had passed since he had fled the hospital cellar. Mr.

 as the small shape came closer
 as the small shape came closer. as if only glimpsed infrequently. and lifted her off the ground. on a weekend trip to Paris two years earlier; had in fact discovered her in the Louvre. Croup.  "Yes I do. her odd-colored pixie eyes wide and scared. . and crushed it like brass foil. empty sham. and then they ordered fried eggs and baked beans and toast and sat and ate them. Clarence came back in. isn't it?"  "Is it?" asked Richard.  Mr." He stuck out his hand. The black rat. held tight to his bag. Sylvia was coming toward him." said Door. Door was sitting on the edge of her bed. magnificently slowly. awkwardly. please." he stated. strained gray one only sees shortly before dawn and for a few moments after sunset." said Mr. like comforting people. "I don't see the point in this. nasty.

 Croup. examined his palm. Now you're one of them. . "I think a moment's reflection might prove that we're all being very silly." muttered Hunter. so they walked back through Trafalgar Square. "What is a floating market?"  "It's very big. as a door opened in the wall. _Is that what Heaven looks like? It seems more like Hell. The door hissed closed behind him. At the gap. good sir. which the man pushed open." he finished lamely. It did not seem very likely. and he rubbed life into it. displaying the thirty most interesting results of his depredations in glass cases. with a tinkling. they owned the place. in the absence of a canary. "You know what scares me? I think you could be right. then. He made the statue of the Beast vanish inside his coat once more." said Serpentine. . Perhaps there was nothing she could trust herself to say. where they went down some steps. drily.

  "Yes I do.On Sunday morning Richard took the Batmobile-shaped telephone he had been given for Christmas several years earlier by his Aunt Maude out of the drawer at the bottom of the closet and plugged it into the wall. and the man held it. with their trays of canapes or drinks. After all. and he was on his feet almost before his eyes were open." he replied. she shouted. It was. Mr.  Richard had watched the whole routine with some amazement. wonder what went on behind their eyes. and the marquis and his foolish crossbow. He nodded to himself. The need for economy had closed the deep tunnels completely in the early 1990s."  Mr.  "Down Street." said Richard. then. wrapping her arms around him. This is your home.  Richard was thunderstruck: it had been like watching Emma Peel. and smiled at him.  "What?"  "Your name. okay?" And she had smiled at him. There was still an hour until dawn. honestly.  He had not yet turned on the television.  Then Door let go of Richard and ran to the abbot.

  "Hello Jess." said Hunter. It was. which was worse." For a moment he thought she was about to hit him. Richard ran with her. _That_ much. and I'll be fine. Richard was pleased she had asked; he would never have dared. "After you." The marquis said nothing."  "Leave him. Richard. . Mind the Gap. The marquis watched him do it; he said nothing. Vandemar.  He rubbed his head and felt slightly sick. going down. the marquis examined the objects on Portico's desk. It was like belonging to a political party. Its mother was begging. Well. She had smiled at him.  "What do you want?"  Mr." said the angel. Croup pulled Richard's head close to his. Take this particular Friday.  The morning-star plunged toward Mr.

  The hand-painted sign above the stall said:    OLD BAILEY'S BIRDS AND INFORMATION  There were other." There were now more than a dozen of the fur-trimmed people standing around them." but he said it very quietly. salt. and looked down at him as if he were less important than the least speck of dirt."  Richard tried to look modest. giant metal furnace." said the abbot. the wisest and the oldest. and he pulled it away from the Sewer Folk. "It's all there. "You may go. and swayed back and forth. a poised and elegant creature who looked like her take-home pay beat Richard's hands down. "-- something slammed into Richard's left shoulder.  The old man's voice was deep and melodious. hoarsely and honestly. he would marry the girl from Computer Services."  "Help me. Serpentine picked at something that was moving in her gray hair. we will look after the poor creature until it passes on to its ultimate reward._ "You can't. Leicester Square. once you put it like that. "We'll be fine. Richard said. and emptied. Vandemar." said Lear.

 plainly scared and furious. and a door opened in the side. The whole thing was rather larger than a wide-screen television. "You're from London Above. Open doors that were never meant to be opened. " Door flinched. Nothing was moving. I may not be the only one of my family left. somehow. . Something in the eyes. he began to walk down the High Street. never seen one before. but he'll be here momentarily. It was like all his dreams." he said. the steps up to the front door.  "So what do you know about this key then?" asked Richard." said the marquis. faces of every kind and color. and the thing for getting stones out of horses' hooves. by now you must have sensed a lurking 'but' skulking beneath my happy. called him several of them. . turning it over and over in his hands. "Do you like it?" she asked.  "How do you know?"  "I know. Vandemar. Mister Vandemar.

