Part 18 (1/2)

FOR G.o.d'S SAKE TALK TO ME.'

'Get lost, Luis!'

The Doctor picks up the unlit torch, ducks back into the living room, and thrusts it into the fireplace. He hastens back to the cave, where this and Swan are arguing.

The door opens into a large cavern. A river runs through the east part of the cave. Fionnuala is here. Luis is here.

The Doctor types 'Look Luis'. The computer responds: Luis is just a grey figure, an outline

without any details.

'it's gone,' says Luis. 'did you take it?? tell me!'

'You should have been more careful,' says Swan. 'Anyone could have got into your apartment and discovered it.'

'u have to give it back!'

'Luis, get out of here.

'give it back!!!!!!'

'I'll talk to you later.'

'GVIE IT BAK OR I'LL KILL U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

Everything stops, for an interminable moment, on that agonised, muddled threat. The Doctor thumps the keys.

Nothing. It's as though the intensity of Luis's need and fury has brought the computer world to a halt.

Then Swan speaks again.

Sorry about that. I kicked him out.

The Doctor types furiously.

What's happened to your friend, Swan? Is he always like that?

A long pause. Then:

Maybe it gives you an idea how determined I am to hang onto what I've got.

Goodbye.

The Doctor grunts in anger, bangs the counter, and pounds out:

Wait!

But she doesn't.

The Doctor and Bob tried to squeeze information out of the computer. Swan was gone, and just as both sides had planned, there was no way to trace one another. Luis, on the other hand, didn't give a d.a.m.n about covering his tracks. The Doctor and Bob were tracking him through the network, using the genie to poke around in the guts of the mud's software. When suddenly: