A little story inspired by a picture of the Cardiff International Food and Drink Festival I saw on a website. Tents (or covered stalls) are placed all around the edges of Roald Dahl Plass in a flattened circle

The Festival

"There's something coming near The Tube," called Ianto, alerting Jack and Gwen. "A smallish spike but definitely a spike." He was getting used to the technology now and felt a bit more secure when making predictions of this kind. "Should be active in about 10 minutes."

"Okay." Jack was up, threading his Webley holster through his belt. "Any indication what it is?"

"No, sorry." Ianto checked the CCTV, nothing was visible, just the normal gaggle of tourists. "There's tourists over there."

"Of course there is," interjected Gwen, "it is the Visitor Centre." She regretted her sarcasm but really, what a stupid thing to say.

For the past several weeks, since losing Owen and Toshiko, they'd been ultra polite to one another, never treading on toes or passing a critical comment. They'd all been too shaken up by events to want to inflict more pain. But there came a time when honesty overcame this unnatural courtesy. This was Gwen's time.

Jack, putting on his coat, shot her a warning look but did not say anything. She was only being truthful. "Gwen, with me." He threw the pouch containing the all-purpose alien sedative to her while he grabbed the scanner and a can of Weevil spray which was good for other species as well. "Ianto, keep us informed." Jack and Gwen ran for the lift, "I want to know everything you know before you know it."

Ianto raised an eyebrow at this impossibility but had something more urgent he had to say. "Umm, Jack, I don't think the lift's a good idea," he called out while still trying to keep an eye on the screens. He was smarting from Gwen's comment but accepted he had stated the obvious. It was just he didn't want to miss anything.

"It's the quickest route," Jack shot back, he and Gwen already on the slab and ascending.

"Yes, but …"

"Too late, Ianto. Now what have you got for me?" Jack's voice wafted down.

Ianto said nothing, they'd be back in a minute. He watched the lift as it reached ground level and heard a sudden shrill, female scream. Then raised voices and more screaming. The lift started to descend, Jack and Gwen crouching defensively, as if warding off blows. Ianto smiled to himself; Jack should make time to listen to him, he really should. He went back to the screens, no change.

The lift reached the floor of the Hub and the two scrambled off and made back towards Ianto and the cog door. Jack caught his eye. "You could have reminded me," he accused as he strode purposefully. "Why they put those damned tents …

"Covered stalls," corrected Ianto.

"…tents in the Plass I shall never know." He was brushing off his coat which had the remnants of a tomato and some cheese sliding down it. "Stupid bloody woman, as if I wanted to steal her baguettes."

Gwen was smiling as she wiped off a stain on her jacket, mayonnaise by the looks of it. "Oh come on, Jack. We suddenly appear, the back of her tent goes up in the air and a table is upset and spills food all over the place. What would you think was happening?"

"There was no need to throw food at us." He stood still, about to go out of the door.

"Stop sulking, you big baby. We knew the Food Festival was on and Ianto warned us not to use the lift because a tent would be on it. Now, come on, we've got to get over to The Tube."

"I did try to warn you." Ianto's lips twitched and he smiled a slight, private smile.

"Well, try harder next time." Jack grouched, walking through the door and up to the Tourist Office.

Gwen grinned and waved at Ianto. "I'll tell you all about it when we get back," she promised then hurried out after Jack.

Ianto turned back to the screens and pulled up the feed from the Plass. Sure enough one of the many covered stalls, the one nearest the water tower, was on its side and there was a frenzy of activity all around as people converged to sort out the mess of upturned food. His smile broadened into a grin but then he looked back at the Rift predictor, the spike was getting bigger, and his grin disappeared.