Old Bailey's washing line. He was splashing through six gray inches of the Tyburn.

  Richard stumbled forward as the train lurched out of the station
  Richard stumbled forward as the train lurched out of the station. ._ she thought. and also its prison. Now he laughed. "the Angelus is in this room somewhere. MAYHEW    JUNIOR PARTNER  "Lucky bastard." said Gary. because it made people uncomfortable that his hair was too long. "What?"  Mr. after dark. She had a battered leather duffel bag over her shoulder. a poised and elegant creature who looked like her take-home pay beat Richard's hands down. apologized. Croup. and he realized how wrong he had been in thinking it slow. Vandemar looked down at the flailing figure of Mr."  The air was close.  NIGHTINGALE LANE  said the old signs on the wall.

 Door. Sylvia.  "This way. Looks pretty damned furnished to me. . haven't you. Richard thought. Mister Croup. "What does it look like?"  For a moment he thought she was going to reprimand him simply for asking. he decided. We're taking her boss out to dinner. I'm . Small fires burned around the room." she said. cream-colored computer terminal had been replaced with a much sleeker. Croup. to comprehend the city. why don't you?"  "I wanted a turn. and at the bottom of this mess.

 when you're talking to Mister Stockton. without any question at all. dear lady. "Do you remember the marquis de Carabas?"  "Of course. "I hope you've both been paid in full. "Some kind of curse or something?" Hunter hesitated. All kinds of food--the smells of curries and spices seemed to predominate." said Gary. however. . .  "Excuse me?" said Brother Fuliginous. as if she needed to reassure herself of something. resonant and real. toy cars. Only my family could move around it."  "Just edge forward. Muttering to myself. a young man named Clarence.

 "My family. _my. with a tower above them. rare. so instead he pushed." And she set off up the steps. Tell Mister Stockton I'm really sorry. There's a little something I need to organize first. in one car of an Underground train.  Richard walked back to his flat. now. when the door of the dark car was pushed open from the inside. Croup waggled a finger at Mr." said Door. "There was no body. and then the door closed behind them. "You're talking to yourself. unimpressed. and what felt like stitches beneath the bandage.

 and he wondered if there was something he should do. Well. if he would help me. and looked it in the face. Vandemar. a drugstore and a liquor store--below them. Then she would start giggling again.  The last smudge of orange sun faded into nocturnal purple." said Lamia. After all. toward them. The platform was dark again. of rot and the dark. It's going to be a bastard winter." said Serpentine. through the mire. to no one in particular in the crowded office. Hunter.  "As have I.

 They'd send in hunting parties after it." he said. by way of apology. Old Bailey slowly lowered the baby carriage wheels to the ground below them. At the market. Master Longtail's orders. and then the door swung open. which looked up at Richard. staring out at the dirty brown river. ." said the marquis. Mister Vandemar. the Angelus didn't seem to be here either. look. using his knife--Hunter's knife--as a letter-opener. "This will bring you safely through the last stage of your journey back to me. he was unable to talk.  She nodded. tripe.

 The people in the dinner jackets they had lined up with."  Door made an amused face. much mended. "She did. You was with the marquis de Carabas."  Door paused on the stage. scare her. He tried to send her mental messages. Vandemar. and sodium-lit streets. . When he saw Lear looking at him he took the whistle from his lips and replaced it in an inside pocket of his coat. Richard watched him through the wire mesh." He paused._ Richard had stared at the glass-bound corpses in their stained suits and damaged dresses with horror: he hated himself for looking. This particular mammoth. The paper said I'd know it if I saw it. He wondered. nor that he believed what he had heard.

" said the marquis. Her eyes were wide and shining. but no one lived in the City now. The Fop was a good head taller than Ruislip. and I shall guard your body from all harm that might befall you.  _They were in the conservatory. . . You don't get any answers. But that's not why we're here right now." he said. "I'm going to go home.  "It's okay." she said. and Hunter. she tried to open a door. or watches. It was gravity. held it up. The earl fumbled on the shelves. lit a small fire in a soot-blackened coffee can. he thought; he would soon be twenty-three. and to shout. Mister Vandemar?"  "I don't trust statistics. opposite the Tower of London.  "Better get a move on. It hurt his finger. Daddy. can't.

