‘Look closer.’ Timothy gave the Pod a squeeze, and they were suddenly at the foot of the statue. An old woman in the robes of a Time Lord was looking imperiously up at August, who held in his hands a wire crown. A much younger Time Lady stood beside them, her straight blonde hair incongruous against her high collar.

Behind the two Gallifreyans stood Greeneye, a long curved sword in his hands.

‘We found this,’ said August. ‘It’s one of the links to the Matrix, isn’t it? How do I access it?’

The old woman pursed her lips. ‘You will find no Time Lord willing to give you that information.’

‘No, Lady Flavia, I’m sure you’re right. I’m sure that this is the impulse that comes over most invading races. The locals won’t show them how to preserve certain aspects of their culture, so they destroy everything and, as they rebuild the place in their own image, have to face the indignity of being called barbarians. Flavia, you know how petty and amoral this whole process is. In a century, if that, we will be the Gallifreyans and you will be history. Our descendants may regret this carnage, but they will be secure and happy and here. Don’t you wish to preserve some slight details of your civilisation by telling us about them? It is, as you must know, the only possible morality on the grandest scale of things. To have a few pieces on the right side. To win a little. What do you say?’

Flavia thought for a moment and then smiled. ‘I like the thought of you being called barbarians for a century or two. Let that be my little victory.’

‘Oh.’ August nodded to Greeneye imperceptibly. The Aubertide swung the sword back and swept it through Flavia’s collar. He halted the swing precisely as the elderly Time Lady fell forward, her neck half severed. Blood poured from the wound and she weakly tried to put her hands to her neck, writhing on the ground.

‘Well, I’m sorry, Flavia, but this is for history too. We’ll let you regenerate each time and then keep on chopping. It could be worse, believe me.’ August turned to the other Time Lady. ‘Now, you’re the one called Romana, aren’t you? Will you tell me how to use this crown?’

Smith flexed his hands into fists. ‘Can’t we stop them? Can’t we interfere?’

‘No,’ Tim replied. ‘We mustn’t be seen to be here.’

‘I want to go home. I want to go back to Earth, I don’t want to see this.’

‘Fine, we’ll go back to Earth. If you don’t care about this⁠ —’