They drew back from the power of the water and walked downstream, at a safe distance from it, through the dense pines. After ten minutes they could see that it was getting lighter. A new pale growth replaced the pines. Then, quite suddenly, there were no more trees at all, and right in front of them was the great Dome.

They ran forward and then hesitated. A wide concrete pad separated them from the Dome, and round its edge was a wire fence. Basil was the first there and he reached out to pull down the wire so that the others might climb over it.

“No!” The word was wrenched from Ruth's throat. Basil looked round in surprise, his hand outstretched. “There's something wrong,” she went on, knowing, but not knowing why. The Dome was just like theirs. Yet it was different. Theirs was a dome of lightness, like a soap bubble. This one was a prison, lying in the forest like an ugly blister.

“Oh, what's that?” Charity pointed. A windblown rag? No, a piece of tattered fur. And over there a small pile of bones.

“A rabbit, I think,” said Athena. “Nothing to worry about.” She bent over the remains.

“The fence is electrified,” Bryan shouted. “Athena, don't touch it!”

“Surely it wouldn't hurt a human being?”

“I wouldn't count on that.”

“How dreadful. To think we might have ... “

“We had defences in the early days,” Karol said gently. “Even guns, I believe. Though we never had to use them.”

“But now. An electric fence still in use!”

“We mustn't prejudge these people,” the Initiator said. “Let's look for an entrance. But carefully.”

“Something is terribly wrong,” said Ruth. “Let's not…” “We can't stop now we've come this far. We need rest and more food.”

“There seems to be no door in the perimetre. There must be an underground entrance, like ours.”

“It'll be hard to find in the trees.”

“Let's walk around the outside. Perhaps they'll see us. It's strange that there should be no one here to welcome us. They must know by now that we're coming.”

Halfway around the Dome the sun no longer shone on the plastic and they could see into the garden.

''There. Someone moved.”

“Where? Are you sure?”

“Yes. He's seen us. He's coining closer.”

Now they could all see the figure of a man, shaggy-haired and dressed in little better than rags. He waved at them.

They all waved back and cheered. The figure went on waving. Now he was jumping up and down.

“How very peculiar.”

“He's not welcoming us,” said Ruth suddenly. “Just see his hands. He's trying to make us go away.”

“What a nerve!”

“No, it's a warning. Quick, hide.”

From the safety of the long grass that crowded against the edge of the concrete pad they looked back. A second man had appeared behind the first, who had stopped waving. Now his hands were cupped over his head.

“He's beating him. How horrible!”