"Don't go, Steel." " What is it?" " Listen." "You told me." "You forgot." " That was a gunshot, sir!" " Yes, it was!" "From inside the dining room." "Nobody takes guns into dining rooms." " Emma, stop your prattling." " It might be Tony." "Where are Howard and Felix?" "Felix went upstairs to get some cigarettes." "I thought Howard was in the library." " No, he isn't." " Well, let's get in there!" "Tony?" "!" "And then there were eight." " Suicide." " It's out of his reach." " He killed her and shot himself." " There's no reason for this!" "There's a reason for all of it." "The time change, the murders," " the barrier around this house." " It's just hard to pinpoint." "If you don't pinpoint it quickly there won't be any of us left!" "'All irregularities will be handled 'by the forces controlling each dimension." "'Transuranic heavy elements may not be used where there is life." "'Medium atomic weights are available." "'Gold, Lead," "'Copper," "'Jet, Diamond, Radium," "'Sapphire, Silver and Steel." "'Sapphire and Steel have been assigned. '" " Nobody else, I can't bear it!" " Take the ladies outside." "Good idea." "Come on, let's go." " Excuse me, Miss Emma." " I must get Greville to tidy up." "Purnell was in love with Ann Shaw, Mullrine's secretary." "Not in love - he was using her." " There's a difference?" " On this planet, yes." "Veronica was in the way." "Is that strong enough motive for murder?" "It all depends what he was using her for." "Access to Mullrine's office records." "His plans for the future." "McDee's notes from 50 years ago." "Are any of those sufficient motive?" "Who has the motive to kill Purnell?" "Purnell is Mullrine's banker." "Maybe it's something to do with the bank." "Could the bank be in trouble?" "The motives are irrelevant, they're merely part of the time change." " "Merely," for more than murders?" " The clues are here, we have them." "We have?" " Remember when I first met Veronica?" " What about it?" "I received information about her background but not that she was going to die." "Well, either you made a mistake..." "or she isn't dead." " And assuming that..." " Neither is Tony Purnell." "Tony Purnell and Veronica Blamey, I wonder what the link is." "They came here together, they're the two youngest..." "No, I mean the link between them and..." "Killing them off one by one, starting with the youngest." " Steel..." " What is it?" " It's getting closer." " Yes, but where?" "It's very close." "You realise it's fooling us, don't you?" "Drawing us further and further away from the truth." "It's setting us puzzles about these murders that it knows we're innately bound to solve." "So are we..." "Miles and Virginia." "What are you talking about?" "It has to deal with us on more than one level, as Sapphire and Steel and as Miles and Virginia." "And as long as it has to deal with them..." "We stand a chance of winning." "I wonder where the next puzzle is coming from." "Look!" "The molecular structure is altering." "It's going back 50 years." " It's ageing." " Yes, it's going backwards." "Steel, things age forwards." "From 1930 to 1980." "Look at the dust, the cobwebs." "This is as it would have been if it had lain here for 50 years." ""McD." But look at it." "There's not a mark on it, no oxidisation, no dust, nothing!" "It's in a different time frame." "Steel... that gun is going to be used again." "But where are we, Sapphire?" "Get us back." "Now!" " God, this is ridiculous!" " Howard, you look dreadful." " Where have you been?" " Trying to get out." "Impossible!" "Like an impenetrable barrier." "The servants have left." "See, Arthur, you can't depend on servants at all these days." "Greville is still here, we can always depend on him." " Greville is special." " That's better." " Darling, have I missed anything?" " Yes, you have!" "Purnell is dead." " Good grief." " Where have you been?" "It's slightly embarrassing in mixed company." "Too much champagne - had to pump ship." " Took you long enough." " How did Purnell die?" " Shot." "Through the heart." " Through the heart?" "!" "Howard, do you own a revolver?" " Yes, I do." "My father gave it to me." " And where is that revolver now?" " In my suitcase." " No, I'm afraid it isn't." "Are you accusing Howard, Mr Cavendish?" "I recognise that - that's yours, Howard!" "It was in the next room, by the body." "Still warm when I picked it up." "I haven't been anywhere near the dining room!" "Well, I assume it was in the dining room." "I will not have Howard intimidated this way." "How do you intimidate a blackmailer?" " Blackmailer?" " Your precious Howard." " He'd been blackmailing Purnell." " Why should Howard do that?" "Tony was filching money from the bank." " It's