowly, long powerfullegs lifting its bristle-covered bulk from the ice.

   Towering over Twelve, it let out a deafening roar andswiped out with razor-sharp claws.

In the medical bay, it was if someone had flicked off aswitch.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   There was a moment of sudden shocking silence, andMartha felt the hands that had threatened to choke the lifeout of her go limp. All around her, the patients simplydropped to the floor like rag dolls.

   She struggled to her feet, gloved hands struggling withthe clasp at her throat. The helmet came free with a pop.Martha checked that her sterilisation earpiece was still inplace and drew in great lungfuls of air. Marisha and Ku'rapeered out in astonishment from the morgue. Jaffa and theothers had fallen in an untidy heap at the base of the door,and it took the two of them to force it open far enough tostep out.

   Outside in the corridor, two security guards suddenlystepped from the lift. They stopped, staring in shock at thescene in front of them, then hurried forward banging onthe glass of the door. Martha waved at them angrily. 'Allright, all right. Wait a minute can't you? Talk about turningup just after the nick of time.'

   'What happened?' Marisha was scurrying from patientto patient turning those that had fallen face down,attending to those that had injured themselves as they fell.She looked sadly down at Mr Harrison, his face stillfrozen in an expression of surprise and fear.

   Martha shook her head, 'I don't know. One minute theywere all over me, the next. . .' She looked around at thefallen bodies. 'It's like someone cut the strings.'

   'I think that's exactly what happened.' Ku'ra was at hershoulder, rubbing at his temples. 'The telepathic signal, it'sback to what it was before. That urge to get to the otherdome? I can't feel that any more.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Martha frowned. 'But that means that the creature hasstopped calling them.'

   Ku'ra nodded. 'I think it's been distracted bysomething.'

   'I think you mean distracted by someone.' Marthachewed her lip nervously. 'What the hell are you up to,Doctor?'

Rabley stared down the long empty corridor stretchingahead of him and cursed under his breath. He had hurriedto catch up with the Director, but hadn't been overlyconcerned about finding her. After all, they were out of thelabyrinth of tunnels and stairwells now. The tunnel ranstraight to the other SnowGlobe, there was nowhere elseshe could go.

   Now, with the corridor stretching away in front of himand with no sign of Cowley, no noise of her heels clickingon the concrete, it was becoming obvious that he hadmissed her somewhere. He cursed himself for his lack ofconcentration. There had to be a side passageway,something he had missed.

   Rabley retraced his steps, eyes darting from side toside, peering at signs and notices, looking for anythingthat might give him a clue as to where she had gone.

   A noise made him stop. A scrape of metal. He edgedslowly forward, straining to try and locate the source ofthe sound. It was close.

   Something splashed onto his shoulder. He wiped at itabsently with his hand. His fingers came away sticky.Rabley grimaced. It was oil. He looked up. There was a

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

hatch set into the ceiling, practically invisible amongst thepipes and cables. The illuminated signs that were meant toindicate its position were dark and caked with dust. Nowonder he had missed it.

   A ladder in the wall led to a narrow walkway lodgedamongst the tangle of pipes. Rabley hoisted his bag ontohis shoulder and scrambled up the ladder peer cautiouslyinto the ventilator shaft. The hatch had been proppedopen, revealing a long, narrow chute, heading upwards ata forty-five-degree angle. Oil dripped from a badlymaintained hydraulic pump set into the wall. Hearing thesound of scraping metal again, Rabley nodded insatisfaction. He had found Cowley again.

   He ducked into the shaft, swinging the holdall aroundonto his back and climbing as quickly as he dared. Thesurface of the shaft was slick with grease. More than once,Rabley had to stop himself from slipping backwards.

   The angle of the shaft abruptly lessened as it openedout into a fan room of some kind. On the other side of theroom there was a small, square opening leading on towhere the shaft continued upwards. Rabley scrambled intothe fan room gratefully, his back cracking and protestingas he straightened.

   With shock, he realised that Cowley was standing nextto the hatchway.

   Panicked, Rabley started to back down the shaft,knowing in his heart that it was probably too late butholding on to the one faint hope that she still might not seehim. He was not a violent man, but he knew that if theDirector recognised him he would have very few choices

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

open to him if he still intended to escape with O'Keefe'smoney. He prayed it wouldn't come to that.

    Slowly, he edged backwards. The Director was stillstanding amongst the huge fans, bolt upright, stock still,arms by her side, the heavy metal case at her feet. Herhead was cocked on one side and there was a puzzledexpression on her face. She gave no indication that shehad seen him.

    Rabley frowned. Cowley looked for all the world as ifshe was drugged, or sleepwalking. Her face had aslackness to it, her eyes were unfocused. Abruptly, sheturned her head and looked straight at Rabley.

    'I can't hear them any more.' The Director's voice wasfaint and childlike. 'Not properly.' She showed no sign thatshe recognised him at all. 'At first I thought that theycould only talk to me, but now, if I concentrate reallyhard. . .' She screwed up her eyes. 'I can talk to them. . .'

    A broad smile spread across her face. 'Soon. . . It willall be over soon.'

    With that she turned, picked up the case in her armsand ducked through a hatchway on the far side of the fanroom.

    Rabley was unable to believe his luck. 'Bonkers. She'scompletely bonkers.'

    He grinned. Even if she had recognised him, hedoubted that anyone was going to take the Directorseriously any more. His grin faded as a thick grilleslammed down over the doorway that Cowley had justdisappeared through.

    'No!'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   He hurled himself at the grille, shaking the steel barsuselessly.

   On the other side, Cowley was pressing a sequence ofbuttons on a small control panel, engaging the locks,sealing him in.

   'They're coming. Soon you will understand them too.'

   Rabley watched helplessly as the Director turned andstarted to make her way up the shaft towards the surface.He called after her.

   'Please, wait. I've got money. We can make a deal.'

   The Director didn't turn around. There was a low whineof motors as the fans suddenly started to spin into life.Rabley had to shout to hear himself over the noise,pleading with her to come back, but eventually the soundof the fans drowned him out completely.

   He slumped back onto the floor, angry and frustrated.He clamped his hands over his ears, trying to shut out thenoise of the fans, forcing himself to think. He couldn'tgive up now, he couldn't.

   Another noise suddenly cut through the low throb ofthe fans. A harsh insistent clicking that Rabley could feelin his gut. With a chill of horror, he realised that herecognised the sound.

   One of the creatures was climbing up the ventilationshaft behind him.

   He was trapped.

The parent creature hit Twelve like a steamroller, sendingthe robot crashing backwards. The Doctor only justmanaged to haul O'Keefe out of the way as the two giants

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

twisted and thrashed in the bottom of the pit. Ice and snowflew into the air as the creature tore at the steel shell of therobot, but Twelve gripped the creature in huge metalhands, holding it at bay.

   The robot staggered slowly to its feet, the thrashingcreature gripped tightly in its arms. With a whine ofmotors, it hurled the creature across the cavern, the hugebulk shattering a vast column of ice and rock thatstretched high overhead.

   The creature's young scattered as chunks of the ceilingcrashed down around them, glittering needles of icebouncing and spiralling.

   Twelve spun round to face the Doctor. '+YOU MUSTLEAVE.+'

   'No,' snapped the Doctor. 'I'm not leaving, not withoutyou.'

   '+YOU MUST.+'

   'I can't! O'Keefe is alive! He's too heavy for me to carryout of here on my own. I need you to come with me.'

   The robot's face was incapable of expression, but theDoctor could sense its frustration. Someone was going tohave a field day in the study of artificial emotions whenthis was over.

   '+WAIT HERE.+'

   Twelve clambered out of the pit, sections of metalplating sliding back from its abdomen revealing a range ofspecialist tools.

   Blue flame spat from a concealed nozzle on its arm awelding torch of some kind. The Doctor heard the click ofservos and valves as the robot adjusted the gas mixture,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

and the neat blue flame suddenly transformed into ablazing sheet of smoky yellow fire.

   The creatures were terrified.

   They clawed their way backwards, shrieking horribly,pain making them shrill and loud. Twelve scooped up thelimp and shattered body of the one it had killed. With aclick and a hiss, a thin spray of viscous fluid sprayed overthe limp shape and the Doctor smelled the sharp tang ofoil. Twelve lifted the body and played the roaring flameover it.

   The corpse erupted into a blazing ball of skin and fur.The Doctor had to shield his face from the heat. The robothurled the burning mass into the cavern looking for all theworld as if it was some bizarre ten-pin bowler, and thecreatures scattered, vanishing down tunnels and fissures,desperate to escape the heat and flame.

   Twelve stepped back into the pit, the flame shutting off,melting ice steaming on the robot's metal skin. There wasa worryingly loud crack from the ice overhead.Effortlessly, the robot gathered the lolling body ofMaxwell O'Keefe into its arms and turned to the Doctorwith its expressionless face.

   '+WE NEED TO LEAVE NOW.+'

   The Doctor didn't need telling twice and scrambled upthe chunks of melting ice to the huge ragged hole that therobot had forced through from the service corridor. Backin the cavern, the angry cries of the creatures started to getlouder as the flames started to die.

   Halfway along the fissure, Twelve placed O'Keefe onthe ground and started to drag huge chunks of rock and ice

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

from the walls, sealing the tunnel behind them. TheDoctor watched with a heavy heart as the irreplaceablecave paintings that had brought so many people to theirdeaths in this icy cavern were consigned to the barricade,no more than a barrier now, giving them time to escape.

   Another bellow of anger spurred them forward. Twelvehad done a good job of blocking the tunnel, but thecreatures were desperate and hungry, and very, very angry,and the Doctor wasn't sure that it was going to hold themfor long.

   Dim fluorescent light appeared ahead of them, and theDoctor gratefully climbed out of the fissure into theservice corridor. He clutched at his side, taking in deepbreaths. He was getting out of condition.

   He dodged out of the way as Twelve lumbered out intothe corridor after him.

   '+I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO MAKE ANADEQUATE BARRICADE. MY ESTIMATE IS THATIT WILL ONLY BE THIRTY PER CENT EFFECTIVE.+'

   'Well, no one's perfect.'

   '+I WILL ATTEMPT TO CREATE A BARRIER ATTHIS END OF THE FISSURE.+'

   The big robot placed O'Keefe gingerly on the coldconcrete floor and turned to the pile of abandonedequipment in the passageway.

   The Doctor held up his hand. 'Hold on a minute, bigguy. I think that some of this stuff might be more use thansimply as barricade fodder.'

   He peered at the tangle of tools and metal that washeaped in the corridor. 'Do you think you could get that

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

free?' He pointed at the back end of an anti-grav sled thatjutted out from the pile.

    There was a shower of sparks and a grinding shriek oftortured metal as Twelve started clearing shatteredequipment from on top of the sled.

    The Doctor crouched next to O'Keefe's unconsciousbody as pieces of abandoned equipment were draggedfrom the accident site and hurled to one side. O'Keefe'sbreathing was fast and shallow, and he'd shown no sign ofregaining consciousness as he had back in the cavern. TheDoctor placed his hand on the man's forehead. His skinwas clammy and grey and his eyelids constantly flickered.Whatever the process was that had affected the others, ithad begun to happen to O'Keefe. The only hope he hadwas that they might get him back to the sickbay and findsome kind of antidote.

    The Doctor looked grimly at his patient. He hadanother reason for getting O'Keefe back to the infirmary.Contacting the adult creature's mind directly had provedtoo dangerous, the raw primal energy that it generated hadbeen too much for him to cope with. But if he was right, ifO'Keefe was infected, then an embryonic creature wasslowly taking form inside him and maybe contact withthat would give him the answers he needed.

    The Doctor knew that he was playing with the man'slife, and he hated himself for it, but at present MaxwellO'Keefe was the best hope he had of dealing with thecreatures before they found their way into SnowGlobe 6and turned it into a bloodbath. Perhaps the only hope.

    The baying cries of the creatures made him look up in

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

alarm. The noise was closer. The creatures had gotthrough the barricade.

   'Twelve, I think we're going to have company in aminute. How are you doing over there?'

   With a grinding roar, the construction robot hauled theanti-grav sled free of the pile of wreckage, lifting it asthough it was a toy and placing it down on the floor of thetunnel.

