He stood up and went to the console. 'Besides which I don't really have any choice,' he said. 'As usual.' A rueful smile. He looked up at the ceiling, where the golden line of the wormhole still glowed. 'If left unchecked there's no telling what damage that thing could cause.'

He looked over at Kerstin, who had joined him at the console. 'Hold on; this might be a bit of a b.u.mpy ride.'

Kerstin gripped the edge of the console tightly.

The Doctor pulled levers, flicked switches and the blue fingers in the gla.s.s column began to mesh and unmesh, accompanied by a vast mechanical grating sound which made Kerstin's hair stand on end.

Above her, the blue ceiling exploded into a churning whirlpool of light.

In the forest, the TARDIS stood, a police box once more tall, blue, totally out of place. There was a wheezing, groaning sound as it began to fade away like a departing ghost. But in its place, instead of the usual emptiness, it left a fold in the air, like a fault in a sheet of gla.s.s. Then everything went

The generator room looked like a hospital in the middle of a war zone. Once the node had closed, it hadn't taken long for the UNIT guys to finish off the Ruin. Now they were clearing away the remains, taking the legs and saclike bodies out of the generator room, mopping up the fluid the best they could. The smell was almost unbearable. Four soldiers had been killed, and there were many injuries. Professor Nagle had tended as many as she could.

Now she sat at the control desk, tapping instructions into the computer. She knew that it was the end of her project. She'd never activate the node again. For one, Wolstencroft would shoot her if she did; for two, she didn't want to see anything like the Ruin ever again.

The Doctor had had to close the wormhole. She prayed that the TARDIS would appear in front of her, the Doctor emerging, grinning from ear to ear. But what would happen if he failed? What would the end of the world be like? Would it be Armageddon fire and brimstone and a painful death or would the wormhole wipe the Earth cleanly out of existence with a silent, painless, clinical incision? to close the wormhole. She prayed that the TARDIS would appear in front of her, the Doctor emerging, grinning from ear to ear. But what would happen if he failed? What would the end of the world be like? Would it be Armageddon fire and brimstone and a painful death or would the wormhole wipe the Earth cleanly out of existence with a silent, painless, clinical incision?

The computer bleeped. She looked at the screen. What the h.e.l.l? Figures were scrolling down, too fast for her to read. She hit the ESCAPE b.u.t.ton. Nothing happened. The figures were gibberish, machine-code madness. A flash of light made her look up. The points of the generator were glowing star-bright. Nagle stood up, not wanting to believe what she was seeing.

Wolstencroft rushed over, grabbed her arm and spun her round. His face was a grimace of anger. 'What are you doing?'

Nagle raised her hands. 'Nothing, nothing!'

She looked at the generator again. Suddenly, the node opened, its white throat swallowing the shining p.r.o.ngs of the generator. And then it expanded, beyond the mesh fence.

'Everyone out of here!' yelled Wolstencroft, shoving her away from the control desk.

She turned and ran from the generator room as behind her a white swirling whirlpool swallowed everything in its path.

Chapter Nineteen.

Pocket Universe Fitz and Gilthr carried the still-unconscious T'hiili and Sam into the Queen's dirigible. Fitz placed Sam in a tiny alcove between the spherical cabin and the Queen's moss bed. It was quite a crush, but Fitz tried to make Sam feel as comfortable as possible. She was out cold; there was a big purple bruise on her forehead. He still couldn't believe she was here, and wondered what she'd been through since her abduction from the TARDIS.

Gilthr floated over to the control brain and they took off, heading back towards the golden sea.

On the screen, Fitz could see clumps of smoke hanging in the low gravity like giant wraiths, and the smell of burning was everywhere, even inside the dirigible. There were bright patches on the blue floor of the cavern. Some of them were Ruin. Other, bigger, ones were fallen T'vorha dirigibles. The Ruin were holding their position in front of the black cliff. They weren't attacking, but they weren't giving up either. They were ma.s.sing, Fitz realised. Ma.s.sing to go through the node when it opened. To Earth.

They plunged into the golden brightness. Four other dirigibles awaited them sole survivors of the battle. Beyond them, a rippling swathe of Blight stretched from horizon to horizon, leaving only a narrow margin of sky-sea. Gilthr drew them to a halt.

The rescued T'hiili lay at the Queen's feet, breathing unevenly. Now they were together, Fitz could see the differences between the T'hiili and their T'vorha servants. The T'vorha were like combat versions of T'hiili broader, taller, with more powerful limbs, and the added advantage of wings. The T'hiili's face was smoother than Gilthr's, the eyes wider, the hair finer. Between the eyes and the mouth there were no V shaped ridges, and the limbs were slender, more delicate. But this was the one who would fertilise the Queen. T'vorha were s.e.xless, while the T'hiili carried the requisite secretions.

Suddenly, its eyes opened, and Fitz felt a rush of words in his mind: No hope Blight Ruin No hope Fitz closed his eyes and sank to his knees. 'Make him stop!'