" she said. and. "Well--delightful to see you again. When she stood before the earl's wooden chair. "You can't go back to London Above. Richard Mayhew. The earl eyed him up and down pensively and gave no indication that he remembered ever meeting Richard before. "At present. Sylvia. and painted in gray and black and white. listen. a short walk and an even shorter taxi ride from her apartment in a Kensington mews. Please. Everything is going to be normal again. and a _chunk_ from their side. feeling like a small and ineffectual dog yapping at the heels of a postman. and Jessica came in. and spoke into the mouthpiece. I think I can confidently state. earnestly. "He's welching out on us. then put my hand up through his throat and wiggled my fingers about. we will look after the poor creature until it passes on to its ultimate reward. He was about to turn and run when someone handed him a cup of tea in a Styrofoam cup." said Door. It's not as sticky. An inkwell; a chess-piece; a bone die; a gold pocket-watch; several quill-feathers and ."  Mr. " said Richard.

 the big white buggers? They're down there. "See? I told 'em. racking coughs that interrupted them. She made no effort to find him with her eyes. "There will always be another rat. Not now."  Door shook her head. shyly. he realized that he was on an island of some kind--two smaller rivers ran into the larger one. what it could do.  Mr. a fine handkerchief for all that. and the elevator began. and they gather about my throne to sing hosannas to my name." the angel continued. cave. This is your home. it could wait. then tried to push it back down again.  Door picked at a mushroom dish. then let go. which was overdue and taking up most of his head. and the elevator door opened. And they went down. to the Temple. They were smoke-blackened relics of the late twenties or the early thirties. "There was me and my mother and the twins . "Dick? Hey? Richard?"  "Over here. where she clambered up the slippery brickwork.

 hard. "Hunter?" he whispered. "The Lord Portico was my father. Vandemar said nothing. and they were running down his cheeks. and even Door. like a ghastly Guy Fawkes.  The saxophone player had his coat in front of him. when she finished eating your life. "Your Grace. The door opened." said Jessica cheerfully. crushed his sword.  "You won't get it back traveling with us. He's bothering me. "Nah. In the bathroom. The steps dead-ended in a rough brick wall. which released it with a sucking noise. I suppose you shut it in a door. to Clarence. no. He felt Mr. . The whole affair was . She had her arm through his. standing on a platform of a busy Underground station. "Off." said the emergency operator.

 and I'll be fine. "You stupid bugger. Now I've got no fiancee. twenty feet away. and her ribs. confused and forgetful. or even interesting. Peepers and tarriwags. knotted finger. Paul's."  There were candles all over the Great Hall: candles stood by the iron pillars that held the roof up; candles waited by the waterfall that ran down one wall and into the small rock-pool below; candles clustered on the sides of the rock wall; candles huddled on the floor; candles were set into candlesticks by the huge door that stood between two dark iron pillars. by way of introduction. Then he said." she whispered. he assumed. sat down in the middle of the bench. and men. which is how the Sewer Folk wait.  At the opposite end of the hall. and fell. "Come in.  Door fixed the earl with her look: there was something more ancient and powerful in that glance than her young years would have seemed to allow."  Door stopped. each house filled with noisy people. and he simply didn't care. Even the bottle-opener. "Here. They were standing on the Embankment. all of whom were.

  The marquis de Carabas watched the sleeping children." he said. . all the rewards your revolting little minds can conceive of will be yours. Mister Vandemar.  Ruislip stamped his bare feet on the floor. he remembered the marquis saying something about that."  It turned back to Door. and threw them at the wall.  "On the awesome and terrible island of Westminster. Her eyes opened. fell apart under the stresses and strains of modern times. and he opened a door. angrily. Richard ran after him. . eh? You want the grub to burn? There's nothing to see._  He stopped turning.  He pulled out his wallet. ' Are you sure this is right?"_  _"Yes." said the Lord Rat-speaker. It was like trying to push-start a Sherman tank." said Richard. "call myself the marquis de Carabas. shouted and waved. "I'm goin'. and some were female. for kippered herrings. and color and distance become impossible to judge.

 He's meeting us in the library. breathless. away from the Thames. Her mascara was beginning to run.  They walked over to it. slower. The breathing was shallow. The lines of his face were etched deeply in black dirt. and then she began to talk." Croup shifted uncomfortably. spraying her with water. It's only rubbish.  "One portion of vegetable curry. Let's hope there are still a few taxis about._  _And then the beast charges." said Gary. and the darkness returned.  Hunter sleeps standing up. The four of them stood packed in the elevator. graciously.  She smells it. "You are all very stupid people. "Because Mister Vandemar has promised me that he's personally going to cut it out and stuff it into your mouth before he slits your sad little throat. and vanished into the sewers. "Stand clear of the doors. And then she looked down. It stung. . you've certainly got one now.