   The Doctor leapt to his feet, hopping up onto the sledand brushing ice and debris from the controls. Severallights and readouts were smashed, and the steeringcolumn was buckled and twisted.

   Crouching down, the Doctor opened up a smallinspection plate, slipping on his glasses and peering intothe workings of the machine.

   'Not bad, Twelve, not bad at all. Most of the primarysystems are still operational. Gyros are a bit wonky,though, so we won't have the smoothest of rides.'

   There was another angry snarl from the fissure, muchcloser than before.

   Twelve turned towards the tunnel mouth. '+FOURLIFE SIGNS APPROACHING RAPIDLY. FIFTY-FIVEMETRES AND CLOSING.+'

   'Well don't just stand there,' snapped the Doctor. 'GetO'Keefe onto the sled.'

   '+DAMAGE TO THE ANTI-GRAVITY DEVICE ISSEVERE. IT IS UNLIKELY THAT YOU WILL BEABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ACTIVATE IT. LIFEFORMS FORTY METRES AND CLOSING.+'

   'Well, it's nice to see that I've got your complete

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

confidence. Let me worry about the sled, just get O'Keefeand get on board.'

   The robot lifted O'Keefe and placed him gently on therear of the anti-grav sled, then clambered up alongsidehim, folding down onto one of the sled's long metalequipment racks.

   The Doctor pulled frantically at wires and connectionsin the guts of the control panel. The drive systems wereintact. If he could just get a charge to the starter circuit. . .

   'Twelve, open your inspection hatch.'

   There was a click and a small panel on the robot's chestsprang open.

   '+THIRTY METRES.+'

   The Doctor reached deep into the guts of the sled'scontrols and hauled out a long, finger-thick cable with amulti-pinned plug on the end.

   The robot tilted a dispassionate head towards him.'+THE CONNECTORS FOR BAZ INDUSTRIESANTIGRAV SLEDS ARE NOT COMPATABLE WITHANY OF MY SOCKETS OR HUBS. TWENTYMETRES.+'

   'Always the way with peripherals, isn't it? Never gotthe right adaptor. Ah well. I'll just have to hotwire it.'

   The Doctor jammed the cable into Twelve's exposedcircuitry and jabbed at his sonic screwdriver.

   With a roar of power, the sled jumped into the air,almost sending the Doctor tumbling. Lights were blinkingerratically across the damaged panel, and the powersystems were wavering and whining alarmingly, but thesled was working.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    'Oh ye of little faith!'

    '+TEN METRES.+'

    The Doctor grabbed hold of the twisted steeringcolumn and pushed it hard. The sled shot forwards, in aflurry of snow and ice. The Doctor gave a whoop oftriumph.

    From behind them, he could hear angry hissing. Heglanced over his shoulder to see the creatures tumble outinto the corridor and start scuttling along the tunnel afterthem.

    They weren't going to give up their prey so easily.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    'R    ight. We'd better get after Cowley.' Martha dropped

          the heavy bio-hazard suit into a disposal bin and

    shrugged on her jacket.

        All the patients were back in what remained of their

    beds in the ward and heavily tranquillised.

        Dr Jaffa and Harrison lay on the gurneys at the far end

    of the ward, eyes flickering wildly under their eyelids like

    all the others.

        Ku'ra looked over at Martha. 'I'll come with you.'

        'You sure? It could be dangerous.'

        'As if the last couple of hours with you haven't been

    dangerous?'

        'OK, fair point.' Martha grinned at him. 'Thanks. I

    could use the help.'

        As they crossed to the door, one of the security guards

    stepped in front of them, blocking their way.

        'Where do you think you two are going?'

        'We told you. We've got to get after Director Cowley.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   'I'm sorry, Miss. I can't let you leave until I haveinstructions from Captain Hassan.'

   'Weren't you listening just now?' snapped Ku'ra. 'TheDirector has got a case full of highly contagious biologicalmaterial. If she gets out of the dome...'

   'And I have told you that this dome is completelylocked down. If Director Cowley poses some kind ofthreat, then she won't get far.'

   'So start looking for her!' Martha was getting impatient.

   'We will, Dr Jones, just as soon as I get instructions--'

   'From Captain Hassan.' Martha shook her head. 'Wedon't have time for this.'

   She tried to push past the guard. He grabbed hold ofher arm, spinning her around. Martha shoved him hard,and he went stumbling backwards. She reached for thedoor controls then froze as she heard the harsh click of amachine gun being cocked.

   Martha turned round slowly. The other guard, alertedby the sounds of struggle, was standing in the doorway ofthe ward, her gun pointed at Martha's head. She shook herhead slowly. 'That was an extremely stupid thing to do, DrJones. Now please step away from--'

   The guard broke off as her face suddenly went slack,and she sank slowly to the floor, gun dropping from herfingers. Marisha stood behind her, a tranquillising hypo inher hand. The other guard was struggling to his feet,reaching for his gun. Marisha crossed the room in threequick strides and pressed the hypo against his neck. Witha groan, he collapsed in an untidy heap.

   Martha gave a huge sigh of relief. 'Remind me never to

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

get on the wrong side of you, girl!'

   Marisha gave her a guilty smile. 'I don't like peoplewaving guns around in my ward. Besides,' she nodded atthe two unconscious guards. 'If Hassan has locked theplace down, you're going to need these uniforms to getout.'

   'I'm impressed.' Martha helped Marisha haul the maleguard onto the sofa and started pulling off his jacket. 'Let'sjust hope they were right about Cowley not being able toget out, 'cos if she has then Dubai is an awfully large placeto search.'

Beth Cowley clambered out of the ventilation shaft into asmall, empty room and stood blinking in the afternoonsunlight that filtered in through the windows set high inthe wall. She stood for a moment, her eyes adjusting afterso long in the gloom of the tunnels.

   She crossed the room, unlocking the double doors andstepping out into the fresh air. The shaft had emerged in alow cluster of maintenance buildings, set discreetly backfrom the beach, their low concrete shapes softened bysmall shrubs and tall date palms.

   Cowley breathed in the fresh air, clearing her lungs ofthe dust and grime from the shaft. Slowly, she made herway down to the beachfront. People gave her curiouslooks as she meandered to the water's edge. She must havelooked an odd sight, her suit streaked with grease and dirt,incongruous amongst the bathing costumes of the holiday-makers.

   Cowley glared at the onlookers and they turned away,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

returning to their games and books, already dismissing herfrom their thoughts. She despised them. They didn't careabout the past, didn't care about the work that she hadtried to do, didn't care that the very fact of their constantneed to jet off somewhere that was hot and comfortableand that catered for their every whim had brought theplanet that they lived on to the very brink of destruction.

    She closed her eyes, concentrating on the voice in herhead, the voice that made her feel so calm and serene, thevoice that had shown her how much better the futurecould be. She could sense the creatures far below, sensetheir rage and hunger. Something had angered them.

    A smile flickered across her face.

    The Doctor.

    He had been so arrogant, assuming that he kneweverything. It pleased her to think of him reduced to nomore than a host for the creatures that she now served.

    A breeze from the sea ruffled her hair, and she openedher eyes. A passenger shuttle swooped low over the sea,its engine droning, the noise carried landwards by thewind. Cowley craned her neck back as it circled overheadbefore settling onto the shuttle pad that jutted out from thetop of the Burj Al-Arab hotel.

    Calm and single-minded once more, Cowley nodded toherself. Yes. That was perfect. The sea breeze wouldensure that the dust would be carried over the entire city.It was time for her to finish her task. She would releasethe dust from the case, and the planet would be cleansed.

    No one on the beach gave her so much as a secondglance as she picked up the metal case and started along

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the shoreline.

The anti-grav sled raced down the service corridor. Ifthere hadn't been half a dozen ravening monsters on theirtail, the Doctor would have been enjoying himself. Everynow and then, he checked the numbers on the wallsagainst the blueprints on the pad that Roberts had givenhim, the little device perched precariously on the controlcolumn of the sled as if it were a sat-nav.

    It had always been the Doctor's intention to use theservice corridor to get back out of the dome. If he wasright, the tunnel ran right alongside Roberts' maintenanceworkshop. It was one of the main reasons that he hadbrought Twelve along. Heavy-duty construction robotswere handy things to have when you wanted a walldemolished.

    The problem was he hadn't been intending to have aninjured man in tow, and he certainly hadn't intended to beleading the creatures right to the very people he washoping to save. Having now seen how the creaturesreacted to flame, he was desperately hoping thatTechnician Roberts would have the equipment that heneeded to construct a suitable deterrent.

    Another sign flashed past, and the Doctor tried tomatch it to one of the identification markers on the screenin front of him. Good. They had nearly made it.

    He almost didn't see the creature until it was too late.He just looked up and suddenly it was there, hanging fromthe pipes in the roof ahead of them like some malevolentbat.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   The Doctor ducked as claws slashed down at him,wrenching the control column to one side. With a shriekof metal, the sled cannoned off a tangle of pipes on thetunnel wall, its engines screaming. He tried frantically tocorrect the course of the careering craft, but his makeshiftrepairs had been pushed to the limit.

   With a horrible grinding of gears and a spurt of hotsparks from the exposed wiring, the sled slammed into awall, sending the Doctor flying. He bounced painfullyacross the concrete floor, crashing into a pile of oil drums.

   He struggled to his feet, desperately looking for thecreature. In his urgency to get away from the swarm in thecavern, he had completely forgotten that one of them hadmade its way past him into the service corridor earlier.And he had driven right into it.

   He looked back at the sled. O'Keefe was lollingawkwardly off the back. Twelve had been thrown offfurther down the corridor and was lying in an ungainlyheap.

   'Twelve, are you all right?' the Doctor asked.

   The robot hauled itself upright.

   '+MY MAJOR FUNCTIONS ARE UNIMPAIRED.+'

   'Well get over here then, I'm going to need you.'

   A low, sibilant hiss made him look up. The creaturewas untangling itself from amongst the pipes in theceiling. Slowly, it lowered itself to the floor. The Doctorlooked frantically around for something that he could useto defend himself.

   The creature started to circle him, fingers flexing inanticipation. The Doctor pressed himself up against the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

tunnel wall, and gave a cry of pain as his hands touchedsomething scalding hot.

    The Doctor looked down. The impact had torninsulation from the thick metal pipes that ran down thetunnel. Further down the corridor he could see vapourjetting into the corridor from where the sled had crashedinto the wall.

    It was steam. Scalding hot steam.

    'Twelve!' shouted the Doctor. 'The steam pipe tear itoff the wall. Quickly!'

    The robot marched over to the damaged pipe and tore iteffortlessly from the wall. Steam erupted into the corridor.

    The effect on the creature was immediate and dramatic.Screaming in terror, it skittered away from the blast ofvapour, curling its arms around its body, like a spidercaught in a bathtub. Twelve wrenched the pipe free of itsfixings and swung the hissing, spitting nozzle at thecreature. There was a shriek of agony as the billowingwhite clouds enveloped it, then silence.

    The Doctor darted over to a valve on the wall andtwisted it to the off position. The roaring steam shut offabruptly, the pipes groaning and clicking noisily as theycooled.

    Cautiously, the Doctor moved over to the motionlessremains of the creature. It had curled into a twisted blacklump, literally cooked in the steam. The Doctor rubbed hischin thoughtfully. It was obvious now that the creatureshad little if any tolerance to heat. That was the bestdefence against them.

    From a long way back down the corridor came a

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

mournful, drawn-out wail of anger and rage. The Doctorcould feel a tickle of telepathic energy. The creatures hadsensed the death of one of their kind.

   The Doctor patted Twelve on the arm. 'Come on. We'renearly there. Will you get Mr O'Keefe?'

   Twelve nodded, scooped O'Keefe's body into its armsand set off down the corridor. With a last sad look at thesteaming remains of the creature, the Doctor hurried afterhim.

Martha and Ku'ra hurried down the steps from the mainadministration building, caps pulled down tight on theirheads, machine guns slung over their shoulders. Allaround them, tourists and holiday-makers were millingaround in confusion. A few tried to stop them, anxious tofind out what was going on, but Ku'ra glared at them andthe tourists backed off hurriedly

   The two of them made their way down towards themain airlock, Ku'ra's stern expression (and the two guns)keeping the curious at bay. The entire dome had a vague,uneasy feel. The tourists seemed to be aware thatsomething was wrong, but Martha knew that none of themunderstood the true nature of the danger facing them. Asthey reached the main doors, she saw the reason for thetourists' unease: armed guards formed a solid line acrossthe exits, dozens of military vehicles visible through theglass of the dome.

