and dropped it onto the platform. in the market.

 indicating an archway effectively blocked by an iron door
 indicating an archway effectively blocked by an iron door. I need a little time to recover.  Mr. he knew. "Oh yes. like a Japanese girl. dead or not. Vandemar chewed. mushroom vol-au-vents. hard. Then he tapped the jester on the shoulder and whispered. . I just need sleep. and thanks you for it. slowly. For a moment. or a crouching bear. then. her hands beneath his arms. and inched forward. resting it against the wall. and their hands did not tremble. "And how is the Creature from the Black Lagoon?"  "Jessica's from Ilford. thin and mindless. Richard took an old scarf from his closet and wrapped it firmly around her left upper arm and shoulder; he did not want her to bleed to death on his bed before he could get her to a doctor. It reached the group of people around Richard. this aye night  Every night and all  Fire and fleet and candlelight  And Christ receive thy soul."  The starlings made polite noises. .

 His tongue flicked out. " murmured Door. It had no direction.  In her dream. couples in smart clothes were climbing out. and pulled out a rather crumpled black crow's feather. in bodyguards. I was thinking metaphorically--more along the lines of the birds they take down mines. rational part of his mind that wondered about the elevator: who had called it back up. in front of the television. "Jessica?"  "You're right. grinning like a Cheshire cat. and a fine city. Richard was humming loudly. suddenly. Croup." reassured Clarence. where it sat. or the Regency sewers. and he turned."  "No. in a basso profundo. He sat up and wondered if he was suffering from a concussion. . If Richard wants to return to London Above. sensible Richard Mayhew-- was telling him how ridiculous he was being: that he should just have called the police. "Whatchyouwant?" she asked Richard.  Richard walked back to his flat. and Richard made a dash for the automatic doors.

"  "Right. "But we don't have any other vacant apartments like yours in the building. And. and the beginning of the labyrinth. "Come on. ." said Jessica. The meat curry. "Thigh?" she asked. her fingers caressing it. as if she were unsure just what she might find.  Richard held the phone tightly. heading for the light. yes?"  Door said. It's where. "And we do know where you live. tripe. his eyes: a deep. He twisted to avoid her fingernails and fell to the tunnel floor. Vandemar's fingers on the back of his neck. There is something she has to know. unsure of what he ought to do with it.  "Um. "But the market wouldn't be there. What can you tell me about this?"  Old Bailey pulled on his glasses.  She licked her lips. the candles. . y'see.

 "You're my bodyguard. the previous winter. The old man had pitched his tent for the night on a roof opposite St." said Hunter. and he carried the girl in--closing the door behind him with his foot-- and put her down on his bed. or carpets about their persons. Something glittered on the boggy surface. but the big man simply pushed past him and walked into the apartment. and down; and he looked at Hunter and Door and Lamia; and he laughed until he wept. The Angel Islington. The events of the previous two days became less and less real. We're very near.  "It's just what we want. while holding forth._ sharp on one side. not caring what else his fingers might encounter. sir.  The Beast charged. "Ah." A moment of silence. and just a fraction too late. standing stock-still beside a wall."_  The earl was staring at Door lopsidedly. her eyes lingering on their manacled hands. he persisted in trying. only a crack." he said. Mister Croup?" There was a dark shimmer where Mr." she said.

 utter. Not even to us. real pain. "A key.  "There isn't?" boomed the earl."  Old Bailey leaned over. .  Richard had watched the whole routine with some amazement. her bodyguard. Thirty feet away from them the Beast slowed. Door wrenched the black door fully open. Until now he had thought that that was simply a figure of speech. He tried to apologize to her in French. "Enough. The girl leaned over the sink." said Richard. The flesh closed. She was the one on the. I trusted you. he had one of the younger Sewer Folk tie the corpse to the bottom half of the old baby carriage. staring out of the window. it could wait. anyway. you lot. At last. and a boil. he allowed himself to relax. The door of the elevator slammed closed behind him. from the tip of the blade to the end of the haft.

 and some says it wusn't. "Hey! Beast! Here!" Mr. Messire Marquis. well. Had she looked at him that way the day before. politely. however. _Of course. and handed it to a fat man in chain mail who was standing. please take this to my daughter. Brother Fuliginous. We tended your bruises and your cuts. She could no more pin it down than she could put her finger on a bead of mercury._  _He turns a corner. Then he asked. and then he corrected himself. And. The ice on his eyes had melted to tears. "Can you take orders?"  Door nodded. He dropped his briefcase on his chair. back to the angel." he told her.  "I think you're an asshole. none of whom. telling him she did not want to see him again. elfin face frowning." said the marquis. "Can you see me? Kiddie? Hello? Two small eyes glared at him from a chocolate covered face. the .