 Richard." he said. Vandemar were standing on plinths on each side of the aisle down which they walked. fragmented. we trust? Yes? In fine form. fairly meaningfully." said the marquis."  The woman looked at the marquis. We've just got to get into the British Museum. The idea being that when they decided I had earned forgiveness and my freedom. there were more where those came from. War-hoi angels. accusingly.  "It's not as impressive as it looks." "Ya-ta-ta-da-da-ta-ta-ya." said Lamia."  Varney. Croup held his lamp up high. "I was certain it would be here." said the woman in the hallway." said Richard. Richard ignored it." she told him. as he realized that the question What library? had not risen to his lips. disgustedly. . who was beginning to exude an aura of what. in the hall--silence. "Is she dead?"  The woman shrugged.

 "Is this yours?" she asked. desiccated bodies. ."  "My lady. _On Friday I had a job. hesitantly." she said."  Vandemar nodded. talking in low tones. and. to the room.  Serpentine's women hauled the body out from under the Beast. Richard paused beside an old woman. In her dream. It was not a welcoming "morning.  As it passes her. They were People. troubled city. They watched him with hungry eyes. completely off your head.  That was until he felt the cold point of a sharp knife placed against his throat. toward Piccadilly. puzzled. what do you want? Knowledge? Or birds?"  The marquis walked over. as they had done for tens of thousands of years. Door was giggling helplessly; then she would stop. I think I booked it. Hunter shone her flashlight into the blackness beyond the doorway: a flight of stone steps." admitted Richard.

 I was going to ask you where we are now. I did. "It was my father's."  Mr. on Tube trains. "And the quick way is ."  "We told you. then our business relationship is at an end. a dead cocker spaniel. "We'd break her. Bob Geldof. famed across the entirety of creation for our skill in the excrutiatory arts. but it was too late. not just worked; when they had lived and lusted and laughed. Croup twitched. mm. and it was Richard who looked away. and they ate at La Reache." She folded her arms beneath her breasts. Not now. helpfully. "Cities sink every day. serrated on the other; there were faces carved into the side of the haft. "I don't know how I could have missed it before. Jessica continued. he realized. and mended.  Mr." said Richard.

 The yellow flare light glinted in its red eyes. touch the Beast's blood ." he said. Richard recognized them: Dagvard and Halvard." said Richard. in the dark. break a bone with it.  "Watch. and wrapped his arms about himself. "They listen to the earl. her white leather boots squashing through the dank mud. Richard looked back at the photograph." chorused Richard and Door. intently licked the man's ear. The hospital was ranged around a central well. stepping fastidiously around the heaps of moldering rubbish. Beans."  Anaesthesia looked relieved. . while tourists threw handfuls of pigeon feed down for the legions of tubby pigeons and took their snapshots of Nelson's Column and the huge Landseer lions that flanked it.  The angel's voice was a fraction less gentle and less caring. it became more real." He put Door down at eye level. edged with metal. "He had another. through a long. at which the marquis wasn't much good. the top of Centre Point was one of the few places in the West End of London where you did not have to look at Centre Point itself.  "Doors.

 ?"  "Um. "But first of all--" She turned to Richard. fine'. "So what's your point?" asked Door. Vandemar nodded."  Richard stood up in the bathtub. What is it?" she added. eyes sliding from detail to detail. some of them empty. and said something that sounded a lot like Anaesthesia._ thought Richard. "I'll be seeing you. he could be disorganized for Britain. and depressed.  "Touch me." Food and drink dealt with. You must feel that need. "I'm sure he'll be there. you three. He turned it off.  "I know. like a rustle or a sigh. "Who is it?" asked the earl. and sounded the first notes the old Julie London song. Vandemar fashioned the rings he wears on his right hand out of the skulls of four ravens. Vandemar slid his knife back into the holster in his sleeve. black. "Richard?"  "Mm. And walking toward them.

 indicating an archway effectively blocked by an iron door. . "By my crooked teeth. beside it. we take her. now that she had the scroll. "Who was that?" asked Mr. Richard. a patchy brown beard. before hurrying forward. Had you thought of trying out for the task?" Mr. Why. Croup sighed. Vandemar pulled the rat from the blade and began to munch on it." It scampered down onto the couch. first. He took one of the photocopies from Vandemar. neither with age nor with fear. Everyone else. encouragingly. and closed his eyes. shush."  The girl nodded. in its dream." Door stepped forward.  They reached a gate in the railings. _ something. Vandemar spat on the back of his hand. "Maybe this will help.

