‘Interesting news,’ he finally decided. ‘But that’s not an argument against shooting you. Quite the reverse, if anything. You’ve just confessed to murder.’

‘Mercy killing,’ Donna corrected. ‘But I’m the one responsible, not the Doctor or David. Kill me if you like – to be honest, I think it would be a good trade. I dispose of Haldoran and Downs, and you put me out of my misery.’

‘Downs as well?’ Barlow was back to his faintly mocking attitude. ‘My, you have been a busy girl. Though I have to confess you show good taste in selecting your victims.’ He studied the Doctor. ‘And what’s your reason why I shouldn’t execute you?’

‘Daleks,’ said the Doctor simply.

‘Daleks?’ Barlow laughed. ‘There are no Daleks! It’s my men, armed with Dalek guns I swear, people are really paranoid about those metal monsters. Take it from me, they’re dead.’

‘Not necessarily,’ the Doctor answered. ‘The man you know as Estro has been subverting power from your nuclear reactor and feeding it into DA‐17.’

Barlow’s eyes lit up. ‘Ah. So that’s where he’s been getting the guns from.’

‘No it isn’t,’ the Doctor snapped. ‘He stole the guns while he was working for the Daleks. I doubt they’re very happy about that, especially since he had to destroy one of their hatcheries to do it. He’s after DA‐17 because he believes there’s a weapon within that will make your new weapons seem like peashooters.’

That perked up Barlow’s interest. ‘And is there?’ he asked.

‘How should I know?’ the Doctor retorted. ‘I was on my way to investigate it when I was brought here, hit about the head and threatened with death several times over. If you’ll be kind enough to spare our lives, I intend to go there immediately to check on the place.’

David gave a tight smile. ‘Estro lost contact with his men there,’ he added. ‘Something’s gone wrong.’

Barlow nodded. ‘And what makes you think it’s Daleks?’ he asked.

‘Every instinct in my body,’ the Doctor answered.” And I have a lot of those. It doesn’t seem to matter how often I destroy the Daleks, they always come back. And Estro is arrogant enough to have reactivated them without knowing it.’ He stared earnestly at Barlow. ‘Trust me, man – if the Daleks have revived, this little war you’re waging for control of Britain is going to become utterly insignificant.’

‘My father fought the Daleks, Doctor,’ Barlow said grimly. ‘He impressed on me how dangerous and evil they are. If you’re right in your belief, I’m inclined to agree with you that we should stop our own war and attack them. But I’ll need proof.’

‘The only place you’ll get that is DA‐17,’ the Doctor pointed out.

‘Fair enough,’ Barlow agreed.

‘And the first thing you need to do,’ the Doctor said, ‘is to cut off the power that’s going to the site. The Daleks are using it for their own purposes.’

‘Agreed.’ Barlow turned to one of his men, and sent him off after Murdock with firm instructions to cut the power flow to DA‐17. He then offered a hand to Donna. ‘As far as I’m concerned, you all have amnesty for now. I may extend it later.’

Taking his offer of help, Donna stood up. ‘Do I get my gun back?’ she asked.

He grinned. ‘If we see any Daleks, I’ll arm you myself,’ he promised. ‘Until then… well, just be satisfied with today’s kills, OK?’

She didn’t know how to take him. He was almost impossible to read, and even harder to understand. ‘We’re going to need transport,’ she pointed out.

‘That I can arrange,’ Barlow answered. ‘But first, we have to do some clearing out.’ He turned to one of Haldoran’s men, who had been standing around looking scared and confused. ‘I want all of your officers out here immediately,’ he announced. ‘And any of Haldoran’s family you find. Move.’ The man hesitated, saluted, and then headed at a trot for the intact portions of the castle. Barlow nodded to two of his men. ‘Go with him. If anyone causes trouble, shoot them.’

‘A little ruthless, aren’t we?’ the Doctor asked mildly.

‘If we’re going off to fight Daleks,’ Barlow informed him coldly, ‘I’m not leaving anyone here I can’t trust. I don’t want to have to fight another battle when I return.

Donna gave him a disgusted look. ‘So you’re seizing power now Haldoran’s dead?’ she asked contemptuously.

‘Someone has to do it,’ he replied. ‘And, frankly, I can’t think of a better man for the job. Unlike most of your ex‐husband’s men, I’m not a sadist or a thief. But neither am I stupid. We move from here just as soon as I’m certain I can come back if I want to.’

‘If you want to?’ Donna scowled. ‘And what’s that supposed to mean?’

‘It means that I might be moving into your father’s old suite when we’re done,’ he answered. ‘New London is just about ready to fall.’

‘Is there anywhere you’re not about to attack?’ the Doctor asked distastefully.

‘I’m doing what I must, Doctor,’ Barlow answered calmly. ‘Britain needs a firm hand and a guiding vision right now Haldoran and London are – were, whatever – both fools. I’m not. There’s a power vacuum right now, and I intend to fill it.’

‘If the Daleks don’t beat you to it,’ the Doctor muttered.

‘In case you’d forgotten,’ Donna said furiously, ‘I happen to be Lord London’s daughter. You’re talking about deposing my father and murdering him.’

‘Yes,’ Barlow agreed. ‘I’m sorry if you become a widow and an orphan in one day, but sometimes the world doesn’t work the way we want it to.’

‘Did anyone ever tell you you’re a cold‐blooded, heartless bastard?’ she demanded.

‘Everyone,’ he replied with a faint smile. ‘It’s not news.’ He turned to his aide. ‘Get through to Craddock,’ he ordered. ‘Tell him that Haldoran and Downs are both dead, and I’ve assumed command here. Tell him to press home the attack on New London – and that if there are any overtures for surrender to accept them. There’s no need for any further killing.’ The aide saluted and left.

‘How noble of you,’ Donna sneered.

‘We don’t need to be fighting on more than two fronts,’ Barlow explained. He turned to another man. ‘Get the runabouts ready for departure. Ten men, plus the four of us here.’ He glanced at Donna. ‘Unless you’d rather stay behind?’ he suggested.

‘I’m coming,’ she said, daring him to deny her.

‘I thought you might.’ Barlow glanced around as people started moving out of the castle and into the courtyard. ‘Get them together,’ he ordered one of his men. ‘I’ll talk to them when they’re ready.’ His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of someone he recognised. ‘Except her. Have her brought to me right now.’

Donna stiffened as she saw who it was he’d indicated. It was her cousin, Brittany, looking pale and panicky as ever. Anger and hurt began to bubble up inside of her again. It might have been several years since she’d been betrayed by Brittany, but Donna knew that none of her anger had died down.

A soldier hurried her over. Brittany was distracted, and this allowed Donna to slip behind the Doctor and David without being seen. Both of them must have seen the pain in her eyes because they closed ranks without comment.

‘Barlow!’ Brittany said, her dark hair dishevelled. She’d obviously been sleeping not too long before. She had only a robe on over a long nightdress. ‘What’s happened? I heard this terrible explosion, and I was coming out to see what was going on when your men hurried me out.’

‘If you’ll let me get a word in edgeways,’ Barlow said drily, ’I’ll be happy to explain. First of all, allow me to offer you my condolences. Your husband, sadly, is dead.’

Brittany paled, and then gave a brittle laugh. ‘What is this, a coup?’

‘Of sorts,’ Barlow admitted. ‘But I didn’t begin it. Your husband was dead by the time I arrived. One of his old girlfriends, I believe.’

‘The stupid bastard deserved it,’ Brittany spat. Then she blinked rapidly, realising what this meant. ‘Then you’ve taken his place as the new Lord Haldoran?’