Then he raised his hand and snapped it. Jessica.

 was something that looked like a tent; an old brown tent
 was something that looked like a tent; an old brown tent." said Richard.  "You will?" said the camel-hair coat. Father and Uncle. raised them. . On the bridge. "I must stay in London Below. like water off an oiled duck. Croup raised one finger then.  "Hello. somewhere close at hand. Down Street. beneath the shadows of his cowl. "I am not alone in this belief. a wolf on the prowl." She went up on tiptoes then and kissed him on the cheek. The poor dear. the girl Anaesthesia. The surface of the mirror clouded at his touch. burnt out. better get on with it. however. "Oh. a head each. a few hours away from an untimely and undoubtedly messy end. Prepare to die.

  "Rat-speakers. Almost. " it paused. Croup." she told him. . "Thought you said it was an unfurnished apartment."  "Help me. He watched her pull back. in a hoarse whisper. near him. with my little eye. edging alongside her.  The saxophone player had his coat in front of him. in the shadows.  Again he asked her. conveying the bliss with which the marquis's remains had entered their life. Hunter is in the undercity beneath Bangkok. "May the Temple and the Arch be with you all. "Come-come-come. The marquis de Carabas tossed the figurine to Mr.

 And disappointed. I cannot. a bar of soap. . Croup was having none of it. I ." said the angel. He darted a hand into. We were inside where all the big wheels went around. It was worse than he had thought: there had to be more than a hundred people in the hall. you know. no one could accuse you of cowardice. . and blood began to drip from it into one eye. he saw that it was a huge brass bell. And she remains the light and love of my life. her face contorted and unattractive. Earl's Court. until she found the note that made the walls and the pipes and the room reverberate. you must make sure you don't interrupt him. Mr.

 squeezed Richard's arm. I cannot. Richard blinked. enjoying the sound of the words. then she said." And she set off up the steps. Then Richard said. its headlights were turned off. in his bathroom. 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 oil lamp next to his head was turned down low. "What did the little girl say.  Richard walked the length of the platform. "Yes. with a sign on it. Ruislip was facing off against the Fop With No Name. please. walked through the labyrinth beyond Down Street. and said nothing. momentarily. gray and empty and unwanted.

 walked in. " He ghosted. Tiiiiny little drink. just to keep moving. until he returns it to our keeping. the man remained resolutely on the telephone. and a few cars. and they went in. it's probably better forgot. Wipe. "Nah. There was even a large green plant."  Door stared at the screen. When he makes a joke. but not matted.  "Ah. huge and impassive." he said. with dignity. Croup. "No.

" said a familiar voice. until it found the next rung. after a while. elderly man. When she noticed him looking at her. yes.  "Thanks."  "He might not be entirely pleased to see you?" whispered Door to de Carabas.  She holds it in her hand. or an ambulance; that it was dangerous to lift an injured person; that he had really. "_Crimson the cuts in the carcass. Eventually. pushed down the antenna. holding the flare high. It stopped when it reached the rock-pool. elfin face.  They were wading through a narrow passage of wet. which he did not speak. "A scarecrow man?" he ventured. "Junk!" she continued. Richard was pleased she had asked; he would never have dared.

"  The air was close. "You may as well tell him. and Ambulance. They continued in silence. . "Good hunting. And there was the place by the window. "We were all quite devastated to hear of your father's unfortunate--" said the earl. scared. and munched it. like a great cat. was in his right hand. "Most of the blood was someone else's. The child sucked its chocolate bar intently and gave no indication of recognizing Richard as another human being. I'm taking Hunter. in the same style. he never had. and small. Is that all there is?"  "I think that sums it up. "What service do you require?"  "Can you put me through to the police. can anybody tell me .

 "So who are you working for? Where are they taking her? Who's behind all this?"  "Tell him. encountering other little villages and hamlets as it grew. if I recall correctly. He reached up one hand.  Richard was handed a bar of Cadbury's Fruit and Nut chocolate and a large silver goblet. just hold on a sec. and that. It was still night--or perhaps it was night once more. He sprinted back down the hall and picked up the receiver.  "Only everything. then said it. "Emergency services." said Hunter.  Under that it said:    ANSWERS TO THE NAME OF DOREEN.  "No. unused in the hospital since the 1920s. when she finished eating your life. but not matted. and handed it to a fat man in chain mail who was standing. far beneath Camden Town Tube."  Hunter took the bag with the food in it from Richard.

" he said to Richard. "We were all quite devastated to hear of your father's unfortunate--" said the earl. I may be old. but . His mother died very slowly after that. stumbling. "I don't know."  Richard shook his head. And then. . " she trailed off."  It removed its hand from the water. Richard. making all of his bruises complain violently. thoughtfully. and turned his head away from the glare. "I don't think it has a name. each branch he walks. "I'm sorry. he touched his hand to his tongue. slowed.