a lie." " I'm afraid it's true, Felicity." "Tony got away a few days ago." "His father was going to make good all the money he embezzled." "On one condition - that Tony went to the police." "But you had to stop Tony doing that, didn't you, Howard?" "I haven't killed anybody." "This is a monstrous suggestion!" "Oh, this is absurd." "I'm going to see for myself." "This gets crazier by the minute!" "Howard is right, there is no body." "No evidence..." " But you said you saw..." " I saw two murders, Felix." "Two bodies." "The Blamey girl and young Purnell." "Yes, that is what you saw, but I don't think Purnell was responsible for the knife in Veronica's back." "Nor do I think Howard shot Tony Purnell." " Thank you." " Somebody else is the killer?" "Someone else is responsible, yes." "And they haven't finished." "# If one green bottle should accidentally fall #" "No, that's the wrong tune." "Listen." " # If one green bottle... #" " That's right!" "# There'll be seven green bottles hanging on the wall" "# Seven green bottles hanging on the wall" "# Seven green bottles hanging on the wall" "# And if one green bottle should accidentally fall... #" " You only touched the barrel?" " Of course." "# Six green bottles hanging on the wall" "# Six green bottles hanging on the wall" "# And if one green bottle should accidentally fall #" "They are real." "Both of them?" "Yes." "The knife has been used hundreds of time by many people." "It was made in Sheffield in 1924 and brought into this house by Greville." "Who used it on Veronica Blamey?" "No living soul." "And the revolver?" "Who used it on Purnell?" "No living soul." "In this house, Sapphire." "Something hidden." "Something disguised." "A force inhabiting something." "Yes, well, tell me some more about that." "It was made in Birmingham in 1928 and brought into this house by George McDee." "Who used it on Purnell?" "No living soul." "That doesn't tell us much." "It's so eerie, dreadful things keep happening." " Do you know what I think?" " No one cares, Emma." "I think it's a poltergeist." "It's a little poltergeist trying to tell us something." "I'm not sorry about this." " Who do you suppose killed Purnell?" " If anybody did." "What are you talking about?" "We all saw the body." " But can you see it now?" " You stand up for yourself." "Till they put a rope round your neck." "Felix, there's no time for any more games." "Not even hangman before dinner." "Oh, do keep quiet, you silly old sausage." "Don't be rude, Arthur, not even to Emma!" "Really, Arthur." "Did you learn anything?" "A need to kill in this house." "And we are its only obstacle." "It's having to concentrate on us." "The power resides in this house." "Everything else is irrelevant to the central intention." "Which is?" "The need to retrace the years back to 1930." "Until time takes a different course." "Felix, it's been in the family for years." "Still, it was your gun and you did have a motive." " Yes." " I don't think Miles would agree." "What does he know?" "And who the hell is he, anyway?" "Mind your language, Howard!" " In front of the ladies." " Of course." "So sorry." " Think nothing of it." " I wasn't talking to you." " There we are, Grandmama." " Thank you, Malcolm." "I wish somebody could tell me what is going on." "I'll second that." "Howard has a point." " Here we are, all friends..." " Ha ha" "At least we all know a great deal about each other." "Except for the Cavendishes." "They're my guests!" "That should be good enough." "All you can tell us about him is that he is in futures." " Where did you meet him, Arthur?" " At my club." "He introduced himself and we got talking business." "And now you're happy to let him investigate two apparent murders?" " Yes." " Why?" "Because he's qualified!" "'You were right. ' 'What?" "'" "'The motives are irrelevant." "'What do you mean by a different course?" "'" "'An uncontrollable disaster in 1930.'" "'And no one knew?" "'" "'It was frustrated on June 22nd, 50 years ago. '" "'So now it's gonna take us back to that day 'and rearrange events that followed?" " 'For that... ' - 'It needs George McDee." "'It can't let him die." "If it can keep him alive he will cause the disaster." "'Life will end on this planet. '" "'And does it need any of the other people in this house?" "'Felix and Annabelle Harborough, Howard McDee, Emma, the others?" "'" "'They're living in a void, in a vacuum. '" "'Have any of them been taken over?" "Ah, so this is where you two lovely people are hiding!" "Well, we weren't exactly hiding." "Well, you'll have to stop, we've decided to eat at last." " Miles!" " We've put it off long enough." "Greville's getting exasperated and if Cook goes into a sulk