Dance Of The Dead

    After Number 6's first meeting with Number 240, later to become his observer, who hurries away towards the Town Hall, this in order to take up her duties in the Control Room. Number 6 takes it into his head to follow her. But suddenly that white membranic Village Guardian impedes his progress enough to give 240 a head start. Then moves away for a second, allowing Number 6 to mount the steps and follow in the Observers footsteps. But then reappears again impeding his progress along the cobbled path.
   Number 240 approaches the pair of wrought iron gates across the road opposite the Town Hall. She looks back for a second, as she realises that she is being followed by Number 6. However the Village Guardian, continues to impede her pursuer, and gives her time to cross the street and enter the Town Hall.
   There is no force used by this membranic being against Number 6, nor does it emit its blood curdling roar, or attempt to suffocate him into unconsciousness. Instead it simply uses gentle persuasion and a touch of agitation, slowing Number 6's progress, enough to give Number 240 time to enter the Town Hall.
   As for Number 6, he may have been in The Town Hall before, to witness the disillusionment of the Town Council at the time of the election, but he didn’t know about the electronic force field at the entrance to the Town Hall. It seems that it’s fussy who it lets in. Perhaps, like the electronic defence beam in ‘Hammer Into Anvil,’ the electronic force field is a further development of the Rooks!

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