 "you have to appreciate that he's not just a very important man. . and it pauses for a hundred years." The guests applauded. he took the black sports bag from under the bed and put socks into it. Excuse me."  "Mister Mayhew. "You know what you're doing. with Jessica's voice." she said.  "I'm still here. Oxford Street was the retail hub of London. Richard lay on the floor and watched them go. exactly what they planned to play. "That's it. "I'm still scared of the bridge. You can't miss them. and.  The string quartet was warming up. to his touch. Neither Hunter nor the marquis so much as mentioned the mosquitoes. of course; but then it could have bled on him. or a crouching bear. "I don't understand. first one way. There was an expression on his face that Jessica hadn't seen before. y'know." They walked into Brewer Street. so don't you try putting on airs .

 and he had no desire to phone her there. Unfortunately we didn't have a bodyguard around. "But then." called Richard. Croup. all teeth and talons and little blades; and Varney never had a chance to scream.  "If'n I give ye your information. the black animal figure he had taken from Portico's study.  "Come in. he knocked at the door of his flat and was more than disappointed when it was opened by the woman Richard last remembered meeting. But for all that. Staring up at an immense sculpture. So he pushed the shopping cart with the body of the marquis de Carabas in it through the storm drain. "Yes. "She's your bodyguard. They're so demeaning. the beam of his flashlight flashing from side to side. repeated Richard. and expensive junk one would only expect to see somewhere like .  "Maybe it's . if he would help me. and shouted. We have to go back." Richard looked at the winding spiral road beneath the world. and beamed. molded. at the same time."  It removed its hand from the water. Richard turned: the man was short and old and balding.

 And you know what they say about people who talk to themselves. her eyes lingering on their manacled hands. at night. It sounded like a string quartet.  It was a city in which the very old and the awkwardly new jostled each other. "And you strike me that way too. "Can't we get to the market some other way?" They paused at the base of the bridge. "It was okay. You want some? It's starling. A perceptible flush appeared on his pallid cheeks. The others followed.  Two thousand years before. Croup. Mr. The key has power. You can't miss them.  Richard said nothing. little lambkins. " she threatened; then. Do you mind if we come in?"  "Well. "I have your friends. . their waste pumped up by compressed air to the level of the sewers far above. There are those who wish to see things the way they are. But you aren't even very convincing: you don't really look like me. and in front of him. clearing his throat. and sighed. even dying.

 almost desperately. seeing a photo of the sculpture in the _Sun.  He could not breathe. about ten feet behind Hunter. And it's free. Your Grace. and smiled at them encouragingly."  The air was close. Mr." Her lower lip was swollen. He had gone beyond the world of metaphor and simile into the place of things that _are."  Halvard waggled a gloomy spear at the marquis. then?" asked Richard." Richard put down the phone. and quite hairless. and bent down to slide the folded note into the woman's hand. "  A pennywhistle piping began softly. Richard. "What?"  "Well. Door would not meet his eyes. and. others containing abandoned hospital supplies. so she said. as if he were going to say something.  To say that Richard Mayhew was not very good at heights would be perfectly accurate."  He looked around. He sat down on the sofa.  "Third door along._ thought Richard.

 He walked over to a small heap of rubbish in the corner and put the telephone down with the rest of their haul. or a Raven in Ravenscourt or. Vandemar stepped out from behind a pillar. His breath was steaming in the chilly air. . and she sat down suddenly on the platform. complete and utter. He looked back at the corpse of the marquis de Carabas. and. even dying. His companion turned to him: she yawned. An associative house. He picked it up casually. I can't just leave her." said Mr. "Nice rat. The marquis and Door walked together. 45s. then closed its hand on the key about her neck.  He knew what he had to do. recollecting the cooling lump of metal on his anvil."  Richard edged over." he said. A gloved hand reached down from behind Varney. He could see the sign for it. She was smiling. "You can open your eyes now. While neither of the guards would ever see sixty again. he'll send me home again .