the pudding will be a disaster." "Ah, Cavendish." "We're led to believe you're a qualified detective." " In a way, yes." " What do you mean?" " I'm a specialised investigator." " In futures." "He works out who's going to commit the crime before it happens, eh?" "Well, you did say you were in the futures market." "How fascinating." "Well?" " 'Can you guess who'll be next?" "'" " Since you ask... yes, I can." "That's why you haven't asked us what we were doing at the time of the murders." "You could tell us what we'll be doing at the time of the next murder" "I wouldn't take the next few hours too lightly." "Dinner is served, sir!" "Splendid!" "Come along everybody!" "Who's going to take in who?" "We've got a rather special jugged hare tonight." " Arthur shot it himself." " Arthur's a dab hand with a gun." "It's not the shooting of the hare it's the excitement of waiting." "I don't mind trying to eat the poor creature but I will not..." "I love my brother but he's too fond of shooting things." "Ooh!" "Oh, this is too wretched." "I shan't be able to eat a thing." "Cook will be so disappointed." "Do try, Felicity." "Won't you sit down, everybody?" "'Sapphire... '" "'The rule is to start from the outside and work your way through. '" "Sorry, Miss Emma, I'm not very hungry either." "Oh, what a shame!" "I do like to see good appetites around me." "In spite of what happened to take them away?" "Oh, yes." "We must eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow..." "Oh, what am I saying?" "It's awful but I feel ravenous!" "Annabelle!" "How can you be so callous?" " I can't help it." " Annabelle's appetites need crisis." "Rather like my thirst!" "'George?" "George, darling?" "'" "'Hello..." "Oh, Emma!" "'" "'Hello, I hope you don't mind." "I had to see you. '" "George?" "George, darling?" "Hello..." "Oh, Emma!" "Hello." "I hope you don't mind." "I had to see you." "This is idiotic, Emma!" "Have you told her?" "Not yet." "Turn that thing down, will you?" "!" "I..." "I've been too busy here." " You promised you'd tell her." " And I will." " When?" " Very soon, I promise." "Now be a good girl and get out of here before anybody notices." "If they do notice!" "I only came to say we're just starting dinner." "Aye, well, you be a good girl and get along without me." " I'll be along in a minute." " Yes." "George?" "Yes?" "Shall I see you tonight?" "Yes, of course." "Come to my room when she's in bed and asleep." "When they're all asleep." "I'll be waiting." "And this chap, who'd had a couple of drinks, said to Emma," ""Do you know the road to Mandalay?" And she said, "Yes, shall I sing it?"" "And he said, "No, take it!"" "I thought that was funny." " There you are!" " We were talking about you." "I've been making sure everything's all right in the kitchen." "Somebody had to help Cook." "I see no one had the courtesy to wait for me." "You know you don't like being disturbed." "Greville, you've kept something from Mr McDee." "Yes!" "There's a draught in that drawing room." "Yes, it chilled me to the bone." " It's always been there." " It's no warmer in here." " It's midsummer." " The night of the summer solstice." " Tell us all about it." " It's the points on the elliptic..." " Miles, you can tell me." " Well, it..." "It's the points that mark the earth's position at the sun's extreme limit of distance..." " north and south of the equator." " Fascinating." "All double Dutch to me." "It's the longest day." "We have little control over our fates on June 21st." " Oh, dear." " Rubbish!" "A sensible man can control his fate." "Do you think so?" "'They're accepting his presence. '" " 'Howard isn't. '" " Shall I serve now, sir," " or when the ladies have retired?" " I have no intention of retiring." " Safety in numbers, eh?" " Quite right!" " Oh, not while the men are smoking." " No, we're going to stick together." "Serve the port, Greville, get it over with." " Yes, sir." "For you?" " No, no." "Start at the other end." "Yes, sir." "Mr Cavendish!" "Sir." "Come along, man, it's with you." "Yes." "You not drinking, Cavendish?" "If you're not, would you mind passing it?" "Oh, sorry." " Good God, man, clockwise!" " Shut up, Howard!" "'Sapphire?" "What is going on?" "'" "'It's the custom here to pass this particular drink to the left. '" "'Why?" "'" "'Just one of their childish superstitions. '" "May I, er..." "May I offer you the first toast of the evening?" " No speeches!" " Mullrine and McDee." "To the millions they make out of pain and misery." "To our hosts - charlatans and purveyors of blood." " Howard, you are a pest." " Who are you?" "!" "I'm..." "I'm..." "Do you think he's drunk, Arthur?" "A bit squiffy?" "On the contrary, he's a bit dead."