   'Cowley's never going to have made it out past that lot.'Ku'ra nodded towards the troops.

   'I'm not so sure.' Martha chewed at her lip. 'She's the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Director of the SnowGlobe, remember? And you saw howshe was with Jaffa. Would you try to stop her?'

    'OK. Point taken. So how do we get out?'

    'Dressed like this, I'm hoping we just march out.'

    'Just like that?'

    'Trick of the Doctor's. Act as though you own the place.Come on, Private Debrekseny.'

    'Yes, ma'am.' Ku'ra gave her a sharp salute and the twoof them started towards the doors.

    As they drew closer, Martha caught sight of a familiarfigure on one of the gantries. 'Keep your head down,' shewhispered. 'Hassan's on the walkway to our left.'

    Ku'ra pulled his cap down low over his eyes, keeping asteady gaze on the doorway ahead of them. They joined aline of soldiers making their way out through a servicehatchway, armed guards checking their nametags as theyfiled through.

    'This could get tricky if they ask any awkwardquestions,' muttered Ku'ra.

    Martha crossed her fingers, wishing, not for the firsttime, that the Doctor had left her his psychic paper. Thesergeant on the gate waved them forward, and Martha andKu'ra marched over to the security point.

    He waved what looked like a barcode reader over thenametags on the breast pockets of their jackets,scrutinising a small screen set into his desk.

    He grunted. 'You're from Hassan's team, aren't you?You know you've not got exit clearance at this time. Shiftchange isn't for another two hours.'

    Martha froze, her brain racing.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Ku'ra snapped to attention. 'Captain Hassan requestedthat we report to him directly outside the dome followingour security sweep, sir.'

   'Really, Private?' The sergeant stood up, staring straightinto Ku'ra's face.

   Martha's heart leapt into her mouth. With Hassanstanding barely four metres away, all the sergeant had todo was check and their deception would be blown wideopen.

   'Sergeant.' Hassan's voice rang out across the tarmac.'Are those the two of my security personnel that I asked todo a sweep of the medical wing?'

   'Yes, sir!' the sergeant bellowed.

   'Good. Send them through to my command post. I'lldebrief them there.'

   'Very good, sir.' The sergeant saluted, then scowled atKu'ra and Martha. 'All right, you two. Through you go.And quick about it.'

   Ku'ra marched though the doorway. Martha hurriedafter him, unable to believe her luck.

   As they stepped through into the blazing afternoon sun,she stared at him in astonishment. 'How on earth. . .?'

   'Promise you'll not get mad at me?'

   'Of course not!'

   Ku'ra tapped the side of his head. 'Did what I'm notsupposed to. Reached into Hassan's mind. Realised whathe was going to say and got there first.'

   Martha wanted to hug him. Instead she caught hold ofhis arm and dragged him around the side of the dome,heading away from the troops and security personnel

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

milling around in the car park and towards the beach. Assoon as they were out of view of the entrance, the two ofthem shrugged out of their borrowed uniforms, bundledthe rifles inside them and buried them under a cluster ofEucalyptus bushes.

   'OK, mister,' Martha said, sitting Ku'ra down. 'You'veconvinced me that your gift is very useful, and I don't seeany other way of tracking down Cowley, do you?'

   Ku'ra frowned. 'Plucking a thought from someonewho's practically standing next to me is a far cry fromfinding one individual in an entire city.'

   'An individual whose mind is probably different fromeveryone else's. That's gotta help, right?'

   'OK.' Ku'ra shrugged. 'I'll give it a try.'

   'You'd better do more than try, Ku'ra.' Martha stared atthe thousands of people scattered across the beach. 'If thisdoesn't work, we're never going to find her.'

Rabley lowered himself slowly into the debris of thecorridor, unable to believe that he was still alive.

   When the creature had first appeared in the mouth ofthe ventilation shaft, Rabley had had a moment ofcomplete and utter terror. Frozen with fear, he had onlybeen able to watch as the thing had inched its way slowlyforwards, its long fingers feeling and searching, itsecholocation pinging around the confined space.

   Rabley had backed himself tight against one of thehuge whirring fans, whimpering, fumbling vainly for thegun hidden in the waistband of his trousers and realisingwith despair that he no longer had it.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Then the creature's probing fingers had caught hold ofthe bag containing the money and something had snappedin him. It was his money, and he was damned if he wasgoing to let some oversized spider from another planettake it away from him. He had clawed back the bag,shouting and kicking and screaming at the creature. Takenby surprise, the creature had relinquished its grip on theholdall, recoiling backwards into the confined mouth ofthe ventilation shaft.

   That moment of hesitation had been all that Rabley hadneeded. He had snatched up anything that wasn't bolteddown, hurling lengths of pipe, spanners, wrenches downthe shaft, screaming and shouting at the top of his voice.Rabley had had no idea if any of his impromptu missileshad actually hit the creature, but the noise, surprise andconfusion had been enough to drive it away.

   He had sat in the cramped space of the fan room for awhile, clutching the bag, listening for signs of thecreature. Then he'd started to laugh, nervously at first, butsoon with great, whooping guffaws. He was alive!

   Gradually his laughter had subsided, and he had peeredcautiously down the shaft. He had heard the clicking fromits echo-location somewhere below him and dartingshadows moved at the bottom of the shaft. After a time,his elation at having beaten off the monster had turned topanic once more. There was no way out of the fan roomand the only way to climb down the shaft was to gobackwards. If the creature decided to attack, he wouldhave no chance whatsoever. On top of that, he had no foodor water. If it wanted to, the creature could just wait until

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

he was too weak to fight and then come and get him at itsleisure.

    He had been sitting there pondering his options whenthere had been a splintering crash from below. The wallsof the fan room had shaken with the force of the impactand, with a spluttering of sparks and a whine of protestingmotors, the fans had shut down and the lights had goneout.

    Rabley had sat in the dark, wondering if the creatureshad the intelligence to shut off the power themselves.Slowly though he had realised that something else wasgoing on in the tunnel below. He heard hissing andgrinding metal, raised voices and the high shrill cries ofthe creature.

    Realising the creature had found something else todistract it and this might be his only chance at escape, hehad hurried down the shaft, dragging the holdall after him.He had climbed as quickly as he dared, feet slipping onthe greasy rungs of the ladder as he scrambled back downtowards the service corridor.

    As he had reached the bottom of the shaft, a huge cloudof steam had billowed upwards, half-blinding him. For amoment he had thought that he was going to lose his gripand plummet into the corridor below, but the scaldingsteam had abruptly dissipated, and there had been silence,

    Rabley had hung there, just inside the hatchway,listening. A huge shape had passed underneath him. Aservice robot of some kind? There was a man's voice. Hehad strained to hear, desperate to know what was going onbelow, but the words that he heard had almost made his

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

heart stop.

   'Come on. We're nearly there. Will you get MrO'Keefe?'

   Moments later, the robot had clumped underneath thehatchway again, a limp form in its arms. Rabley hadneeded no second look to know who the robot wascarrying: the size and shape of the man had beenunmistakable.

   As the footsteps had faded into silence, Rabley hadsqueezed himself out of the hatchway and lowered himselfslowly to the floor.

   Now he was standing amongst the wreckage in thecorridor. The holdall over his shoulder and the money itcontained suddenly felt very heavy indeed.

   He shook his head very slowly. How could O'Keefepossibly still be alive? He had seen the creatures hunt himdown. It was impossible that his employer had been ableto outrun them.

   He suddenly felt sick. O'Keefe was alive, and thatmeant that his entire plan was worth nothing. No chanceof vanishing with the money, no chance of convincingpeople that he had perished in the dome, no chance thatBunta and his trained thugs wouldn't guess exactly whathe had been planning.

   Rabley slumped down on his haunches. That house inIreland had been so close. His only chance now was to tryand get back inside SnowGlobe 6, put the money back inthe safe and try and convince O'Keefe that he had beenplanning to go for help all along.

   He chewed his fingernails nervously. It shouldn't be too

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

difficult to make up some story that sounded convincing.With luck, he would be able to pick up where he left off.No one would ever be any the wiser.

   A long, drawn-out howl from further along the corridormade his blood freeze. The creatures were out of the domeand they were heading his way!

   Grabbing the holdall, Curtis Rabley turned and fled.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    T  echnician Roberts was just settling down with a nice

       cup of tea brewed on one of the workshop's Bunsen

    burners, when his mobile gave a shrill warbling trill. He

    snatched it up in irritation, peering at the number on the

    screen. It was the communicator he had given the Doctor.

    He answered the call, wincing as a cacophony of noise

    blared through the headset. 'Doctor? What the devil is all

    that noise?'

       'Mr Roberts!' The Doctor sounded breathless. 'No time

    to chat right now, I'm afraid. Are you on your own at the

    moment?'

       'Yes. Why?'

       'And are you anywhere near the far wall, the one that

    runs at right angles to the robot storage bay?'

       'No, I'm in my office. Why on earth--'

       'Good-oh. See you in a second.'

       The phone went dead. Moments later there was a

    tremendous crash, and the wall on the far side of the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

workshop exploded inwards in a cloud of dust andmasonry. Roberts stared in astonishment as Service RobotTwelve stepped through the ragged hole, a limp body in itsarms. The Doctor scrambled after it, coughing andspluttering.

   Roberts pushed open his office door and stepped outinto the wreckage of his workshop, his face like thunder.

   'I don't believe it! What the devil are you playing at,man?'

   The Doctor bounded across to him, catching him by theshoulders. 'Mr Roberts, I will explain everything to you, Ipromise, but right now I've got half a dozen very angrypredators on my tail, and we need to work fast to stopthem getting into the dome. So do you have any high-pressure steam or high-energy heating equipment that wecan use to create a barrier?'

   Roberts gaped at him. 'You mean that those things are--'

   'Mr Roberts. The only thing that can stop thesecreatures is heat, but we need to work very, very, veryfast!'

   Roberts took a deep breath. 'All right. We've got plasmaheaters. We used them at low levels for the work teamswhen we were building the place, but if we override thesafety cut-outs--'

   'Do it.'

   Roberts hurried over to where the robots stoodmotionless in their cradles, stabbing at buttons. Six metalheads swung down in unison.

   '+READY TO RECEIVE COMMANDS.+'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   'OK, you lot,' bellowed Roberts. 'Break out the R-7heater units. Get them over to me for calibration and thenget them out into the service corridor. Move it!' Theworkshop was filled with the sound of motors andhydraulics whining into life as the robots stepped downfrom their alcoves and started unpacking huge cylindricalshapes from a rack on the far side of the workshop.Roberts darted between them as the cylinders werelowered to the floor, tapping at a series of controls set intothe cylinders' sides.

   One of the robots swung a metal face towards him.

   '+TECHNICIAN ROBERTS. YOUR CALIBRATIONSARE PUTTING THESE MACHINES OUTSIDE OFTHEIR RECOMMENDED SAFETY PARAMETERS.+'

   'And if I want any advice from you then I'll ask for it.Now just get on with what you've been told.'

   '+YES, TECHNICIAN ROBERTS.+'

   Roberts rolled his eyes at the Doctor. 'Everyone's anexpert suddenly.'

   'These heaters will do the job?' the Doctor asked.

   'These things can melt steel if you don't treat 'emproperly. If your beasties don't like the heat, they shouldget quite a shock.'

   'Good. If we can just create a barricade long enough forme to get some answers.'

   Roberts looked quizzically at the limp body hanging inTwelve's arms.

   'Isn't that Maxwell O'Keefe?'

   'The same.'

   'Is he all right?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   'No.' The Doctor placed a hand on O'Keefe's forehead.'He's a very long way from all right.' He straightened, hisface grim. 'Mr Roberts, I've got to get O'Keefe up to themedical bay. Will you be all right here?'

   'Sure.' Roberts paled slightly. 'As long as you're rightabout those thingies and their aversion to heat.'

   The Doctor clapped him on the shoulder. 'You and yourboys hold the fort here. I'll be back as soon as I can. Comeon, Twelve!' With that, he swept out of the room.

   Roberts watched him go, then turned to face the gapinghole in the workshop wall. 'You'd better be right, Doctor.You'd better be right.'

Cowley craned her neck back and stared up at the slim,elegant tower of the Burj Al-Arab hotel. It would suit herpurposes admirably.

   She stepped through into the huge spacious atrium,goosebumps rising on her skin as the cool, air-conditionedair of the lobby replaced the heat of the afternoon sun. Aservice robot glided over to her, metal arms reaching forthe metal case that she clutched to her chest.

   '+MAY I TAKE THAT FOR YOU, MA'AM?+'

   Cowley hesitated for a moment, unhappy to relinquishher prize, when a sudden thought struck her. She slipped asmall, silver strip from her jacket pocket. Her companycredit stick. Why should she go to all the trouble of tryingto make her way to the top of the hotel surreptitiously?She could pay for the best suite in the place and let therobot carry the case for her. It wasn't as if anyone was evergoing to chase her for the money. Not after she had

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

completed her task at any rate.

   Smiling to herself, she let the robot take the case,following it over to the gleaming reception desk. A slim,young man looked up expectantly.

   'Good afternoon. Can I help?'

   'I'd like a room please. The top floor if possible.'

   The young man checked a screen on his desk. 'Apenthouse suite is currently available. Will it just beyourself?'

   Cowley nodded.

   'And how will you be paying?' The man raised anexpectant eyebrow.

   Cowley handed over the credit stick. A look of surprisecrossed the receptionist's face as he fed the stick into thereader. 'Director Cowley? This is a pleasant surprise. YourSnowGlobes have been quite a boon to our hotel over theyears. A special occasion is it?'

   'Something like that.'

   'Well, I'm sure that we can arrange some kind ofdiscount for you. . .'

   'That would be very kind. Now, if you don't mind, I'mrather tired.'

   'Of course.'

   The receptionist tapped a series of commands into hiskeyboard. The service robot carrying the case turned andglided across the lobby. 'If you would follow the robot itwill show you to your suite, Director.' He handed her backher credit stick and a key card. 'If there's anything youneed, please don't hesitate to call.'

   'Thank you.' Cowley took the proffered card and

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

followed the robot to one of the waiting lifts.

   The doors slid shut, and the lift started its climbtowards the top of the hotel. The receptionist had beenright. This was a special occasion. A night when shewould change the face of the planet for ever.

Marisha was slowly starting the process of getting themedical bay back into some semblance of normality whenthe Doctor burst into the reception area. Her smile ofrelief at seeing him faded as the shape of a huge servicerobot squeezed through the doors behind him.

   'Got a patient for you, nurse.' The Doctor smiledapologetically.

   Marisha hurried forward. The man in the robot's armswas in a bad way, his skin pale to the point oftransparency, his breathing shallow and rapid. Marishagasped as readings started to scroll across the screen ofher medical scanner.

   'This man. He's--'

   'A host. Yes, I know.' The Doctor took the scanner offher, peering at the screen. 'We've not got much time left. Ineed you to help me set up a neurological feedbackintegrator.'

   Marisha looked at him blankly. 'A what?'

   'Look, I'll explain as we work,' said the Doctorimpatiently. 'Where can we put him?'

   'He can't go in with the others. We'll have put him intothe morgue.'

   Marisha hurried over to the big steel door, hauling itopen. Twelve stomped over, ducking to get through the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

doorway. The Doctor frowned as he slowly started to takein the state of the room. 'Have you been having someproblems?'

   Marisha gave a snort of amusement. 'You could saythat. Our patients decided to get a little. . . animated. It gota bit frantic in here for a while.'

   'Ah... The influence of our hairy friend in the otherdome no doubt.' The Doctor looked around, concerned.'Where's Martha?'

   Marisha sighed. 'You're not going to like this.'

   As they made O'Keefe as comfortable as they could onthe metal examination table, Marisha explained to theDoctor what had gone on over the last hour or so: themental signal that had turned the patients into rabidzombies; Cowley escaping with the eggs; Martha'sattempt to escape; drugging the guards.

   The Doctor listened in silence, but Marisha could seefrom the tense line of his jaw that he wasn't happy. Whenshe had finished, he just stared at O'Keefe's body,suddenly looking so much older.

   Marisha touched his arm, 'Hey, she'll be all right.'

   'Yes, she will.' The Doctor's voice was cold.

   He pulled a slim, metal tube from his jacket pocket,snatched Marisha's diagnostic pad from her hands andstarted to dismantle it. Before Marisha could complain, hevanished into the ward, reappearing a few moments laterwith armfuls of equipment.

   'What on earth are you doing?' she asked.

   'Here, hold this.' The Doctor dumped a plastic traypiled high with components into her arms. Squatting down

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

cross-legged on the floor, the Doctor started to wirecomponents together. To Marisha, it looked like a totallash up, but the Doctor worked quickly and methodically,finally sitting back with a cry of triumph.

   'That should do it!'

   'Do what?' Marisha stared at the jumble of equipment.Wires snaked everywhere he seemed to have connectedup almost every piece of equipment in the ward. One thickcable terminated in a series of sensors that the Doctor hadattached to O'Keefe's skull; another led to a collection ofheadsets and earpieces that the Doctor had weldedtogether to form a bizarre helmet.

   'The creatures have a complex mental communicationsystem,' he explained. 'They use it to communicate witheach other, and to draw in their prey. I'd hoped to use myown telepathic ability to communicate directly with them,but the frequencies they use are too strong, too primal.'The Doctor wedged the helmet onto his head, tying a strapunder his chin. 'I'm hoping that the embryonic form of thecreature inside Mr O'Keefe here will still be in contactwith the parent creature. . .'

   'But with a reduced mental ability.'

   'Exactly! So I intend to access the parent creature'smind through the brain of its offspring.'

   Marisha grimaced. 'So this device is going to allow youto link your mind with the thing inside him?'

   'Yes.'

   'Isn't that potentially dangerous?'

   'Oh yes.'

   'But why? What do you hope to find out?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    'The parent creature has been in the ice since the lastIce Age. If I can access its memory, I can find out how itgot there, how it got to Earth in the first place.'

    'How to destroy them?'

    'If it comes to that, yes.'

    Marisha nodded. 'What do you want me to do?'

    'Keep O'Keefe sedated. Monitor my brainwave activityon this.' The Doctor handed Marisha the diagnostic pad.He had connected it to his tangle of machinery withbundles of twisted cables. Two undulating lines scrolledacross the screen. 'Make sure that my brainwave patternsstay separate from those of the creature.'

    'And if they start to merge?'

    'It will mean that I've totally misunderstood how thecreature's mental ability works, and I could be trapped inits mind for ever.'

    Marisha swallowed hard. 'So I should unplug youbefore you reach that point?'

    'If you wouldn't mind.' The Doctor shot her a weaksmile. 'Wish me luck.'

    He plugged himself into the machine.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    M   artha paced nervously along the beachfront, squinting

        as the sun started to drop towards the horizon, the

    palm trees starting to cast long shadows across the white

    sand. Ku'ra was sitting up against one of those palm trees,

    eyes closed, fingers pressed to his temples. He had been

    like this for what seemed an age. The waiting was driving

    Martha crazy.

       Ku'ra had explained to her that his mixed parentage had

    given him a disadvantage from his fellow Flisk at least

    when it came to his telepathic ability. It did, however, give

    him a better understanding of the human mind. That, and

    the fact that Cowley's thoughts were tainted with those of

    the creatures, might make her mind easier to spot amongst

    the thousands that thronged the seafront.

       He had dropped himself into a kind of trance,

    something that the Flisk called 'Ple'nsagh'. It obviously

    held some ritual or religious significance, and Ku'ra had

    been uncomfortable talking to Martha about it. Unable to

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

do anything useful, she had left him to it, praying that thisgamble would work.

   She ambled down to the sea, closing her eyes andbasking in the warmth of the setting sun for a moment.Out here on the beach, surrounded by happy, contentedpeople, it seemed inconceivable that a struggle for thelives of every creature on the planet was taking place.

   She squatted down on her haunches, scooping up ahandful of sand and letting it run through her fingers. Thesmell of the sea was carried in on the wind.

   A sudden thought struck her. She snatched up anotherhandful of the dry, white sand and let it run out in a streamthrough her fist, watching the wind whisk the grains upthe beach. The case that Cowley was carrying must bepure dust by now. If she was going to release it over thepopulace, she would have to rely on the wind to carry it.

   She scrambled to her feet, her mind racing. The windwas blowing in from the sea, so Cowley would probablyhave stayed by the coast. But where?

   A long, slim shadow slicing across the beach caughtMartha's eye. Slowly she followed the streak of shadow tothe tall, elegant tower in the bay. From behind her, shecould hear someone shouting her name.

   Ku'ra skidded to a stop next to her, breathless andexcited.

   'Martha! I know where she is! I've found her.'

   The two of them turned in unison and stared up at theBurj Al-Arab hotel silhouetted against the reddening sky.

   Martha caught hold of Ku'ra's hand. 'Come on!'

                              ***

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Pain.

   White light.

   Then silence and darkness.

   The Doctor is somewhere else.

   Except he is not the Doctor any more. Not just the Doctorat any rate.

   He looks down at the unfamiliar body. Black fur and longsinuous arms.

   The world around is a twilight one of trees and creepers,frosted and barren, snow crystallising on jagged rocks andscrubby plants. The sky overhead is an unfamiliar green,shot through with streaks of purple. The crescents of sixmoons are visible through scudding clouds.

   This is home.

   His feet claw at the frozen mud. Around him, the childrenof seven generations mewl and spit. In his head he can feelthe minds of the matriarchs of the rival territories.

   The young are hungry. Food is scarce. The fighting hasalready begun. Like turn upon like. Blood flows. They willnot survive to another birthing.

   The Doctor feels the hunger in his own belly, the hungerfrom a dozen other minds close by. No. Two dozen. Ahundred. A hundred thousand. A planet of predators.

   But no more prey.

   He centres his mind, separating Time Lord from Gappa.

   Gappa. The creatures call themselves the Gappa.

   Wrenching his mind free from the base primal urges of thecreature, the Doctor studies the sky. This memory is fromtimes long past. He recognises the patterns of the stars.These constellations are from a younger universe.

   The vision changes as memories blur and flow into eachother. A blizzard. The drifting snow covers body upon body,

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

limbs stiff and lifeless. The young are dead. The planet isdead.

    The Doctor cries out with the pain in his belly. Hunger isallconsuming.

    The minds he can feel are all weak. Dying. Soon he willbe the last.

    Memories blur again.

    He is fighting, struggling against the nets and ropes andblazing fingers of energy that dance and flare around him.

    The part of him that is Gappa spits and shrieks in fury.The part that is still Doctor watches as the astronauts puttheir plan into effect. The force fields are designed to capturenot kill. Their aim is to preserve, just as the humans in thedome are seeking to preserve the ice.

    Human?

    No. The humans at this time are barely up on their hindlegs.

    Humanoid certainly. A race of starfarers who have seen aworld in peril and have come to save what they can. TheDoctor smiles, approving. The universe is not all aboutkilling and conquest, war and death.

    He is somewhere else now, a dark place of metal andsharp angles. A spaceship. In flight. The Doctor can feel thevibration through the hull.

    He frowns. Something in that vibration is not right.Something is wrong.

    He flexes against the energy field that holds him. He hasto warn them.

    Too late.

    Fire.

    The Doctor feels the pain as the heat becomes too much.The ship is tumbling, falling. A small blue planet is filling the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

view through the windows.

   Mercifully, the pain is gone. He has snow beneath his feetonce more. The ship is a blazing wreck. He retreats from theflame. There are minds here, primitive like the food of home.Dull, slow, easy to manipulate.

   The Doctor looks down at claws stained red with blood.The ache in his belly has gone. Bodies lie at his feet. Whenhis strength has returned, the bodies will be hosts. A newhive on a new world.

   Pain. Noise. Light.

   Primitive their minds might be, but the inhabitants of thisworld have mastered fire.

   The Doctor catches the scent of unwashed bodies andunwashed furs. He sees the anger and fear in the faces of thefigures that surround him. The Gappa backs away snarling,but the Doctor recognises the humans that will be. Homosapiens.

