“Strax gave a snort of amusement. ‘It is surely a very simple choice. One option is for a quiet life with honest work amongst other humans paying a living wage and with prospects of promotion within a distinguished household. The other... ‘ He drew himself up to his full height and looked up at them, ‘is the prospect of constant danger, fear and risk. No chance of ever seeing your friends again, or making new ones. The knowledge that death waits around the next corner and you are unlikely to see the end of the next week without at the very least a serious injury. A glorious alternative.”

“Strax slammed his fist into the open palm of his other hand. ‘At last,’ he pronounced. ‘We strike for the greater glory of the Sontaran Empire. Sontar-Ha!’ His brow furrowed slightly as he saw the others’ expressions. ‘That is. For the greater glory of Paternoster Row, of course. Pater-Nos-Ta!”

“Madame Vastra and the others made their return to Paternoster Row by a circumspect route. Strax in particular was keen to intercept any individual he suspected might be following and forcibly remove a variety of their limbs and appendages. But Jenny prevailed upon him that most of the people he singled out were merely walking past. Given the lateness of the hour there were, thankfully, not many.‘What about him?’ Strax said, pointing to a figure shambling slowly along on the opposite pavement.‘That old lady is selling lucky heather, and she’s heading in a different direction so she’s unlikely to be following us.’‘She could be bluffing. And who is this Lucky Heather anyway?’‘It’s heather – it’s a plant not a person. It’s supposed to be lucky.’‘Not if I catch her, it won’t be.’‘Strax,’ Vastra said simply. ‘No.”

“He ain’t my friend,’ Harry said. ‘Not no more, he ain’t.’Strax leaned across to Jenny. ‘At what age do these cubs become grammatical?’ he demanded.‘Depends,’ she told him. ‘At what age do Sontarans become pacifists?”

“There may not be time.’ Strax said, ‘to conduct a full surveillance regime according to prescribed regulations in order to formulate a coherent strategy of the best method to effect entry.’‘That’s true,’ Madame Vastra agreed. ‘So I suggest you simply break down this door.”

“The Doctor snorted. 'Wimp!' He squared his shoulders and turned towards the fire, grinning. 'Race you.' And he was off, running. Jack hesitated, sighed, swore, and ran after him. Levin and Krylek, Catherine and the villagers stared after them in astonishment. Two dark figures running though fire...”

“The guards had asked the Doctor to please wait in the hallway until Mr McCavity had time to see him. So it seemed only polite, the Doctor thought, to wait until they had gone before he wandered off to explore the house.”