Mordred smirked. He pointed to the dark sky. 'My mother hath summoned the Destroyer. The Lord of Darkness, Eater of Worlds. Look to your child guardians, Merlin, for soon they shall be no more.'

He bowed low and walked away.

'Ace,' whispered the Doctor. 'What have I done?'

Beyond the pool of candlelight there was nothing.

Ace held the sword, Shou Yuing held the scabbard.

They sat back to back in the centre of the circle, staring at the chalk line that held back the unnatural light.

They might have been adrift in the void.

Shou Yuing tapped the seconds out on the floor with the scabbard. It was annoying Ace.

'So your grandparents run a takeaway in the village.'

'Yes,' said Shou Yuing.

'I could murder chow mein and noodles.'

'They do pizza.'

'Yeah?'

Shou Yuing went on tapping. The crisps were untouched. The candle flame guttered with a hiss.

'What did you say?' said Shou Yuing.

Ace shifted position uneasily. 'What?'

'I thought... Nothing.'

Someone's getting jumpy, thought Ace. She shivered.

She wanted the Doctor back now.

Tap, tap, tap.

There was nothing to do and nothing to say. She was suddenly angry.

'This is stupid,' she complained.

'What did you call me?' snapped Shou Yuing.

'I said "this is stupid",' articulated Ace, loudly. 'You deaf or something?'

'No, you didn't! I heard you. You called me stupid.'

Ace got to her feet and stood over Shou Yuing. 'I am not a freak!'

'What you getting jumpy for?' said the Chinese girl.

'I said I'm not a freak, right! I'm Ace. You dumb or what?'

Shou Yuing clambered to her feet, scattering crisp packets across the circle. 'I am not stupid!'

'Then why do you say stupid things?'

They were eye to eye.

Shou Yuing's face tightened with hatred. 'That's good coming from a misfit like you!'

Ace started to back slowly away. 'You watch your mouth, toadface! Or I'll knock your teeth in!'

'I bet n.o.body likes you,' Shou Yuing went on.

'Shut up!' shouted Ace. She felt the darkness pressing around her.

Shou Yuing was leaning closer. 'First chance he got, the Doctor went off without you.'

'Shut up! Shut up!'

'I bet even your parents hated your guts!'

Ace saw red. 'Shut up you yellow slant-eyed...'

She froze. The back of her neck was tingling. She was on the very edge of the chalk.

Shou Yuing was slowly edging backwards.

Ace tumbled forward and they clung to each other at the centre pool of light.

'Someone's playing games with our minds,' whispered Ace.

The darkness beyond was not as dark as they had imagined. Something was moving there.

'Avallion breeds her children strong,' said the woman outside the circle. She was tall and frighteningly beautiful with hair like a cascade of fire. Her armour glinted in the light of their candle.

'No matter. There shall be an end to these games.'

She stretched her slender fingers and gazed longingly into the circle. Shou Yuing and Ace shrank from her smile.

Ace grabbed the sword and scabbard from the floor.

Then the woman spoke again, the threat was absolute. 'I am Morgaine of the Faye. I am power beyond your imaginings.' She stretched an open hand towards them.

'Surrender to me what is mine by right of conquest. Give me Excalibur.'

Ace clutched the sword tightly. 'Never.'

In the shadows behind the woman, a darkness was rising. They heard the clink of chains and the deep breathing of a monstrous beast.

'Then you shall be given over to the Destroyer...'

It came like a summoned dog, standing in Morgaine's wake, swaying slowly, its great form devouring light. Its breath came in rasping growls and a stench of warm corruption.

'... and be his handmaidens in h.e.l.l.'

Part 4

Scenario: Nukeflash

... when all else fails, duck. It's not practical, but it can be momentarily comforting. but it can be momentarily comforting.

UNIT Procedures Manual, Zen Division.

Chapter 1.

It lies with you. my son. Do nor be snared by Merlin's wiles. We must have Excalibur. must have Excalibur.

In his head, Mordred heard his mother's instructions.

At last, in her moment of greatest need, she placed a trust with her son. His confidence grew bolder before the Wizard's threats.

'Tell Morgaine to call off the Destroyer,' demanded Merlin.

Mordred shouldered his sword and met Merlin's glare with mockery. 'Surrender to our justice and the children will live.'

With a flourish, Merlin hooked the red curled device at the end of his wand over Mordred's sword. He tugged the blade hard against the Prince's neck.

'Your justice?' he snarled 'Tell her to call it off, or I'll decapitate you!'

Mordred could not move. Again, his mother's voice cut into his thoughts.

Fear not, my son. It is all deceit.

He was encouraged, even with death biting at his throat.

'We know you of old. Merlin. You would not kill.'

The blade did not relent. 'I wouldn't count on it.'

Merlin's eyes burned with the same fury that Mordred remembered from a different face an age ago.

'Come then,' challenged the prince, 'look me in the eye and end my life.'

Merlin's look blazed. His teeth clenched as he steeled himself for the deed. The blade nicked at Mordred's skin.

Then with a look of despair, mighty wizard Merlin flung the sword away and stood back.

Mordred smirked at his defeated foe. 'It is a weakness, this lack of spirit.'

He had rewarded his mother's trust and shown that he was no coward. At last, he would share in every appurtenance of her triumph.

Cold metal suddenly pressed against his head. An old warrior clutched at his shoulder.

'Try me,' said the soldier and Mordred heard the priming click of a primitive gun.

Ware this man, Mordred. He is steeped in blood.

'Brigadier,' complained Merlin, 'this is not the way.'

'I'm sorry, Doctor.' The soldier was unperturbed.

'Can Morgaine hear me?' he said to the prince.

'Yes.'

He raised his voice to issue demands. 'Listen to me, Morgaine. Leave my world or your son dies.'

Mordred waited for his mother's rea.s.surance. Moments pa.s.sed. There was no new thought in his mind. He felt blood trickle on his neck. Why did she wait?

'Deathless Morgaine. Save me!'

She would release him. She would find some other means to win the accursed weapon.

Finally her cold thoughts came.

Die well, my son.