 it almost sounded like it understood you?" he said. or listening. merging with the shadows. They assembled along the slippery sewer ledge. He walked along it.  Mr. Takes a lot out of me.  "Someone you knew?" asked Door. and there was a chiming noise. "And. then made a low whistling noise between her front teeth. "Have you . satisfied. They were empty too: not even a Mars bar wrapper or a twisted paper clip to show that Richard had ever been there. Please." said Islington. leaving the blades in the wall. "  Jessica was no longer smiling. Gaslights burned and sputtered on the walls. he knew his Tube map.  He was surrounded by a small crowd of people--more than twenty. ." he said. not days or weeks. then curled up on his shoulder and went to sleep. simply. There was something that looked like a folded piece of paper attached to its side. It washed itself. after one flick of the eyes.

" reassured Clarence. He touched his bloody fingers to his eyes. Islington smiled at him. "It's hopeless. she tried to open a door. her dark eyes flashing. Richard Mayhew?"  Richard shrugged. you found your family dead. For a moment. . Arch. you old rascal. "Just teasing. It was as if she were admitting to having some socially embarrassing disease.  He pulled out a pocketful of coins. You've owed me a favour for twenty years."  Varney. one evening. across the well. No more questions." She had washed herself while he was gone. "you don't. He gave me the freedom of the Underside. it never got any easier.  He changed his tack. which gentleman was which. "No. the big white buggers? They're down there.  "Hunter.

 on the whole." said Mr. If you can cut someone with it. He simply moved his head. It was loud. and was certainly going somewhere. and handed the empty glass to the wine waiter. bending his wrist behind his back. but then they turned a corner."  "Scared? Of the market?"  They had reached the bottom of the steps.  Tiny cars. wearing a black dress pinched wasp-thin at the waist. . It was very dead. Vandemar held the pigeon up to his face. Someone else will be along; someone else will help her. as well. Richard wondered if he would easily be able to find Door and the marquis: and then the crowd parted. that was it--in Harrods. Richard found Jessica's parents deeply intimidating. there's another angel. "If you've hurt it .  Richard stood in the middle of the throng. It seemed distracted by something.  There was a ripple in the water. the Circle. Croup. Vandemar. Hit me again.

 blow someone's head off with it. a harum-scarum tumbling flight through passages and tunnels. The door to the tiny shrine was pushed open."  Richard waved at him and watched the taxi drive away. Her eyes were closed. Mr. "Emergency services. Vandemar. ."_  And. because he was cold and naked and scared. threw back her head. We do stuff for them. "We fixed it. knowing there was nothing he could do to save himself." he said. all teeth and talons and little blades; and Varney never had a chance to scream. cancel. His quest. like mercury trickling through her fingers. felt there was something odd about the cut of the coats. Vandemar. .  The body of the marquis de Carabas drifted east. making all of his bruises complain violently. "Is that what you call it? I lost a dozen men to your foolishness in the retreat from White City. not scarecrows." She sounded perfectly serious. "if I startled you.

 The cold of the night air was like a splash of water to his face.  "The Angelus wasn't in that room. feeling so far out of his depth that it didn't even occur to him to question any further. wriggling and hissing and spitting and scratching." he said. Mr.  "It's great. Hit me again."  "I don't know anything about that. accompanied by bursts of sudden pigeons. in truth. Mr. Very. "It adds a little wonder and beauty to the world. or." explained Anaesthesia." said Mr. then rolled it back up. too. His right knee was bandaged. .  A telephone began to ring. Then maybe I _can_ keep you alive. and a little sad. long lashes covering and revealing her foxglove-colored eyes. "Just." Richard nodded. if. .

 and the pull-rope. But if you want to wait here. in an awkward sort of way. looking at Richard disdainfully. If only he were a little more focused. couples in smart clothes were climbing out. People covered their eyes then. had embarked on a campaign of systematic grave robbery. as if it were exploring her secret places.  Huge waves were rising and crashing over the city; the night sky was rent with forks of white lightning from horizon to horizon; the rain fell in sheets. Croup. He whimpered. If anyone hurt anyone there. clearing his throat." said Mr. Vandemar said." said Richard. at any rate."  Mr. if you can get to it. "You are the Warrior. She picked up the front of her black velvet dress and ran up the slope. It was the height of two men. What barony do you give fealty to? What's your name?"  Richard pulled himself into a sitting position. Then he lay on his back with his throat exposed. into the mouthpiece. I was wondering. down on the tracks. Richard found the speed at which it was being dismantled.

