The train now approaching platform 2...

At the railway station, the man who had earlier taken Phil Armstrong's phone call sighed.

Bob Hewson - or High Brother Hewson as he was known to some - wondered how he was going to break the news to The Major when he arrived. Wondered, in fact, about how little he could get away with telling him ... without telling any actual lies.

Bob had a strong suspicion that The Major had an uncanny knack for spotting lies, and very little patience with those who told them.

How could a bunch of old ladies have outwitted his men? And, more worryingly, what had gone wrong with the equipment? After all, The Major had promised him that it was completely infallible.

Did that mean they had a problem with the church, and the followers they'd converted so far? Bob hoped not - but also realised that the situation meant he had to share what he knew with The Major.

Too much was at stake to keep silent - even if it showed them in an amateurish light. However, he certainly wasn't looking forward to this meeting.

Lost in these thoughts, he was startled by the rumbling arrival of the express train.



Story starts here.