   They slash at him with burning torches, driving him back,deeper and deeper into the cave. Rock gives way to ice. Thetunnel is getting narrower and narrower.

   He snarls and lashes at his tormentors. Flame burns hisskin.

   Abruptly, the world becomes a cacophony of falling ice.Then darkness. And nothingness.

   The ice cocoons him. He sleeps.

   The Gappa will survive in the ice. The Gappa will bereborn.

   The Gappa.

   The Gappa.

Roberts looked tentatively out through the shattered holein the workshop wall to the service corridor beyond. He

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

had to shield his face from the heat; the R-7 units wereworking better than expected. It was like an oven outthere.

   He craned his neck, trying to see if any of the creatureswere still lurking beyond the heat haze. They had only justmanaged to get the last heater unit in place before thehunting pack had arrived; a boiling mass of fur and teethsweeping down the corridor like an angry tide. Thank Godthe Doctor had been right about their aversion to hightemperatures. The wall of heat sent out by the R-7s hadstopped them dead in their tracks. The noise out there hadbeen incredible.

   That had been ten or twelve minutes ago, and most ofthe creatures including the big one had retreated backdown the corridor, probably returning to their frozen lairin SnowGlobe 7. Now the only noise was the occasionaldistant hiss as one of the younger creatures ventured backalong the corridor again, screaming its frustration at thebarrier that was keeping it from its prey. Roberts could seeits shadowy, spider-like shape through the shimmeringhaze of heat.

   He pulled a grimy rag from his overalls and moppedthe beads of sweat from his brow. Looked like they'd besafe as long as the power held. With the modifications thathe'd made to the safety cut-outs, the heaters were drawinga lot of power. Roberts stuffed the rag back into hispocket. The more that he thought about it, the more hethought that he should check the power relays. At the veryleast he could ensure that he was ready to shut off all non-essential power to the rest of the dome if the need arose.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   He was making his way over to the power room whenthe door to the workshop was pushed open by two ofHassan's security guards. Roberts groaned and hurriedover to them, hoping that he could convince them that hewas in no need of their help. Given that one of them wasalready looking in astonishment at the ragged hole in thewall, that was beginning to seem unlikely.

   The high-pitched, frustrated scream of the creature inthe corridor put paid to any chance of explanation.

   The two guards scurried over to the hole,unshouldering their rifles. One of them peered tentativelythrough, then, with a cry of astonishment, unleashed abarrage of shots.

   Roberts clamped his hands over his ears as automaticgunfire shook the room. As he watched, the second guardunhooked a grenade from his belt.

   'NO! You'll damage the heating units!' Robertsbellowed, but it was too late.

   There was a dull crump. The doors to the power roomblew open in a shower of sparks. Lights flickered andthere was a terrifying scream of triumph from the creaturein the corridor.

   Roberts could hear one of the guards screaming inagony, and then gunfire deafened him once more.

Rabley ducked, cowering behind a workbench as a secondexplosion rattled the workshop. He cursed his luck. Surelyhe wasn't going to have survived all this time only to beblown apart by some over-zealous security guard?

   He had followed the man and the robot that was

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

carrying Mr O'Keefe back along the corridor, conscious ofthe cries of the creature getting ever closer behind him. Hehad seen the man talking into a mobile of some kind, buthad been unable to make out what was being said.Presumably he was arranging medical help of some kind.

   When the big robot had placed O'Keefe on the floorand smashed its way through the tunnel wall, Rabley hadscarcely believed his eyes. As escape plans went, it hadbeen impressive. This mysterious stranger certainly didn'tdo anything the subtle way.

   The robot had scooped up O'Keefe and vanishedthrough the hole. Rabley had followed them, peeringthrough into the room beyond. A workshop of some kind.Probably one of the maintenance levels. Checking that noone was looking his way, Rabley had scurried inside,ducking behind one of the workbenches.

   There he had stayed, listening to the Doctor and therobot leave, watching the robots move heater after heaterinto the corridor, waiting for the moment when thetechnician was sufficiently distracted to make his escape.

   That distraction had finally come, though Rabley nowwished that it had been a distraction of a less explosivekind. He peered over the top of the workbench. Smokewas billowing from the hole in the workshop wall, asecurity guard firing blindly into the chaos. Thetechnician, Roberts, was desperately trying to put out afire that raged inside a fuse box of some kind. It was nowor never.

   Rabley hurried towards the door, stopping only tosnatch up an aerosol can from a workbench, a plan

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

forming in his head. Things were dropping right into hislap.

   With a last glance back into the smoke-filled workshop,Rabley vanished through the door.

Martha and Ku'ra burst into the lobby of the hotel,startling several guests who looked at them in distaste.

    Martha gaped at the vast atrium. 'It's huge! We'll neverfind her.'

    'Hang about.' Ku'ra sprinted over to the reception desk.Martha craned her neck back. The hotel was beautiful, ahuge tower of gleaming marble and glass that seemed togo up for ever. Glass lifts glided up the walls, robots piledhigh with bags and suitcases slid silently across thepolished floor.

    'Martha! Come on!' Ku'ra was holding a set of liftdoors open, much to the annoyance of an elderly couplewho were waiting to go up to their room.

    Martha hurried over to him. 'You've found her?'

    Ku'ra grinned and help up a piece of paper with a roomnumber written on it. 'Penthouse suite. Top floor.'

    'She booked in?' Martha was incredulous.

    Ku'ra shrugged. 'Can you think of a better way to getinto a hotel unchallenged?'

    Ignoring the tutting of the couple behind them, Marthagave Ku'ra a quick hug as the lift whisked them towardsthe top of the hotel.

    The elderly couple got off on the twelfth floor, shootingMartha a dirty look as they left. She stuck her tongue outat them as the door closed.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   Ku'ra gave her a nervous smile. 'Have you got any ideawhat we actually do we when finally catch up withCowley?' he asked.

   Martha grimaced. 'I was wondering when you weregoing to ask me that.'

   'I'll take that as a "no", then.'

   Martha tried to think what the Doctor would do. 'Let'sbusk it, shall we?'

   The lift came to a halt at the top floor, and the doorsslid open. Ku'ra and Martha stepped out into a plush,elegant corridor. There was a single set of double doors atthe far end. Paying for the penthouse room obviously gotyou your privacy.

   The two of them hurried down the corridor. One of thedoors was open. Martha could feel a breeze blowingthrough the gap. Cautiously, they eased the door open,peering into the room beyond. The penthouse was hugeand opulent. Of Director Cowley there was no sign.

   Martha slipped through the gap, Ku'ra right behind her.Slowly they crept forward.

   'Where is she?' hissed Martha.

   Ku'ra indicated the picture window on the far side ofthe room. The window was open, thick curtains billowingin the wind. They hurried over. A wide balcony dottedwith chairs and loungers swept across the entire frontageof the Penthouse suite. There was still no sign of Cowley.

   'This is crazy.' Martha was beginning to worry. 'Shecan't just have vanished.'

   Ku'ra stepped out onto the balcony and quicklybeckoned for Martha to join him. At the seaward end of

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the balcony, a winding staircase led up to the rooftoplanding pad. Obviously the very uppermost rooms cateredfor those guests with private helicopters or shuttles. With abrief glance at the dizzying view below, Martha followedKu'ra up the staircase.

   They stepped out onto a vast, flat expanse of metal.This high up, and out of the shelter of the hotel, the windplucked at their clothes and hair, and Martha struggled tokeep her footing. Ku'ra gripped her arm. Martha wasabout to thank him for his assistance when she realisedthat his grip wasn't meant to steady her, but to alert her tothe figure that was standing on the shuttle pad with them.

   Ten metres away, staring out over the city of Dubai andthe deserts beyond, stood Beth Cowley, the case with itsdeadly contents at her feet. She had her back to them,seemingly oblivious to their presence. Ku'ra startedmoving towards her along one edge of the pad, indicatingthat Martha should head along the other side. The two ofthem crept forward. Martha wincing at every squeak thather shoes made on the metal, desperately hoping that thesound of the wind would mask the noise of their approach.She couldn't take her eyes from the case, so close to theedge of the pad.

   They were within two metres of her when Cowleyturned around.

   For a moment the Director looked shocked, then asmile spread slowly across her face.

   'Yes. Yes it's right that there should be witnesses.'Cowley's voice was slurred and dreamy. 'Someone willneed to record this moment in history, the moment where

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the preservation of a new species took precedence overeverything else.'

   Ku'ra started to edge towards her, hands outstretched.'We'll record whatever you like, Director, just give me thecase.'

   'The case?' Cowley frowned. 'No, the case is mylegacy, my gift.' She scooped it up in her arms. 'Don't youunderstand? This is how the world will remember me.'

   Martha sucked in a breath as Cowley took a stepbackwards towards the edge of the shuttle pad. She wavedat Ku'ra to back off.

   'Director Cowley.' Martha kept her voice low and calm.'Beth. We know that you have been under a lot of strain.We also know that the creatures in the dome are able toaffect people, to influence them, make them do things thatthey don't want to do.'

   A frown creased Cowley's brow. Martha took a stepcloser. Was she getting through? 'Do you remember theDoctor, my friend? The Doctor is trying to communicatewith the creatures. To find out what they want.'

   'But I know what they want!' Cowley spat the words. 'Iknow! I don't need any "Doctor" to tell me.' Cowleytipped her head to one side, half-closing her eyes. 'Theyshow me so many things.' Martha could see Ku'ra tensinghimself to grab her.

   'And what do they want?'

   'The same thing as any other creature of course. Tolive. To survive. To breed and grow. She has been so alonein the ice. So alone. The last of her kind. This. . .' Cowleystroked the metal of the case. 'This is their lifeline. Their

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

chance to start again. I can help them start again.'

   She pushed with her thumb, and one of the catches onthe case snapped open with a metallic click. Martha triedto keep the panic from her voice, watching from thecorner of her eye as Ku'ra crept closer and closer.

   'Beth! Director! You can't really want to do this. Thinkof the thousands, the millions of people who will die ifyou open that case. Human beings. Think of what you'reabout to do, please!'

   'You think that I don't know what I'm doing?' Cowleypointed at the packed beach far below them. 'The humansthat you are so concerned about, the thousands out there,simply don't care about this planet any more. They don'tdeserve to survive! They pretend to care, but when itcomes down to it they cannot even be bothered to helpsave themselves. The creature in the dome has survivedmillennia, crossed countless light years of void. Itsurvived in MY dome because of MY work. It deservesthis planet more than we do.' She reached for the secondclasp.

   'Beth listen to me!' screamed Martha. The creature isinfluencing your mind.'

   'You think that I haven't thought through theconsequences of my actions?' Cowley looked at herpityingly, and at that moment Martha knew that they weretoo late to stop her. 'I know exactly what I am doing.'

   Time slowed to a crawl. Ku'ra launched himselfforward, just as Cowley snapped open the clasp. For asecond, Martha thought that he would reach her in time,but she turned at the last moment, twisting away from him

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

as he reached out for her. Ku'ra landed hard on his belly,only just stopping himself from plummeting over the edgeof the shuttle pad. Cowley was not so lucky. One of herheels caught on the metal gratings. She started to topple.With the heavy case in her arms she had no chance ofregaining her balance. A gust of wind caught the lid of thecase, flipping it open. Martha watched in horror asCowley vanished over the edge, swathed in a cloud ofbillowing dust.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    'D   octor?' Marisha knelt down next to where the Doctor

         lay flat out on the office couch. He was pale, his lips

    blue, his fingers curled like claws.

       'The Gappa. The Gappa. . .' His voice was harsh and

    low.

       Marisha reached out and touched his shoulder

    tentatively. She leapt back with a cry as he sat bolt

    upright, eyes wide.

       'Gappa! Gappa! Gappa! That was weird! And icky!

    And informative!'

       He bounced to his feet, twirling Marisha around. He

    seemed to be practically fizzing with energy. 'Very old,

    very primitive, and all the way from Hydropellica

    Hydroxi, right on the far side of the Milky Way.

    Hermaphrodites, brutally powerful telepathic ability,

    strong aversion to heat and dreadfully itchy fur!'

       He snatched the diagnostic pad from her. 'Did the lines

    merge?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   'They got close.'

   'Not surprised! Amazingly strong race memory. Couldhave been in there for hours!'