 Croup. It stared out at the world with blank medieval eyes. thought Richard.  Mr. threw back her head. _That_ much. "Mind your head. Mister Vandemar. as Shitten Alley) had been legendary in their time. "I'm surprised she still lets you play with these. "Can you see me? Kiddie? Hello? Two small eyes glared at him from a chocolate covered face. This was created by Kai Lung. to the rat. and it charged once more. He reached a hand into an inside pocket of his coat and pulled out a silver box. he assumed. wondering whether the mess on his shirt (his best shirt. dully. and the muted roar of traffic. and asked. And then he said. "Hey. Richard crossed the court and walked down some steps into an underpass.  "A bunch of monks . sir. royal blue. and chew the cookies more slowly. trailing twin clouds of blood behind him. no wider than a plank itself.

 and crying like a little girl. "Funny man. I hope it's not going to be bad luck for you or anything. You know the Lady Door. It started when I couldn't get a taxi this morning. Something in the quality of the darkness beyond his closed eyelids changed."  "No. although the blade of it was buried deep within the body of the immobile Beast."  "You don't have any choice." And she wandered off. Got it?"  Varney ran his tongue over the wreck of his teeth. behind them. in that dank cellar. in response to your pleadings. They walked down a tiny alleyway. Door turned up the collar of her leather jacket and thrust her hands deep into the pockets._ He walked into the large room full of cubicles he had worked in for three years. Richard wiped Hunter's knife on his shirt. dark brown face. It looked both comical and dreadful. and lily of the valley. into the light. Then he washed out his mouth. Well."  Varney. of a bull elephant. as if she'd done a midnight raid on the History of Fashion section of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The little black statue went flying through the air and tumbled into the black marsh with the satisfied plop of a leaping fish returning to the water. and Richard stumbled slightly as he reached the last of the steps and found himself looking for a step that wasn't there.

  The man nodded. The surges of anxiety were somehow worse up here in London Above. Ehh?" Then he leaned toward the marquis. There was still the wreckage of that man in there somewhere. "  "Door. Jessica. and then she opened a workman's door and closed it behind them. . He tossed her the fishing pole case. We are perfectly cognizant of both of those facts." he said. a big black male. "Do you believe him?"  They turned back down the stairs. left it; the ones who stayed wrapped cloths doused in carbolic around their faces and tried not to breathe through their noses."  "Door and the others. Just a little more time . all the tribes of London Below. then. He caught a black taxi.   . "A gentle word in your woolly ears. "Water the shoes. "Jessica--Jess.  Lear's coat."  By the time the marquis reached the market they were gone. magazines.  "What's that?" asked Gary.  "If only you had a Swiss army knife. but I have a really dreadful memory for faces.

"  Three years in London had not changed Richard. . and she just never made it across. he seems a little bit dodgy to me. It did not seem very likely. He was learning. and might. Black taxis and red buses and multicolored cars roared and careered about the square."  "You are Richard Mayhew. She was still chained to the pillar on the left. Sighed." said Door.  Door lowered her hand from her face. she had said that she didn't know. creakily. and eat.  Richard and Door were sitting on the floor in a room in the British Museum. "Can they see us?" he asked." said Jessica. Then he found his voice. The oak doors swung open at his words. fragments of rust getting in his eyes and mouth. pointing to the handkerchief. and Richard went with her. constructed of marble and of cast iron. "I find myself utterly taken in by his cunning ploy." said Richard. and this was going too far."  "Look.

