I felt a great weariness come over me and my knees buckle. I sagged against the wallpaper and had to press my hand to it for support. My white stick clattered to the floor.

Mama heaved a great sigh. ‘It is finished.’

I heard the rustle of her skirts and then the soft pressure of her fingers, finding mine. ‘Oh, Ada … ’ she said, her voice cracking with feeling. ‘Come to me. Please. Come to me.’

So I stepped towards her, tentatively, my body still wracked with sobs and as tender and delicate as an open wound. But suddenly Mama’s arms were around me and I felt myself swept up and held tight – so tight. The embrace I had always craved and never gained.

‘My child,’ she whispered.

‘Mama, oh Mama … ’

‘Oh Ada. You have always been … ’ – Mama accepted me. She loved me. She really loved me! – ‘… so very useful!’ she concluded, her jaw snapping shut with grim finality.

There was a soft click right by my ear and I felt the cold muzzle of a pistol by my cheek.

‘No!’ cried my Monster/Doctor.

I felt Mama’s arm grasp me firmly by the throat and she swung me round to face the Doctor. ‘Now, if you’ll forgive us,’ she cried triumphantly, ‘we must be going. It’s long past Ada’s bedtime!’

She dragged me towards the door and kicked it open. I sagged in her embrace, exhausted and defeated.

‘Please, Mama.,’ I begged. ‘No more. No more … ’

But, with a snarl, Mama dragged me bodily through into the corridor beyond – and locked the door after us.

*

Clara rushed straight up the door but the Doctor intervened.

‘No. If we follow straight after her, she’ll shoot Ada on the spot.’

‘She wouldn’t!’

‘She would!’

‘Yeah, you’re right,’ said Clara. ‘She definitely would.’

The Doctor picked up a heavy chair and hurled it through the window! ‘Chairs are useful! Come on!’

Out on the Mill floor, like some death galleon in full sail, Mrs Gillyflower dragged her unfortunate daughter by the arm towards the base of the rocket.

‘Come, Ada!’ she snapped. ‘Don’t dawdle!’

Poor Ada. Pale and shattered, she sought release of any kind from this nightmare. ‘Please, Mama … ’

‘Mr Sweet and I still have an ace in our hand!’ crowed the mother, turning to a Pilgrim. It was Abel, the handsome lad who had attended at their dinner. ‘The venom has been loaded?’

‘Yes, Ma’am.’

Mrs Gillyflower nodded. ‘You have served me well, boy. Now, all of you, take your places.

Prepare for the Apocalypse!’

So saying, she hauled Ada towards the chimney and its spiral stair …