   'Doctor. . .' Marisha tailed off. The Doctor turned tolook at her. 'You were in there for hours.'

   The Doctor's jaw dropped. 'WHAT?'

A young, grim-faced security guard led the Doctor andMarisha out of the medical bay and down the corridor tothe office that had been Director Cowley's. The ward thathad once been filled with patients now housed only three.As they had passed through, the Doctor had watched withmounting concern as military personnel in bio-suitsloaded one of those remaining three patients into a low,metal cryogenic capsule.

   The guard pushed open the door of Cowley's office andushered them through.

   Inside, Hassan sat behind the desk, his face anunreadable mask. He indicated for the Doctor and Marishato sit down.

   'So, Doctor,' he said. 'You're quite the escape artist itseems.'

   The Doctor grinned. 'I try my best, Captain. I try mybest. Where is Mr O'Keefe?'

   'She's not told you?' Hassan raised an eyebrow atMarisha.

   'If she had told me, I wouldn't be asking.' The Doctor'sgrin faded.

   'Tell him,' said Hassan.

   'Whilst you were... in there, he had a seizure.' Marisha's

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

voice was trembling. 'I tried to resuscitate him but thething started to move inside him... I... I couldn't save him.'

   The Doctor laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.'There was nothing that you, or any of us, could do forhim. The creature, the Gappa, is too well established in hissystem.'

   'And you knew that before you brought him back here?'asked Hassan.

   The Doctor nodded. 'I suspected.'

   'So you never had any intention of saving his life?'

   'I needed information. Mr O'Keefe was a way of gettingthat information.' The Doctor stood up and crossed to thewindow that overlooked the ski slopes of SnowGlobe 6. 'Ihad hoped that once I got back here I could find a way ofextracting the creature, reversing the damage that it haddone but. . .'

   He took a deep breath. 'The embryo Gappa is soentwined with his central nervous system that operatingwould have been impossible. Unfortunately, as a host he'snow more dangerous than ever. The Gappa's life cycle isincredibly fast. We have to contain the creature before ithatches. So I ask again: what have you done with MrO'Keefe?'

   'He's in the morgue. Locked in one of the freezers.'

   'Good.' The Doctor nodded. 'That should hold him for awhile.'

   'You called these things the Gappa?' said Hassanthoughtfully. 'Where do they come from?'

   'From a long, long way away, Captain Hassan.' TheDoctor turned, holding the Captain's gaze. 'Further than

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

you can imagine. From a planet on the far side of thegalaxy, brought here accidentally hundreds of thousandsof years ago by a team of intelligent beings intent onpreserving a dying race. A ship crashed. Nothing sinister,just an accident, a tragic accident. And so here it was, thelast of its kind, stranded and alone on an alien planetbillions of light years from home, simply trying tosurvive.'

   Hassan pursed his thin lips. 'And you know thisbecause...?'

   'Because they told me, Captain. Because I joined mymind with theirs.'

   The Doctor took a deep breath. 'And then itencountered your ancestors, and that must have been quitea meeting. Not exactly the first contact that you mighthave hoped.'

   'My ancestors?'

   'Early man! Homo sapiens. Flushed with success athaving kicked out the Neanderthals and spoiling for afight. Mind you, if that Gappa had turned up before they'ddiscovered fire then it might have been a different story.'

   'Yes, fire is the most effective weapon against them.'

   The Doctor's eye's narrowed. 'Something's happened,hasn't it? Tell me.'

   'Oh, a lot has happened whilst you have been asleep,Doctor.' Hassan leaned back in his chair. 'And whilst yourstory has been fascinating speculation, allow me to furnishyou with a few hard facts.'

   The Doctor listened grimly as Hassan spelled out thedetails of the Gappa's attack on the robot maintenance

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

workshop, of the men who had lost their lives. Eventually,teams armed with flamethrower units had driven thecreatures back, and the service tunnel had been sealedwith explosives.

   'So all the Gappa are currently sealed in SnowGlobe 7?'The Doctor gave a nod of satisfaction. 'That's good news.'

   'It would be good news, if not for the fact that theparent creature is broadcasting its telepathic signal again.'

   'You seem to be well on top of that problem, Captain.Our infected patients are going to have a hard timeescaping from military-issue cryo-stasis capsules.'

   'Our thoughts exactly. However, those precautions areto ensure that everyone currently sheltering in SnowGlobe6 remains secure. It is the wider implication of thecreature's mental signal that is of more concern.'

   The Doctor looked puzzled. 'I don't understand. Youhave more infected?'

   Hassan gave a sharp, barking laugh. 'You could saythat.'

   He picked up a remote control from the desk, stabbingat the controls. A large, flat television on the wall flickedinto life. A newsreader was chattering animatedly overhelicopter footage of SnowGlobe 7. The Doctor stared inhorror at the picture on the screen. Hundreds, maybethousands of people swarmed around the perimeter of thedome, howling and baying like animals.

   The Doctor closed his eyes. 'Martha.'

   He turned to Hassan. 'How many?'

   The security Captain shrugged. 'Current estimates areabout two and a half thousand. The figure is rising

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

exponentially.'

    'And it will continue to rise until every creature on theplanet is infected. Hassan, you have to get me back intoSnowGlobe 7. You have to get me back to my TARDIS.'

    'No, Doctor. I listened to you once before, now we willdeal with this ourselves.' Hassan lifted the phone on thedesk. 'This is Captain Hassan. The Doctor has confirmedthat fire seems to be the most effective solution. Proceedas planned.'

    The Doctor leaned on Hassan's desk, staring down atthe security captain.

    'What are you doing, Captain?'

    'The only thing we can, Doctor. Stopping this in itstracks before it spreads any further.'

    'You're going to destroy the dome, aren't you?'

    Hassan nodded. 'The King has authorised an air strike.A strafing run to shatter the glass dome then fuel-airbombs to destroy the creatures.'

    'You can't.' Marisha was on her feet, shaking her headin disbelief. 'All those people...'

    'I'm sorry. I have no choice.'

    'Yes you do!' The Doctor was frantic. 'Listen to me,Captain. You don't understand what you are dealing with.The Gappa have an amazingly complicated physiologicaland mental profile. You can't just kill the parent creature,you will be condemning anyone infected with the dust to alife trapped inside their own minds. By the time you dropyour bombs, that could be half the city! I have equipmentin the TARDIS, I can break the mental hold.'

    'You had your chance, Doctor, look what happened.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   'Captain, please! Get me to my TARDIS.'

   'No!' Hassan slammed his hands on to the desk. 'We areending this now, Doctor, whether you like it or not.' Hestood up, pulling his cap down hard and crossing to thedoor. A security guard snapped to attention.

   'You are to keep the Doctor and Nurse El-Sayed in thisroom,' barked Hassan. 'If they attempt to leave, shootthem.'

Curtis Rabley was feeling very pleased with himself.Having escaped from the workshop, he had managed tomake his way back into SnowGlobe 6 with relative ease.The security guards were more concerned with themonsters and the fire than they were with a holidaymakerin a restricted area.

   He had emerged at the base of one of the ski lifts andducked out through an access hatch, hurrying to losehimself in the agitated crowds.

   His initial thought had been to get the money back intothe safe, but resetting the timer would be a long and trickyoperation, and so he had decided to find O'Keefe instead.The medical bay was the obvious place that they wouldhave taken him and Rabley had worked out the perfectway of getting in there himself.

   Checking that no one was watching him, he had tornthe sleeve of his shirt and soaked the fabric in dark redpaint from the spray can he had picked up in themaintenance bay. Rabley had always considered himself abit of a dab hand at amateur dramatics: a few well-placedgroans, coupled with his fake wound, had got him

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

escorted to the medical bay by a couple of concernedsecurity guards. They had even carried his holdall for him,though Rabley had to admit to a moment of panic whenthe soldier had taken the bag from him.

   Now, standing in the lift, Rabley was running throughwhat story he would spin O'Keefe in order to ingratiatehimself with his employer again. It would have to soundplausible, though it wouldn't hurt to throw in a fewinstances of heroic bravery on his part.

   The lift doors opened, and the guards helped Rableyout into the corridor. As they stepped into the corridor,Captain Hassan emerged from an office, his face likethunder. He cast a disapproving glance at Rabley.

   'Who's this?' he snapped.

   'Civilian, sir. Says he caught his arm in somemachinery.'

   Hassan cursed under his breath. 'We're busy up here,Private, in case you hadn't noticed!'

   Rabley gave a long groan, doubling himself over.

   'He seems in a bad way, sir.' The guard caught his arm.

   'Very well.' Hassan waved them through impatiently. 'Ifthey've finished in the ward, put him in there. I'll get themedic to look at him when he's got a chance.'

   Hassan stepped into the lift, and Rabley allowedhimself to be led down the corridor to the medical bay. Hestared around in shock at the chaos. One of the guardsrighted a chair and pushed him down onto it.

   'Sit there and keep out of the way. The medic will bealong to see to you soon.'

   Rabley mumbled his thanks, watching as the two

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

guards vanished back along the corridor. As soon as theyhad disappeared from sight, he took a good look aroundthe shattered remains of the medical bay. What the devilhad happened to the place? It looked as though a tornadohad gone through it. In the wreckage of the ward, twofigures in protective clothing were checking the seals onthree large coffin-like shapes. Rabley looked at them inpuzzlement. What on earth was going on in here?

   He ducked his head down, pretending to nurse hisinjured arm as the two men wheeled one of the coffins outof the ward, manhandling it over the rubble-strewn floorand easing it out down the corridor.

   Rabley hurried into the ward, peering at the tworemaining coffins. There was a small window set into thetop of each one, the glass frosted with ice, Rabley rubbedat the glass with his sleeve. A face stared up at him. Awoman.

   Rabley checked the other capsule. This one held a man.He didn't recognise either of them. Could O'Keefe havebeen in one of the capsules that they had already wheeledaway? A clipboard with a list of names had been proppedup on a desk. Rabley snatched it up, running his fingerdown the list. O'Keefe wasn't on it.

   He threw the clipboard back down. If they hadn'tbrought O'Keefe here, then where?

   A battered silver door on the far side of the roomcaught his eye. It had a large sign declaring it out ofbounds to all but medical personnel. Rabley rubbed hischin thoughtfully. A surgery of some kind, perhaps?

   Rabley hurried over to the door. It was locked. With a

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

quick glance down the corridor, he started to work on thelock. It was childishly easy to crack.

    He eased open the door and slipped inside. The roomwas cold and empty. Rabley shivered. He'd been wrong. Itwasn't a surgery, it was a morgue. He was about to leavewhen he noticed the sign pinned on one of the freezerdoors. Amongst all the medical jargon he could see thename Maxwell O'Keefe written in large black letters.

    Rabley stared at the sign in disbelief. After all that he'dgone through to get back in here, O'Keefe was dead afterall.

    'You ungrateful old wretch,' spat Rabley.

    The bang from inside the freezer nearly made him jumpout of his skin. The door was being rattled by somethingon the inside.

    'Mr O'Keefe?' Rabley reached tentatively for thehandle. 'Is that you in there, Mr O'Keefe?'

    The door swung open with a heavy clunk. Tendrils ofvapour curled out from the blackness. Rabley could justmake out a dark shape draped in a green sheet. The sheetfluttered slightly as something moved in the darkness.

    Rabley leaned closer.

    'Mr O'Keefe?'

    He barely had time to scream as the creature explodedout of the freezer.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    T  he guard watching the Doctor and Marisha turned

       white as the bloodcurdling scream rang out down the

    corridor. The Doctor was on his feet in a second. The

    guard swung his gun round to cover him. From outside,

    there was the sound of booted feet, muffled shouts then

    the rattle of gunfire.

       The Doctor looked pointedly at the gun. 'Why do I get

    the impression that your gun might be of more use out

    there than in here?'

       The guard hesitated, looking from the Doctor to the

    door and back again. More gunfire rang out from the

    corridor, accompanied by the familiar screams of the

    Gappa.

       'Well don't just stand there,' snapped the Doctor. 'Find

    out what's going on!'

       The guard eased the door open and peered into the

    corridor. At once, there was a barked command and he

    darted through the door, eyes wide with fear.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   'Our cue to leave I think.' Dragging Marisha from thesofa the Doctor pushed open the office door.