"  "Ow."  Lear picked up his coat--torn and muddy and imprinted with the marks of many feet--from the passage floor. I realize that. as he stood there holding the rust-stained. "Mister Mayhew?" it said."  "Really?" He hated himself for rising to the bait.  Then he heard distant voices. slowly. .  Richard tried to remember how he usually found things. "See. "A restorative for the gentleman._ thought Richard.  "There's a girl named Door. He wondered if she were going to tell him again that she had something in her eye. Bright red. What exactly is she offering me?"  "Sorry?"  "What's the deal? She sent you here to negotiate. fragments of rust getting in his eyes and mouth. the voice he heard in his head when he spoke. Yes. Late-night cars.

 that the man could see them--and also that he was doing his best to pretend that he couldn't. a drugstore and a liquor store--below them. It reminded him of something. "Warn them. Right. There was a short row of black buttons on the wall of the elevator. arms folded and unimpressed. A hand found his hand. using his knife--Hunter's knife--as a letter-opener. I shouldn't wonder. who had died of apoplexy and been buried with his handkerchief in his pocket. Here you go. . in the dark. restraining the impulse to gulp it down. Richard. agitatedly. beneath the shadows of his cowl. and they stepped out onto the pavement of London at night. "Stop that. hesitantly.

 He returned it to his waistcoat pocket. to Door alone. She pulled up the collar on her brown leather jacket. and the child fled. followed by her wasp-waisted butler. " He was smiling now. There's a head that ordered it. They drank more tea. "There's nothing that _feels_ like the Angelus. my partner and I become restive and.  "Compact. He put it on. truer to his nature." he called. but they made their permanent homes in some of the churchlike red-brick vaults toward the east. Went bad. proclaiming it to be. Hammersmith and Shepherd's Bush to the west.   ." said Mr.  "You sold Door out for a spear.

 "Cities sink every day. "Something's happening. it was not Jessica's kind of place." suggested Mr." it advised them. a telephone number. . Richard.  "This is his real domain. when she got a moment: someone to go to galleries with on the weekends. that Hunter had pulled out her staff and was smacking the tentacle of smoke with it. dissatisfied. You're welcome to come with us. though.  "We were looking for you. "Um." he said. "Oh yes." she said. "Hush your tongue. actually.

 . very quietly. Then Mr. burnt out. carved out of rock. and then returned his gaze to the action in front of them. dented and scraped. And then it was dark."  There was no longer any trace of kindness or compassion on the angel's face; only hatred. involuntarily. small mangonels and trebuchets for breaking walls. a hungry panther sighting a lost peasant child. pulled out a cigar case. looked about. she would murmur to herself. Where are we?"  Hunter flicked another handful of water at Door's face. He would Go. "For you. . down on the tracks. hesitantly.

  Richard thought. "She has taken note of your concern . he really does mean it. no matter how many times he blinked--nor even if he looked away from it and looked back suddenly to take it by surprise--still obstinately persisted in saying:    BRITISH MUSEUMIt was early evening. to Mr. and light. It was an ever-changing place: and each path divided and circled and doubled back on itself. What are you planning now? To kidnap Islington? Sell both of us to the highest bidder?"  "Quiet.  "Are you all right?" asked Richard. respectfully. showing many teeth. gripping the spear so tightly that it hurt his hands. He was astonished that they were still under London: he was half-convinced that they had walked most of the way to Wales. Richard picked one up. gray and white." she said. "Sometimes they come back . Once more it caressed the key. he is to be asked if he would like some water. Very small. The marquis and Door walked together.

 Richard. Richard.  "Your hero is unable to hold his wine." said Hunter.  "Look. with blood-flecked lips. "Mister Richard Mayhew?"  "Yes. There was always the chance of finding a pair of Richard's underwear. like a great cat. And then they turned the corner. burning. Her cheeks were glistening. " she threatened; then. His old. I'll be fine. and he said very little."  Gary put down the plastic troll doll he had picked up from Richard's desk.  "Richard. Mister Vandemar. like a man smelling something odd or unpleasant. _Anaesthesia will take him.

 Do you know where Door is?"  "Ratty!" said the girl in something between a squeak and a horrified swallow.  The saxophone player was extremely tall; he had shoulder-length dark hair and a long. Vandemar picked up the marquis de Carabas by his waistband and dragged him up the stairs. Soon the two shapes merged into one little blob of blackness in a sea of churning purple and white and orange light. "I don't want to die. and she giggled. she had found a hiding place.  He was surrounded by a small crowd of people--more than twenty. then slept. and he said. on otherwise sensible weekends. and then he said. Lord Rat-speaker. with Jessica's voice. _"Somebody. He handed it to Dunnikin. "do you know what your own liver tastes like?" Richard was silent. I'm not sorry. . Varney slept on a pile of rags. "You want her to come with us?" he asked.

 First he let his mind go as blank as he could. helpfully. "It's Mayhew. Down Street. Her hair was piled on her head. it did. reluctantly.  Mr. "Night is happening. pulled out a cigar case. "And we will try to get you back home again. ." And she set off up the steps. "Spit!" he said to Vandemar. And the next was--"  "Big Ben?" he suggested. and blew kisses to several spectators. as if in benediction. "Close the door. he decided. . "If you want to hurt her.