The babbling flow ceased, and Fitz opened his eyes to see the Queen reaching down to the T'hiili, stroking his smooth green face, red hair falling over her shoulders.

Itharquell. The One.

The T'hiili Itharquell was staring up at the Queen, a look of awe on his leaf-green face. Fitz wondered how the telepathy would work would he be able to overhear the Queen and the T'hiili? Or was it a more directional thing? They certainly seemed to be communing. The Queen was probably telling him that he was the lucky chap who had to 'fertilise' her. Where were they planning to do it? Not here, surely, in the cramped confines of the dirigible, with him and Gilthr looking on? After all he'd been through the last thing Fitz wanted to see was an alien s.e.x show. Probably.

The Queen turned to Fitz.

We should return to the Nest for the fertilisation ceremony. But there is not time. I must be fertilised now.

Fitz gulped. They really were going to do it in front of him.

She glanced around the dirigible.

I need more s.p.a.ce than this.

Fitz was about to ask her for six bob to get lost for the evening when, on the screen, another dirigible loomed, its brown skin charred in places, a couple of burnt Ruin legs stuck to its underside. A hatch opened in the side of their dirigible and the Queen and Itharquell stepped out, floating across the short distance between the vessels.

'D'you think he's going to carry her over the threshold?' said Fitz to Gilthr.

Gilthr grunted in incomprehension.

Fitz longed to hear a human voice. Sam's voice. He squirmed past the bulky T'vorha and into Sam's alcove. She was curled into a ball, her hands protecting her head. Fitz squeezed in beside her, putting his arms around her. 'Sam,' he whispered into her ear.

She stirred, arching her back against him. 'Doctor?' she murmured.

'No, it's me, Fitz.'

Sam curled back into a ball, hiding her face with her hands.

Well, there's grat.i.tude for you, thought Fitz.

Kerstin was kneeling on the floor, hanging on to the console for dear life, as the TARDIS juddered around her. She could just about see the Doctor on the other side of the console, though she couldn't hear what he was saying through the rising, roaring noise which was emanating from the tower above. It felt as though the TARDIS were going to break up. Everything was blurring, and the ceiling above was a churning ocean of light. After all she'd been through, could this be the end? She saw the Doctor stagger back from the console, throwing his head back and stretching his arms wide, a scream tearing from his throat, merging with the roar of the TARDIS. Kerstin screamed too, as reality bent and warped around her.

So this was the end of the world, thought Professor Nagle as she ran through the C19 base. A curtain of white energy billowed behind her, getting closer. She had no chance of outrunning it. She could only hope that the Doctor had been wrong, that the energy would run out, that the connection between Earth's s.p.a.ce and the wormhole would be self-limiting. The remaining UNIT troops were pounding up the corridor in front of her, leaving her behind. She slowed to walking pace, exhausted.

A hand gripped her arm. 'Come on!'

Wolstencroft. He'd come back for her. Why? She laughed, waved him on.

He swore, sweat beading his bald head, and yanked her towards him. She saw his dark eyes widen, his jaw slacken, as he looked back down the corridor.

She stared, feeling remote, detached.

The white wall of light was only feet away. She screamed then, grabbing on to Wolstencroft, hearing his throaty yell of horror. Then everything seemed to bleach white, a white that hurt her eyes, and then she felt herself lifting into the air but what about the ceiling? but what about the ceiling? high above the world, still holding on to Wolstencroft's hand. high above the world, still holding on to Wolstencroft's hand.

They spun together like sycamore leaves in a hurricane.

Wolstencroft was still yelling, but she couldn't see him. Only this endless white. So this was death. It wasn't too bad. It didn't even hurt.

And then, with a thump, Nagle landed chest first on a clump of ground, fingers digging in the mud. Wolstencroft landed beside her, cursing. Her hair was being whipped by a squalling wind and she'd lost her gla.s.ses.

'What has your blasted machine done, woman?' gasped Wolstencroft.

She squinted, brushing her hair from her eyes. Her nails clicked on something and she pulled it out. A miracle her gla.s.ses, caught up in a tangle of hair. She slipped them on, and gasped at what she saw.

They were lying on the edge of a vast crater, almost half a mile across. The centre of it was a glowing ma.s.s, which pulsed and rippled. The node distended, out of control. As they watched, hundreds of six-legged, orange-bodied Ruin began to pour through the centre of the node, spiralling up into the air, fanning out into the sky.

Wolstencroft took out his revolver. They looked at each other.

'Those things,' he muttered. 'I wish I had a name for the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.'

'The Doctor said they're called Ruin,' said Nagle.

Wolstencroft gave a harsh laugh. 'Where's your precious Doctor now, eh?' He aimed his pistol up at the Ruin. There were hundreds of them, and they were beginning to descend upon the forest. Nagle could see a few UNIT guys, haring about among the trees, taking up positions and firing at the things. She almost admired their professionalism, their apparent calmness in the face of this insanity.

Wolstencroft loosed off a few shots and Nagle covered her head with her hands.

