‘Halt!’ shouted the guard on the left. ‘Your entry here isn’t authorized! Don’t move!’

‘Be calm,’ said Colby under his breath. ‘Nobody make any sudden moves.’

‘Easy, now,’ he called out towards the men. He took a step forward, grinning. ‘Just having a bit of a lark here.’

‘Your entry’s unauthorized!’

‘Slow down, soldier. And stop pointing that thing at me!’

‘Stop talking! And don’t move! Your entry’s unauthorized!’

‘Just relax, my man. Let’s do some basic introductions. Captain Colby, Unit G. So put that weapon down, all right? We’re on the same side here.’

‘That remains to be seen, sir!’ said the soldier, making no effort to lower his blaster. ‘Your entry’s—’

‘Unauthorized, yes I know. Look, we were just having a bit of fun, all right? A bet. So we’ll be going now.’

‘Don’t move! Your entry’s unauthorized!’

Colby sighed, turning to the other man. ‘Do you by any chance do any other sentences?’ he asked kindly.

The man looked at him, saying nothing.

Colby sighed again. ‘Apparently not. This is going to be diffi—’

‘How did you get in here?’ It was the first man again. Colby turned back to him.

‘Oh, nothing. We just—’

‘What’s that in your hand?’

‘Oh, nothing. Just a little—’

‘Looks like a commitment form.’

‘Well, no—’

‘Is it a fake?’

‘Look—’

‘I’ll need to see that form, Captain.’

‘Look—’

‘All right, none of you move! Throw your weapons down, now! Kick them away. Far away, mind you! No tricks!’

‘Look—’

‘Captain, I need you and your men to throw down your weapons and kick them away! Do it! Now!’

He waited till they complied before turning to his companion. ‘Geoffrey, hold your position. I’m going to take a look at that form.’

‘You lot stay right where you are, as you are!’ he said, keeping his blaster trained on them as he began the long, slow walk round the Pit towards them. ‘Hands where I can see them!’

‘Uh oh,’ said Kieran.

‘Death an’ disaster, like I said,’ murmured Joe.

‘This is not good,’ muttered Colby. ‘Not good.’

He looked up casually, at the man, who was still training his weapon on them. ‘Look, it was a joke, that’s all. We just wanted to take a look.’

‘So do I—at your paperwork.’

Colby glanced back at them. Just as the soldier who was walking towards them rounded the closest curve, he set off, in the same direction, away from him, around the right side of the hole and towards the other man.

‘The cap’n’s really pushin’ it tonight,’ mumbled Kieran, whether to Albert or Joe or himself, it wasn’t clear.

‘Halt! I said halt!’ shouted the man. ‘Halt or I’ll fire!’

‘I’m just bringing the form to him,’ said Colby soothingly.

‘No! Stand right there!’

‘Look, there’s nothing to worry about. Just—’