   Outside it was bedlam. Soldiers and security guardsjostled for space, hampered by the cryo-capsule that themedical personnel were trying to get into the lift. At thefar end of the corridor, the young Gappa thrashed andflailed, bellowing in rage at its tormentors.

   The Doctor grimaced. 'Mr O'Keefe appears to havegiven birth. Come on.'

   He reached for Marisha's hand, but she pulled back,shaking her head.

   'You go. I'm going to be needed here.'

   The Doctor's face fell. 'Are you sure?'

   Marisha smiled. 'I'll be fine. Go. You said you couldsort this out. Do it.'

   The Doctor flashed her a dazzling smile. 'OK. See youin a bit.'

   Wincing as the sound of automatic gunfire rippedthrough the air again, the Doctor hurled himself down thestairs.

The Doctor emerged into the foyer of the admin building,sneakers skidding on the polished marble floor.

   He'd bounded down the staircase, taking the steps twoor three at a time, nearly losing his balance and tumblingheadlong on more than one occasion. He had practicallyrun smack into Hassan and half a dozen soldiers, and ithad only been the noise of heavy boots and Hassan'sbellowed orders that had given him the time to duckthrough a side door as they raced past.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    The birth of the young Gappa had been just what hehad needed. Not only had it given him the perfectopportunity to escape, but it might also delay Hassan's airstrike long enough for him to finish this once and for all.

    He scanned the foyer. The once immaculate receptionarea was now awash with crates and military equipment. Adozen or so of the bulky cryogenic containers were linedup near the door, waiting to be loaded onto an armyambulance.

    The Doctor grinned. An ambulance. Perfect. Now hejust had to find a way of distracting the men in the foyerlong enough to steal it.

    His grin broadened as he spotted a familiar shapestacked amongst the military paraphernalia. 'There youare, Twelve. I wondered where you had got to.'

    The robot had been deactivated and loaded onto a largetrolley.

    Pulling his sonic screwdriver from his pocket, theDoctor made a number of fine adjustments to the controlsand pointed it at the motionless robot. Lights began toflicker to life across the wide metal chest, and Twelve'shead straightened then turned towards the Doctor.

    'Now then,' murmured the Doctor. 'Let's see if we canget you to bend a few of the rules of robotics shall we?'

    He readjusted the sonic screwdriver and sent a streamof beeps and flashes towards the waiting robot. The effectwas spectacular.

    Service Robot Twelve tore free from the restraintssending plastic straps whipping across the reception area.Bewildered technicians and medical personnel scattered as

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

the robot clambered to its feet, pushing through the jumbleof crates and boxes and sending them flying.

    The metallic voice boomed across the room.

    '+DANGER! DANGER! ROBOT MUST DESTROY!+'

    The personnel scrambled away as the robot stompedtowards them, arms flailing wildly. A metal arm connectedwith one of the huge picture windows and it shattered witha deafening crash.

    The Doctor darted forward, ducking though the mêléeand clambering out through the broken window and intothe cab of the ambulance. He pressed the sonicscrewdriver to the ignition and the engine roared into life.

    Twelve was still thrashing about in the foyer, hurlingcrates and boxes.

    The Doctor backed the ambulance up to the wreckedfoyer, bellowing out of the window. 'Well come on, yougreat lump! Get in!'

    Twelve turned and stomped over to the waitingambulance, hauling open the rear doors and squeezinginside.

    The Doctor slammed his foot on the accelerator and theambulance shot forward.

    As he navigated the winding road towards the mainairlock doors, the Doctor glanced in the rear-view mirror.Twelve was staring at him and the Doctor could swear thatit looked annoyed.

    '+WHY DID YOU ACCESS MY VOICE UNIT ANDPROGRAM THOSE WORDS?+'

    'What, you've never seen Lost in Space? Twelve, you

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

haven't lived.'

    '+THIS UNIT IS INCAPABLE OF HARMINGHUMAN BEINGS. THERE WAS NO DANGER.+'

    'Yeah, but they didn't know that, did they?' The Doctorpunched at a control, and the ambulance sirens blared intolife, lights blazing on the roof.

    He swept down towards the main airlock, swervingaround anyone foolish enough to get in his way. He couldsee startled guards looking his way as the ambulancescreeched onto the coach park and lined up with the maindoors.

    'Fingers crossed, Twelve. Let's see how good theiremergency drill is.'

    Horn blaring, the Doctor drove straight at the doors.The sentries didn't have time to think or ask forinstructions, they only had time to respond. The Doctorheld his breath. He was gambling that Hassan had plannedto ship out the infected patients to somewhere moresecure. If that was right, the guards would open the door,if not. . .

    With a blare of klaxons, the doors swung open. The gapwidened, bit by painful bit. The Doctor winced. 'This isgonna be close.'

    There was a squeal of metal and a wrenching, tearingnoise as one of the wing mirrors tore from the passenger-side door. The Doctor gave a whoop of delight as theambulance shot out into the evening air, tyres squealing ashe gunned the engine and sent the ambulance skiddingacross the car park towards SnowGlobe 7.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

From the balcony of the penthouse suite, Ku'ra watched asa vehicle shot out from the doors of SnowGlobe 6 in acloud of burning rubber and slalomed across the car park.

   'Martha. Come here. Look at this.' He pointed at thecareering vehicle. 'It's an ambulance. It just came out ofSnowGlobe 6.'

   Martha watched as the ambulance skidded out into theroad, sirens blaring.

   'He's driving like a madman,' said Ku'ra.

   Martha nodded. 'It's a madman all right. It's the Doctor.I know it.'

   'He's heading for the other dome. What's he thinking?'

   'He's heading for the TARDIS.'

   'Your ship? He'll never get inside the dome, there's gotto be a thousand people around it.'

   'He'll think of something.' Martha gripped Ku'ra's hand.'He's the Doctor.'

It took all of the Doctor's concentration to keep fromrunning down the hundreds of infected holiday-makersstaggering in the road between the domes. Angry, snarlingfaces hissed at them as they passed, grasping handsswiping at the windows.

   Mostly the infected people ignored them, more intenton obeying the call in their heads and reaching the dome,but every now and then a group of them would turn andspit mouthfuls of black dust at them. The Doctor flickedthe windscreen wipers into life, squinting through thesmeared glass as he threw the ambulance over roadislands and grass verges.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   '+THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT DESIGNED FOROFFROAD ACTIVITIES.+'

   Twelve was being thrown about in the back of theambulance.

   The Doctor shot him an angry glance in the mirror.'Thank you, Twelve, back-seat drivers I can do without.'

   '+THE CONTROL BOARDS AND SOCKETS INTHIS VEHICLE ARE COMPATIBLE WITH MYSYSTEMS IF YOU WISH ME TO TAKE CONTROL.+'

   'No thanks, Twelve, I've never been a very goodpassenger. Now stop yakking and hang on tight.'

   The Doctor swung the ambulance in a wide arc,sending it screeching into the car park of SnowGlobe 7.People scattered. They might have been possessed, butthey weren't stupid enough to stand there and get rundown.

   The Doctor gritted his teeth as he smashed through therailings surrounding the dome. He felt a tyre burst, and theambulance swerved alarmingly. He fought with the wheel.'Just a few more seconds.'

   The doors of SnowGlobe 7 loomed in front of them andthe Doctor suddenly regretted welding them shut quite sosecurely.

   '+DANGER. THIS VEHICLE IS IN DANGER OFCOLLISION.+'

   'You don't say.'

   The Doctor closed his eyes as the ambulance slammedinto the doors.

Martha sucked in a sharp breath as the ambulance hit the

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

doors of the dome in a shower of sparks.

   Ku'ra gave a whistle of admiration. 'Well that's one wayof getting in.'

   He sneezed.

   'Bless you.' Martha smiled at him. Her smile faded asKu'ra started to cough. 'Are you OK?'

   'Yeah,' Ku'ra spluttered. 'I think so. Something in mythroat. Dust or something--'

   He stopped, staring at Martha in horror. 'Oh no. . .'

   'Ku'ra?' Martha backed slowly away as another bout ofcoughing doubled Ku'ra over. Behind her, a breeze ruffledher hair. She clamped her hands over her nose.

   The wind had changed direction. The dust. . .

   'Ku'ra?'

   Ku'ra straightened, his eyes wild and staring.

   And lunged at her.

The Doctor groaned, pushed open the door and hauledhimself out of the crumpled, battered ambulance. It hadwedged itself firmly in the entranceway of SnowGlobe 7,forming almost as effective a barrier to the hordes outsideas the welded doors had been.

    Outside the dome, the crowds hissed and growled, thenoise of hundreds of pairs of hands banging on the domewas deafening.

    The Doctor leaned in through the shattered windscreen.Twelve was wedged inside the twisted wreckage 'Are youall right?'

    '+MY FUNCTIONS ARE UNIMPAIRED.+'

    'Can you free yourself?'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   '+NOT WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TOTHIS VEHICLE.+'

   The Doctor glanced down at the twisted bonnet. A mixof water and oil was dripping in a steady stream onto theconcrete floor.

   'I wouldn't worry, I don't think that it'll be goinganywhere else any time soon.'

   There was a horrible, squealing wrench as the robotstraightened up, peeling back the roof of the ambulancelike the lid of a sardine tin. Twelve stepped from thewreckage.

   The robot followed the Doctor to the airlock doors ofthe SnowGlobe itself. The Doctor punched at the accesscodes, and the doors slid open. Wind howled through thewidening gap. He peered into the raging snowstorm,setting his sonic screwdriver to emit a cloaking signal. Hecouldn't see the TARDIS but he could sense it.

   He pulled his coat tight around him and plunged intothe blizzard, Twelve close behind him. He didn't botherclosing the airlock doors: it didn't really matter any more.One way or another, the dome was finished.

Hassan watched as the Eurofighter swept low over thebeachfront, making its sighting run on SnowGlobe 7. Thesleek fighter screamed overhead then arced high into theevening air, afterburners roaring.

   Hassan gave a grim smile.

   A few more minutes and it would all be over.

The blizzard was getting worse. The Doctor could barely

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

see more than a metre in front of him now, but theTARDIS was near. He could feel it.

   Twelve was still right behind him, the big robot'scasing caked in snow and ice. There had been no sign ofthe Gappa, but the Doctor knew that they couldn't be faraway. He'd been lucky. That luck only had to hold out fora few more minutes.

   A familiar box-like shape suddenly emerged from theswirling snow. 'Here we go, Twelve. Home, sweet home.'The Doctor had to shout to make himself heard.

   It was a mistake.

   He barely had time to react as the Gappa hidden behindthe TARDIS hurled itself forward. He twisted to one side,and the monster sailed over his head, claws slashing athim. It plunged into the snow, scrabbling back onto itsfeet, snarling and growling. The TARDIS was barely twometres away. The Doctor hunted for the key in his pocket.Could he get the door open before the creature attacked?

   Hearts pounding, the Doctor spun on the balls of hisfeet, key gripped in his outstretched hand, ready to throwhimself towards the TARDIS door.

   He froze. A second Gappa was clambering over theroof of the TARDIS, thick drool splashing onto the bluepainted exterior.

   It launched itself at him, its hissing roar mingling withthe angry cries of the one behind him as it too attacked.The Doctor dropped into the soft snow, hands claspedover his head, waiting for the feel of claws and teeth.

   The blows never came. With an electronic bellow,Twelve lunged forward catching the Gappa in mid air. The

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Doctor looked up. The robot stood over him, armsoutstretched, a squealing, thrashing monster held in eachhand. There were a series of sickening pops as each hugemetal fist closed tight and thick black ichor sprayed intothe frigid air.

   Twelve dropped the two twisted corpses into thebloodstained snow, then reached down and hauled theDoctor to his feet.

   'Thank you, Twelve,' said the Doctor solemnly.

   '+THERE ARE MORE LIFE SIGNS CONVERGINGON THIS AREA.+'

   'Then we should get inside.'

   The Doctor unlocked the TARDIS. Twelve bent almostdouble and squeezed himself through the police-boxdoors. The Doctor followed him inside.

   Shrugging off his coat and throwing it in the generaldirection of the hatstand, the Doctor hurried over to thecentral console. Twelve stood motionless inside the doors,processors whirring frantically.