Everything stopped. The roaring above them, the juddering of the floor. Kerstin opened her eyes. The Doctor was standing in front of the wall of clocks, clutching his sides, panting heavily. She stood up, stumbled and clutched the console.

The Doctor caught her eye, and smiled. 'We made it,' he said slowly. Then he burst into action, running across the room and taking her hands, spinning her around in a mad giddy dance. 'We made it! We made it! We made it!'

Fitz floated in front of the control brain, feeling utterly dejected once again. With the node closed, there was no way out of the Dominion. And the Blight was advancing behind them, so they had to keep moving. Soon they would have no choice but to enter the cavern which was still crawling with Ruin. Blight behind Ruin ahead. They really were caught between a rock and a hard place.

But when they emerged into the cavern, Fitz was greeted with a strange and welcome sight. The node had opened only now it wasn't a tiny whirlpool: it was a yawning chasm, completely obscuring the cliff. Of the Ruin, there was no sign.

Fitz tried not to imagine what could be happening at the other end of the wormhole.

Gilthr was guiding the dirigible down to the blue sand, some distance from the glowing chasm. The other dirigibles were also coming to rest.

'What are you doing?' said Fitz. 'That's the way out! The way out of here!'

He felt a b.u.mp. They'd landed. Gilthr climbed out through the hatch, Fitz scrambling after him. The other dirigibles had landed in a circle around them, noses pointing inward. T'vorha emerged, staring back fearfully. The golden sea of light had disappeared, totally consumed by the Blight. In front of them, was the node, washing everything in harsh white light. Everything was black and white now. It was obvious what to do get the h.e.l.l out.

The T'vorha gathered outside the dirigible containing the Queen and Itharquell. So that was it. They didn't want to leave the Dominion until they knew that the fertilisation was successful. They'd better be quick about it. Fitz hung back, near the Queen's dirigible. If they took too long, he'd slip back inside, and take off at least he and Sam might escape.

The T'vorha dropped to their knees as a hatch opened in the side of the dirigible. Itharquell stepped out, looking none the worse for wear. Fitz realised he had expected him to appear totally knackered. 'Rather you than me, mate,' he muttered. Then the T'vorha grew silent, their bulbous eyes fixed on the hatch.

The Queen emerged, her naked pink body glistening, her red hair falling in waves behind her.

The T'vorha stood, unfurling their wings, letting out a guttural roar of triumph.

The Queen spread her arms, and opened her mouth.

And sang.

Fitz would never forget the effect her song had on him, though for the rest of his life he'd try vainly to recall the tune. It cut right to his heart, bypa.s.sing rational thought, and he felt himself uplifted with joy, tears rolling down his face. Through the tears, he could see the T'vorha shuffle forward, lifting the Queen in their arms, their wings unfurling.

Itharquell ran over to Fitz, casting a fearful glance at the encroaching Blight. His voice whispered in Fitz's mind: We must take the Queen through the node now.

'Right,' said Fitz, turning back to the Queen's dirigible. Now they'd get out of the Dominion. Hey, he'd be their saviour. Saint Fitz. Maybe it wasn't too bad, being a hero.

And then he heard a sound, a distant surging roaring which merged with the Queen's song. Wait a minute, thought Fitz. Wait a minute...

To Fitz's utter disbelief and joy, the TARDIS materialised right by the side of the Queen's dirigible. The door opened and out stepped the Doctor. He caught sight of Fitz and hurried up to him.

'Fitz! You're alive!' cried the Doctor.

Fitz grabbed the Doctor's hands and shook them, glad the Time Lord wasn't about to place another smacker on him. 'Not for much longer.'

The Doctor looked up at the black wall looming over them. 'I see. That's the Blight?'

'Doctor ' began Fitz.

But the Doctor had caught sight of the T'vorha. He walked over to them.

They put the Queen down on the blue sand. The Doctor started talking to her, his voice high and fluttery.

Although Fitz was glad the Doctor was here and back to his old self, he felt an odd sense of deflation, as if his role in events was over.

Itharquell was staring from the TARDIS to the Doctor.

What is that? Who is that creature?

'Your salvation,' said Fitz.

Now the Doctor was leading the Queen and the T'vorha to the TARDIS. The Queen pa.s.sed Fitz without even looking at him. She could hardly walk the T'vorha were supporting her. They disappeared into the TARDIS. Itharquell followed them, hesitating on the threshold.

'Go on,' cried the Doctor. 'It's quite safe!'

Itharquell stepped inside.

The Doctor came to stand beside Fitz. 'They can't go through the node,' he said. 'Creatures from the Dominion can't exist on Earth. The gravity is too high it destroys their internal organs. I've adjusted the gravity field in the b.u.t.terfly room, so they should be all right there.'

Fitz remembered the insect thing in the forest, the creatures that had attacked the farm, the Ruin that the Swedish police had found. All of them had died.

And he'd been about to take the T'hiili through the node. To their deaths. 'Oh Christ. I was '