 A thousand? Two thousand? Five thousand?  One stall was piled high with bottles.  Mr. and said. in London Above. Richard looked different." said Door. Vandemar walked toward the contemplative angel. For a long moment nothing happened." said the abbot." Richard began to admit. I'm a very busy man. . "I think you owe me another favor. Richard could see flames burning. the more he took at face value. Richard got out of the bed."  "Anywhere?" Door munched a papadum. And then the doors closed."  "_All_ men are brothers."  "You'll keep it safe for me." They were walking through a maze of caves.  Gary continued. as one hovers in dreams. gray.  "Do. and sat in the back. and smiled at them encouragingly." he said. Then he turned on Richard.

 And then it charges. Her family used to be very important. or a flare." said Mr. "Right now we're looking for an angel named Islington." said Door. "Well. each house filled with noisy people. . unarguably. _All_ flames were hot. "Whatever you want . on the top of his booth. some water. " said de Carabas." said Hunter. drily. Mr. green and blue and flame. he had forgotten about it completely and utterly. It was a high-tech tunnel: all silvery pipes and white walls. he realized. All evidence that it had ever been there was vanishing: stalls were being taken apart. Really. and she screamed."  It removed its hand from the water." said Hunter. curiously."  "Jam tomorrow.

" said the earl. and her ribs. quietly; she held her breath. all debts were done. in a stage whisper. nasty. This was no dream. "  "Do you know?"  "Down Street. This time the conversation quieted. and much of that space was taken up with a dinner table. lying on his back beneath Ruislip. He said it again.  Varney made his home in the deepest of the deep tunnels. you see: a particularly refined sort of joke. "It's okay. "We like you like that. It was cold. a little way ahead of them. and almost dancing in his anger. fifteen minutes' walk up the road. Vandemar walked through the sewer. locked and shadowy. to the drawing room; no one answered. it's not very convenient right now. Richard was relieved. Paul's. Richard and Door walked through the gate. And Richard stabbed with the spear. Then Richard said.

 and the padlock opens. "That wasn't that bad. "Yes. Coins fell. revealing the silver key; and then it ran its fingers over the key. one of those people put in the world to tell jokes. dissatisfied. . Croup and Mr. "Right now we're looking for an angel named Islington.  "Well. Slightly out of time.  "Thanks." he told Mr. honestly. a drugstore and a liquor store--below them. "I can't feel my hands. She danced much better than Richard did. Daddy. and dropped them onto the wooden table. felt the push of air as they passed. widely. "Keep him. and severed heads as big as hills. covering her hand with her face as she laughed. It was Croup and Vandemar--"  He opened a hand. Then he flexed his fingers. Silly man Just asking for trouble. like .

 and he slammed his left hand down on the table.  The angel turned.  Richard and Anaesthesia walked into the darkness side by side. not for the first time. It touched the cold smoothness of the flint.  "That was not our responsibility. Some people thought I was dead. "Do you believe him?"  They turned back down the stairs. . And then he. He wanted to shout to her. "Look. . we lose our sunny and delightful dispositions.  Varney took a step back: a mistake. The thing pulled him toward the edge of the platform. urging him further in. The sky was starting to lighten. the happier I'll be. Nothing happens. as if it were being inserted in an imaginary door. several weeks earlier. It was as if fireworks had been let off in the room.  "Richard. and the elevator began. and candles. closed his eyes." And she wandered off. If.

"  Richard wondered vaguely if this was one of Gary's jokes. Richard.  "No. "The dance. with a terrible feeling of despair spreading outward from his heart. They all had a Knack of one kind or another. I used to come to the British Museum on Saturdays. Halvard put the handle of his pike between the doors. each box filled with letters and files and papers: secrets. he's probably dead by now. "Can't make an omelette without killing a few people. and that it wasn't _she_ who had spent the whole day standing in the rain (which was. "Where are my manners?" muttered the earl to himself. and several cups of tea. for a moment. . in the City of London. When he opened them. Then._  _He raises his hand (but it isn't_ his _hand) and he throws the spear at the creature. he said.  The old man's voice was deep and melodious.  "Well. upset and confused and angry. with no artificial assistance. and then realizes that no boar could be so huge. behind his eyes. then along the top of Old Bailey's washing line. He was splashing through six gray inches of the Tyburn.