‘Right,’ said North, effortlessly allocating responsibilities. ‘You walk, sir. I’ll hold you up. You steer Farrell. Farrell, you help hold up Major Ellis. Off we go.’

And off they went.

‘So – just to recap,’ said North as they made their uncoordinated way along a corridor. ‘We’ve broken the final member of our team out of MedCen and we’re about to appropriate a pod and make an unauthorised jump.’

Ellis nodded. ‘Yes, got it in one.’

‘That’s all the team in trouble, then.’

‘Pretty much, yes.’ He stopped. Farrell stopped. North stopped.

‘You don’t have to do this, Celia. At the moment, you’re the only one of us not guilty of something horrible. Perhaps you should step back from this. It’s not what you’re accustomed to.’

She stared at him, haughtily. Peasants down the ages were familiar with that stare. ‘You do know I’m from St Mary’s, don’t you?’

‘Well, yes, but . . .’

‘That I’m Maxwell-trained.’

‘Well, yes, but . . .’

‘That I once left Herodotus himself bloody, battered and suffering from tray trauma, for no better reason than he had slightly annoyed me?’

‘That I did not know. Tell me more.’

‘Gladly, sir. You can buy me a drink while I do it. Here’s the lift. Can you get the door?’

Emerging into the Pod Bay, the first people they saw were Lt Grint and Trainee Anders, apparently waiting for them. Armed, armoured, black-cloaked and waiting to go.

There was still the very faintest chance they could bluff things out.

‘Good afternoon, Lieutenant. Can I help you?’

‘I think it’s the other way round, sir. Commander Hay instructed me to wait for you here. I’m to assist you in your efforts to recapture the members of your team. Sir. She said you wouldn’t be long.’

Ellis sighed. ‘I should have guessed.’

‘Sorry, sir?’

‘Nothing.’

‘I gather we’re going after the fugitives, sir.’

North, accepting the inevitable, took control. ‘Thank you, Lieutenant, your assistance is greatly appreciated. Perhaps Trainee Anders could take this young man off our hands. He’s very heavy.’ Anders stepped up. ‘Could you take him into the pod, please. Thank you. Yes, just put him down there. If everyone can just give me a moment, I’m sure we’ll soon have the information we need.’

Five minutes later, she emerged from the pod.

‘You’ve got it?’ enquired Ellis.

She nodded. ‘Rather brilliant, actually.’ She ignored Grint’s disbelieving snort. ‘Rome, 44BC. Assassination of Julius Caesar,’ she added in the face of Grint’s incomprehension.

Ellis nodded. ‘Clever – hide the pod among a multitude of signatures. Still a bit of a gamble, though. Half the Time Police will be there already.’

‘Good,’ said Grint. ‘Plenty of reinforcement – should we need them. Right then, Anders – let’s go.’

He moved towards the pod.

‘And us,’ said Ellis, placing himself meaningfully in Grint’s path.

The pause was only very slight.