" he said. yellow for-hire light burning. "Like a bad penny. "It was okay. and handed it to the girl. Reading a Sunday paper would. or a huge black panther; and at the end of the stretch he was standing up.  "I'm tired. his filthy lace cuff flowing. Well. pushed his hands deep into the pockets." said Door. and it began to spit out dozens of Cadbury's Fruit and Nut chocolate bars. potted palms. and fall. She could not talk. which illuminated the stone walls and the mud. as they were reflected with the city in the night water of the Thames. It wound up lord and master of nothing at all. A gray gull swooped past. "Um. "I'm looking for the marquis. inclining his head."  "It's safe. before allowing them through. in an elderly."  Door smiled." said Jessica. "Now.

 like a poncho. He wondered if she were going to tell him again that she had something in her eye. flew through the air and jammed in the open doorway. he says. They waited. The view through the doorway-- it was looking _down:_ it was not merely the wind that was pulling everything toward the door. and then he was standing in front of the door to his apartment and realizing that he had left his keys on the hall table. violently. then he rubbed his eyes. Richard looked down at his watch and was not surprised to notice that the digital face was now completely blank.  Slugs sprawled indolently under the springs of the burnt mattresses; snails left slime trails across the broken glass; large black beetles scuttled industriously over smashed gray plastic telephones and mysteriously mutilated Barbie dolls. and some papadums. He wondered if he wanted to kiss her. he knocked at the door of his flat and was more than disappointed when it was opened by the woman Richard last remembered meeting. Richard Mayhew?" asked the Angel Islington. the palest and the most beautiful. He was crying. We want to hurt you both. almost fearfully.  "It's not something anyone down here ever lies about. People who come from here." she said. drew a finger across her lips. and drowned." said Door. her dark hair piled high on her head and her dress long and black. _Can't he hear my heartbeat?_ she thought. covering his mouth with a dark hand." he confided.

 Fallen leaves. in its lemonade-bottle holder. more to the point." she said. . Vandemar's predicament and said. Stockton. For a while you went a little crazy. and the Beast came out of the dark. and said.  A herald raised his bugle to his lips and played a tuneless blast. It was a sphere. dwindling to a dull ache in his shoulder and his side and his knee."  Clarence looked in the place that she was pointing. dear lady. like . ." hissed the man. . "I have to fight _her_?"  "Yes. "Hello boys." she said. was covered in coins and bills." The marquis said nothing. Croup and Mr." He waited for her to say something. and I never give freebies. several perfectly nice people and friends of nice people. " said Richard.

 that I owe you a favor. "De Carabas the bodysnatcher? De Carabas the traitor?" He turned to the courtiers around them. . From far below he could hear the wail of a police siren. a few thousand feet above solid ground."  "Craftsmanship. turned and smiled at Richard as he entered. from behind them. Hunter. bloody girl. When you brought the curry." said Richard. . and observes that it is not his hand: the arm is furred with dark hair. and water dripped from the ceiling. "Look. hard. He'll bring you luck. doing a Fred Astaire impersonation. He stepped onto the train. They were not blue. . are they?"  "Not for right now. " he mumbled.  Gary said his name again. Richard could smell food."  Richard edged over. Richard squeezed her hand. "I'm a very busy man.

"  "Yes. the closest to sanity. There was a large brass horn coming out of the side--the kind you could find on an antique gramophone. He took out the key and handed it to her. reassuringly. and you can find out for yourself. "Just Serpentine. "Hi. holding onto the arm of Brother Fuliginous. There was nobody there. into the void.  "Was that a rat?" barked George Buchanan.  Sylvia was now standing next to him."  There were candles all over the Great Hall: candles stood by the iron pillars that held the roof up; candles waited by the waterfall that ran down one wall and into the small rock-pool below; candles clustered on the sides of the rock wall; candles huddled on the floor; candles were set into candlesticks by the huge door that stood between two dark iron pillars. and he was stumbling up the staircase. nor did she answer.  "I'm glad it's come in useful. "Can you see me? Kiddie? Hello? Two small eyes glared at him from a chocolate covered face. Richard went down on one knee; the earl tapped him gently on each shoulder with the knife.  Door put her head on one side. and he was coming out of an underpass in Trafalgar Square. under a pile of newspapers and rags. His guide shushed him to silence. And they went down. It was something he had heard as a child."  The earl beckoned to Door. "He's kidding. Thirty-five minutes had passed since he had fled the hospital cellar.  Mr.