This was the control room for the game, he thought, viewing the empty shelves where the equipment had been. The smell of burnt plastic and something else, which he realized might be burnt flesh, assaulted his senses, and he covered his face with his hand and retreated.

A turn in the metal stairs finally brought the games arena into view.

This time he stopped in awe at the maze laid out below, at the centre of which was an arena. Even from here he could make out a large dark mark, which might be blood.

Finn knew exactly what it was, and howled to indicate that.

Noting the complexity of the maze, Dougie shouted at the dog to wait for him, aware that without Finn he might take a while to reach the centre.

Finn did as bid, waiting at each turn until Dougie appeared behind him.

Reaching the arena, Dougie halted in shock at the now obvious bloodstains, imagining the bodies that had lain inside the markings. A male and a female, according to reports.

Above was the gallery, which, during the duel, would have been populated by a computer-generated screaming crowd, all baying for blood.

Despite his horror at the evidence of death, his skin prickled with excitement as he envisaged the real-life game being played out here. No wonder people were willing to pay large sums of money to take part. So much better than duelling with an imaginary enemy via a computer screen.

Finn’s bloodlust was waning, another scent taking its place. The collie was keen to leave the arena, and whining at Dougie to follow.

They were heading down another level, Finn definitely following a trail. Dougie wondered if the dog was simply after a rat. Any ship this size would have a resident rat population, and Dougie wasn’t keen to meet one, but his calls to heel were being ignored.

Eventually the dog, way ahead now, fell silent. This seemed scarier than when he had been whining with excitement. Dougie upped his speed, skirting round some containers, until he almost fell over the collie scratching furiously at what looked like a low metal door.

‘What is it, boy? What’s in there?’

Finn answered with a bark, indicating that he had no intention of moving until his master opened the door.

Dougie imagined what might be in there. Another body, missed in the search of the ship? Or a family of rats that hadn’t eaten for some time?

Finn was staring up at his master, intelligent eyes willing him on.

‘Stay,’ Dougie ordered the dog before reaching for the handle.

The screech as the metal freed itself a little set his heart racing.

The smell escaping through the narrow opening was like his bedroom when he hadn’t opened the window in a while.

He waited, listening. Nothing.