   '+SENSORS         INDICATE       THAT      INTERNALVOLUME OF THIS SPACE IS NOT CONSISTANTWITH ITS EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS.+'

   'If you mean it's bigger on the inside, why don't youjust say so?'

   '+THIS DOES NOT COMPUTE.+'

   'No. Good isn't it? Now be quiet, eh? Got a little bit todo and not much time to do it.'

   The Doctor's hands flew over the TARDIS controls. Hedarted manically from one segment of the console to thenext, checking readings, setting search programs in

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

motion, calibrating dials and settings with complexprecision. Slowly, a deep bass throbbing started to builddeep within the bowels of the time machine, a vibrationthat set the floor panels rattling and shaking dust from thegreat coral beams that arced over the console.

    Finally, the Doctor stopped, peering at the monitorscreen, nodding to himself in quiet satisfaction.Everything was set. He placed his hand over an innocuouslittle switch on the console. He concentrated, linking hismind with the telepathic controls of the TARDIS, focusingon the thousands of people outside the dome.

    And pressed the switch.

Hassan stared open-mouthed at his television monitor asthe crowd surrounding SnowGlobe 7 dropped to the floorin unison. Several thousand people falling silently as one.

In the penthouse suite of the Burj Al-Arab hotel, a suddendazed expression crossed Ku'ra's face and, with a wistfulsmile, he collapsed onto the thick carpet.

   Martha was about to kneel down to check his pulsewhen a blaze of brilliant white light lit up the evening sky.

High over Dubai, the pilot of the Eurofighter turned hishead away from the glare as the entire glass dome ofSnowGlobe 7 lit up from within like an enormous lightbulb. Glass panels of the dome started to crack and crazeand, with a mighty roar, the roof of the dome explodedoutwards on a billowing cloud of steam.

   Eyes streaming from the light, the pilot broke off his

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

attack run, sending the fighter screaming away from thevast vapour cloud.

                            ***

   Deep in the ice of SnowGlobe 7, the Gappa felt its linkwith the minds of its prey severed moments before thewave of blazing heat blasted through the cavern. Iceturned to steam in a matter of seconds and, with a lastdefiant cry of rage and pain, the last of the Gappa wasvaporised.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

    M   artha moved slowly through the thousands of dazed

        and confused patients who were slowly coming to

    their senses in the car park of SnowGlobe 7. Medical

    personnel were everywhere, treating those that had injured

    themselves as they fell, taking blood samples to check for

    evidence of contamination by the black dust. It was the

    same all over the city. Everyone who had been infected by

    the dust was free of the creature's influence, totally unable

    to remember anything of the last few dreadful hours.

       Martha had stopped to help where she could, checking

    on those with cuts and bruises, helping those still

    regaining consciousness to their feet and pointing them in

    the direction of help.

       She had left Ku'ra in one of the beds in the penthouse

    suite of the hotel. She would go back and check that he

    was all right later. He seemed unhurt and it was as

    comfortable a place as any. Besides, Cowley had paid for

    the room, and she certainly wasn't going to be needing it.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   She had found the Director's body at the base of thehotel. She had alerted a nearby paramedic team and theyhad made arrangements to have the body taken care of.Martha wished that she had been able to do something forDirector Cowley, but she had underestimated the depth ofthe creature's hold over her; either that or she hadunderestimated Cowley's single-minded desire for herSnowGlobe project to succeed. In the end, Martha haddecided that she would prefer to believe it was the maligninfluence of the creature in the ice that had beenresponsible for Cowley's urge to commit genocide, not herblind ambition. That was no way for anyone to beremembered.

   Besides, what would Cowley have said if she couldhave seen the state of her precious SnowGlobe? Marthastared up at the steaming wreckage of the shattered dome.The billowing geyser of steam had gone on for whatseemed like hours. Even now, a fine spray continued tofall on the bewildered city. Summer rain in Dubai. Marthashook her head. Only with the Doctor. . .

   She ducked under the hazard tape that soldiers werestarting to put up around the dome and squeezed past thewreck of the ambulance that had been winched free of thedoors. Inside, glass covered everything. The massiveairlock doors had been blown clear across the foyer, andMartha could see sky through the huge, jagged hole in thedome.

   She clambered through the remains of the airlock andpicked her way carefully through the piles of broken glass.Where previously there had been snow and ice and raging

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

winds, there was now only wet, steaming rock. In thedistance, she could see the familiar police-box shape ofthe TARDIS. The Doctor was standing outside it, handsthrust deep into his pockets, staring up at the evening sky.

   Glass crunching underfoot, Martha hurried over to him.He looked down as she approached, his lean face breakinginto a dazzling smile.

   'Martha Jones! Am I glad to see you.' He threw hisarms around her and gave her a huge hug.

   Martha hugged him back. 'Sorry, Doctor.'

   He looked at her, puzzled. 'Sorry? What for?'

   'You left me to look after Cowley. I let her escape. Lether cause all this.'

   'I'm not sure that you'd have been able to do much tostop Miss Cowley. From the little I knew of her, she wasquite a formidable lady, and coupled with the psychicinfluence of the Gappa...'

   'Gappa?' Martha raised a quizzical eyebrow. 'Is thatwhat they were called?'

   The Doctor nodded sadly. 'The last of their kind.'

   'And you wanted to save them.'

   'I thought I could.' The Doctor thrust his hands backinto his pockets, kicking at the rock with his trainers. 'Iwanted to try and stop another race from vanishing fromthe universe, but the universe had already decided that itwas their time to die.'

   He looked at Martha with sadness in his eyes. 'TheGappa should never have survived, they should all havebeen dead a hundred thousand years ago. Their life cyclewas a biological dead end, an aberration of evolution. It

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

was only the good intentions of another species thatallowed them to cheat death, a well-meaning preservationeffort that could have meant the end of all life on Earth.'

   'And is that what this was?' Martha looked around thedome. 'A well-meaning preservation effort by a doomedspecies?'

   'Nah.' The Doctor shook his head. 'This is humanbeings doing what they do best, surviving. Adapting.Confronting problems head-on. It's me who should beapologising to you. It's me that's ruined it. Millions oftonnes of Arctic ice, boiled away in an instant.'

   'Yes, and how did you manage that exactly?'

   'Like I said, a well-meaning preservation effort. TheGappa was being transported from its home planet to bepreserved in some kind of zoo or safari park or something.But they never got there. They crashed.'

   'On Earth?'

   'Yup.'

   'In the past.'

   'In the Stone Age.'

   'Hence the cave paintings.'

   'Exactly! You were lucky. If the Gappa had managed towipe out Homo sapiens, you lot would never have got offthe first rung of civilisation. You'd just be another doomedworld twirling towards extinction.'

   Martha shivered. The wind was starting to pick upagain. 'So these well-meaning scientists that crashed. Thatmeans there was a spacecraft, right?'

   The Doctor nodded. 'Right. A great big state-of-the-artstarship, with a state-of-the-art plasma fusion drive buried

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

in the ice of the prehistoric Arctic since the last Ice Age.Well, I say that. Most of it is probably still up there. Theycame in pretty hard. Ship broke into a dozen pieces ormore.'

   'But the engine ended up here?'

   'Frozen in the same ice as the Gappa.'

   'And you blew it up.'

   'Used the TARDIS scanner to track down the fusioncore. A hundred thousand years in the ice and still enoughfuel to go critical. Masses of heat, no fallout. Good thing Ifound it, not you lot. They can be very dangerous in thewrong hands.'

   Martha stared at him. Despite the flippancy of hiscomments, there was a deep sadness in the Doctor's eyes.He had hated destroying the Gappa. In the end, it hadcome down to a simple choice. Gappa or human. Kill orbe killed. Thank God he was on their side.

   She squeezed his arm. 'Do you know who they werethen, these good Samaritans who crashed a hundredthousand years ago?'

   The Doctor shook his head. 'Not a clue.'

   'Wanna go and find out?'

   The Doctor beamed at her. 'Martha Jones, you're awoman after my own heart.'

   Martha was about to point out how true that commentwas when she was distracted by the sight of a huge robotsqueezing out through the TARDIS doors.

   'What?'

   'Ah, Martha, meet Twelve. Twelve, this is my bestfriend, Martha Jones.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   '+PLEASED TO MEET YOU, MISS JONES.+'

   Martha started at the robot, momentarily dumbstruck.

   She looked at the Doctor in disbelief. 'Surely we're nottaking him with us?'

   The Doctor's face fell. After the stress of the last fewhours, the Doctor's hurt-little-boy expression was morethan Martha could take.

   She burst out laughing.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Martha perched on an Outcrop of liched-covered rock andwatched though the Doctor's high-tech opera glasses asthe group of hunters swathed in thick fur made their wayslowly through the thick snow, heading south, followingthe mammoth herd, searching for food on the tundra.

   She lowered the glasses and smiled, amazed not forthe first time by how quickly she had got used tosomething as mind-boggling as being able to wanderthough her own prehistory.

   The Doctor had programmed Twelve with a series ofinstructions for Mr Roberts on how to rebuild the robots'memory and a farewell message for Marisha. Martha hadbeen sad not to have a chance to say a proper goodbyebut, as the Doctor had pointed out, they had just beenresponsible for the destruction of a major governmentscientific facility and that might not make them the mostpopular people on the planet.

   She raised the glasses again, focusing on the tiny figurefar below her. The Doctor was making his final sweep

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

through the remains of the crashed spacecraft that hadbrought the Gappa to prehistoric Earth.

   She and the Doctor had arrived earlier in the day,watching as the stricken craft had arced through the airlike a fiery comet, clipping the top of the distant glacier ina gout of flame and ploughing nose-first into the valleybelow. The spacecraft had broken into a dozen pieces, justas the Doctor had predicted, the section housing theengines and the Gappa skidding to a halt on the ice sheetbelow them.

   They had watched from the safety of the TARDIS asthe alien had crawled through the wreckage and slowlymade its way through the snow towards the glacier, andthe future.

   The Doctor had identified the ship as Modrakanian. Asthe sun had started to rise, he had left Martha on the top ofthe hill with his opera glasses, told her to watch and takenthe TARDIS on a brief trip down into the valley.

   As the sun had cleared the distant mountains, Marthahad watched spellbound as the mammoth herd shook thelast vestiges of the night's snow from their fur and,snorting and bellowing, began the long journey south.

   A more familiar bellowing echoed up from the valley,and the tiny, distant shape of the TARDIS faded away,reappearing a few seconds later alongside her.

   The Doctor emerged, following Martha's gaze towardsthe distant mammoths and the hunters that tracked them.

   'Fancy a mammoth steak for dinner?'

   Martha grimaced. 'No, thank you!'

   'Good for you. Puts hair on your chest.'

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

   'Definitely no, then.' She clambered to her feet. 'Didyou find them?'

   The Doctor nodded solemnly. He had been determinedto find the bodies of the crew of the doomed Modrakanianship, to take them back home to their own planet for aproper burial. Martha guessed it was his way of makingup for failing to save the Gappa.

   'So, I guess its Modrakania next stop?'

   'Yes!' The Doctor rubbed his hands together briskly.'And then, if you don't mind, I'd like to go somewherewhere they've never heard of snow.'

   Martha pulled her parka around her. 'That's fine by me.'

   The Doctor pushed open the TARDIS door and usheredMartha inside,

   'Where did you have in mind?' she asked.

   'Ever heard of Western-super-Mare?'

   The door slammed closed. Moments later a raspingalien trumpeting echoed round the valley. A lonemammoth, straggling behind the herd, bellowed in reply,but the TARDIS had gone.

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

                Acknowledgements

Once again I am hugely indebted to Justin Richards for hisconstant faith and encouragement, as well as his endlesspatience when my effects work starts to get in the way ofmy writing.

   Hugs to Pam Tucker and Sue Cowley for proofreading,spellchecking and the general tidying up of this book.

   Thanks also to the usual suspects who have to put upwith me when I have a deadline looming and have madethe last year that much nicer by their presence.

   Karen Parks

   Steve Roberts

   Steve Cole

   Andy Tucker

   Nick Kool

   Nick Sainton-Clark

   Peter Tyler

   And to David and Freema, without whom...

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html

Thank you for evaluating PDF to ePub Converter.

To get full version, you need to purchase the software from: http://www.pdf-epub-converter.com/convert-to-epub-purchase.html