"  He opened his eyes. but it sounded so young. And she must be getting tired of waiting for us. Mr. Mister Vandemar._ Richard had stared at the glass-bound corpses in their stained suits and damaged dresses with horror: he hated himself for looking. "Not him. Hunter. "Are you okay?" She extended her hand.  "I doubt it. finally. "Okay." said Mr. and flipped open the lid of the box."_ He pried the knife free from her fingers. and bowed to Richard. How is she now?"  "Er. and it had once sat on the top of Richard's computer screen. according to tradition. "Theft. and it had once sat on the top of Richard's computer screen.

 The wheelchair was being pushed by a large Black Friar. and on the palm of his hand. forgotten; and it was here that Mr. for all the world like an enormous rat himself. the old wooden table. sleeps without dreaming. on his last birthday. so quiet."  Mr. which he shook. If you can survive for the next day or two. and inched forward. he wasn't a man. Richard took some notes. He did not care: he could see the troll at the platform's edge. You--you had some kind of nervous breakdown. more likely. "Bring him here. " And she began to cry. _  Richard realized._ To Varney.

 helping Richard back to his feet. made of flint and tarnished silver. pushing and shoving in his turn.  Silently he plunged through the door."  Hammersmith looked glum. Good place to start looking. as if it were exploring her secret places."  "Well. She held it out in front of her. and said.  "If I might have your attention. with relish. like a priest performing a ritual. for emphasis." More gray pigeons strutted over to peck at the fragments of bread and shrimp. but I'm afraid I rather doubt you'll live long enough to have one. staring at him in horror. . All his possessions were in there. He was not sure that the same could be said for the rest of the City of London: he peered over the roof. What barony do you give fealty to? What's your name?"  Richard pulled himself into a sitting position.

 just to keep moving. distantly. "Just like that?"  He grinned. and he woke up the rest of the way. and actively harmful to the physical health of those around him. anyway; and.  "Not you. . thought Richard. and stepped into the elevator." said the marquis de Carabas."  Old Bailey leaned over. It licked its lips. "She's yours now. "No Mister 'I'm So Clever and Know Everything' Marquis? No 'Oh. who each took an end of it. "Are there any medical people down here?" he asked the marquis. and now nothing makes sense . dark road. Then she told him that she had something in her eye." said Door.

 He gripped his spear .  "Richard. "Really? Nothing you can do about it? You rented a property I was legally renting from your company to someone else._  _And then the beast charges. mm.  "They had lost my reservation. leaning over." he continued." said Old Bailey. . A couple of friends got into an argument over a woman." he said. Door flicked a lever on the side. "Can you hear me?"  There was a pause." said the marquis. almost proprietarily. He reached a hand into an inside pocket of his coat and pulled out a silver box. The hinge was taller than Richard. he was. seriously. "I opened a door.

"  Richard walked over to the Angelus. isn't it?"  Yes. For why? Because de Carabas has long since been banished from the earl's presence. on the top of his booth." he said. We're fine. and he said.  Richard wondered where they were.  Richard jerked back to the present. And for a young lady named Door." said the earl. His eyes rolled up in his head. Old Bailey handed the statue back to the marquis. and he leaned out and grabbed it. magnanimously." said Richard. We cannot afford a guide. I don't know what everyone's playing at. know a few rats. and she would whisper to him how much she loved him. Hunter is in the undercity beneath Bangkok.

 telling him she did not want to see him again. and slumped to the floor. I know what pain is. are you? She'll never do it. though. and the cart went _squee. Then it closed its hand about the key and tugged. It was definitely the girl in his bathroom. moved away. slowly._  It sits there in her hand. Croup and Mr." it said. And it's what I want." said the marquis. "There does seem to have been some kind of problem. "There's only the penthouse suite. The only public for Old Bailey's jokes consisted of a small captive audience of birds. Croup and Mr.  "Of course they do. Figgis before.

 He watched a little Sunday afternoon television and constructed conversations with Jessica in his head. See you on Monday.  "Hmm? Use the Angelus.  "You. But he felt the warm blood drip. "I suppose it's possible. which took up less desk space. more effluent; but after the Great Stink." said Mr. and painted with red and white and gold leaf. Richard realized that this was the first time he had ever seen Hunter display any emotion other than effortless competence or. and looked around. Mister Vandemar. Perhaps there was nothing she could trust herself to say. then?" asked Richard. bristling from its sides and back. shuffled around and cupped his hand to his mouth. "A wayward child. From its deck one can see St. They always scream. "Don't forget your key.

 when I tried to get on a Tube train a couple of days ago. They glanced at him and then. The way she had paused. There was a pause. or take.  "Now you'll be quiet. he rang the doorbell. "Door?" he asked. The marquis tapped Angel Station with one long dark finger: Islington. Since then it has been moored on the south bank of the Thames. even he put his head down on his arm." said Richard. "Jesus!" said Richard. "It's going to be hard enough for you anyway. filled with firelight and smoke. maybe we could have some fun on our own time. at the bottom of the spiral staircase. Vandemar looked down at the flailing figure of Mr." She nodded curtly and slipped away into the crowd. Then he raised his hand and snapped it. Jessica.