Cordo looked in horror at the Doctor slumped unconscious in the bottom of the booth.  He took an involuntary step forward and then checked himself.  What could he do?  Nothing - except get caught himself.

Black uniformed, black-helmeted Company guards came pounding along the corridor and Cordo flattened himself against the wall.  They thundered past, ignoring him, their attention concentrated on the figure in the booth.

Cordo turned and ran.

The guards halted beside the booth and their Captain unlocked a control panel.  He pushed a button and the vents reversed their flow, sucking the gas from the cubicle.  He touched another, and the armoured glass shutter slid back.  Two guards came forward, bundled the Doctor onto a stretcher and swiftly carried him away.


Mandrel picked up the marked candle and examined it carefully.  The candle flame had burned very near to his knife-cut by now.  He leaned back in his chair, looking across at Leela.  'Your friend the Doctor had better hurry.'

Leela was leaning against the wall.  She shrugged, apparently unconcerned.

Veet said viciously, 'Mandrel, when you kill her, try not to damage her too much.'

'What a tender heart,' said Mandrel mockingly.  Again, he looked at Leela.  'Full of love and compassion, our little Veet.  See how she begs for a gentle death for you!'

'Love and compassion nothing,' snarled Veet. 'I want those skins and I don't want them damaged.'

Leela gave her a tigerish smile. 'Before I die, I'll see this rat-hole ankle-deep in blood.  That is a promise!'

Goudry who was standing next to her, gulped and backed away.  Turning to the man beside him he whispered, 'By the Company, I think she means it.'

His companion nodded.  'I tell you this - if Mandrel does order her to be killed, I won't be the first to attack!'