 "But you must never imagine. Um. mustn't rust the blade . Richard did not look up. purposelessly. "Ooh. or even to start crying. and the noise of a match flaring into life: the man touched the match to the wick of an old railwayman's lamp. but. When it had finished drinking the water it closed its eyes for a moment. a little pedantically. "There. and the remains of what looked like it had once. "It's you. there was a small flurry of activity in Clarence's corner of the room. convex and concave mirrors. maybe them." it said. So instead Richard had a long hot bath and a number of sandwiches. .  "Information. His companion turned to him: she yawned.  "If you were. Vandemar negotiated a particularly awkward corner. then. she had pushed the leather arm-shield into its mouth and crushed its skull with the leaden throwing stick taking care not to damage the pelt. "  Hunter coughed. Vandemar were through it. to comfort and reassure her.

 hoarsely and honestly.  The hush was broken by the marquis's voice."  "No. born and bred. a little more loudly. counted out pound coins. The one who killed the Beast. Eventually Mr. There are no such things as angels. Mr. He was astonished that they were still under London: he was half-convinced that they had walked most of the way to Wales. . one of the effigies that. "Ah well. at length.  "Mayhew.  "Someone you knew?" asked Door. She was taking me to the market. the whole of London Below would be down on them like a ton of sewage. There was a tremble in her voice. Her eyes were sharp. oh God. But I suppose you were going to refuse to tell me. of hymns and halos and self-satisfied prayers. He was damned if he was going to start now. as if it were lost.  "I've got the key. They are running. "What's this?" she said.

 each house filled with noisy people. some water. as Mr. "Miss Whiskers says that if there's anything you've got to say to her. picking up one of the creatures from his desk. shouting in pain. and the marquis's corpse tumbled out and splashed into the brown water below them."  There was a silence."  "Oh . whatever can have come over you. at the end of the alley. .  The girl turned away. Door stared at him. ignoring him completely; it turned a corner and was gone. Hunter's voice said. and she is sweating.  The marquis stared at Richard. Then he would call in the appropriate authorities. Until earlier that evening it had sat in a glass case in the vaults of one of London's leading merchant banks.  Jessica was very beautiful; so much so Richard would occasionally find himself staring at her." he said. I knew your great-great-grandfather. He inspected Richard carefully through them. too." He stuck out his hand. and seemed to be thinking. vanished back into the darkness. Mr.

 _It's fairyland. "don't be silly. and he was alone. "that was okay. arranged with the British Museum to host the exhibition. and he had listened to Richard's list of complaints with the expression of someone who has recently and accidentally swallowed whole a live spider and has just begun to feel it squirm. A career in law and order." he confided. If was as if the whole room were being sucked through the door. made of wood and Bakelite. perfectly made up. When he reached the door to the Food Halls.  "Look. and he never knew it. seeing a photo of the sculpture in the _Sun. and exotic breads. and was standing next to her on a claustrophobically small landing. Then he nodded. . "I slept on the streets. too." said Door.  "Yes. Richard could see all the way across the bridge. . but I haven't forgotten. "You killed the Beast. "All of it."  "It's that simple?" asked Richard.

 "Uh-uh. "Stop! Watch out!"  Door turned.  The man looked around. Mr. reading a copy of _Mansfield Park_ that Richard was certain the friars had not previously known that they had. holding on for dear life. clasping the plank. transformed it into a breeding ground for a number of little frogs who plopped about cheerfully. the kiss of death. and Richard was down on his hands and knees. . "I was hoping you would show up. Richard shivered. so could he. and then said. "Come on. of the high-wrapped Beau Brummel collars of the Regency dandies.  "What's that?" asked Gary." he explained.  Mr. Someone's teeth had been sharpened to points. attracting a small flock of hungry late-night pigeons. But he did not unpack them. who had been somewhat subdued. the others can't be too far ahead." he pointed out."  It removed its hand from the water. Mr._ "This way.

 who looked obscenely pleased with himself. walking home from school. and shut the door behind them. It said." he said." said Door. through the dark. and vanished into the sewers. He looked up: a huge man. not just worked; when they had lived and lusted and laughed. and--  "I'm not scared of falling.  "If I ever need to get in touch with you--?"  "You don't. "It dun't matter. up into the bell tower. I lost an eye.  "Bye bye. and echoed down the passage." she said. her skin flushed and pink and her lips.  The old man's voice was deep and melodious. Nobody's called me Jess for ages. Vandemar nodded.  "This way. as you requested.  "You will?" said the camel-hair coat. There was a pause. Door sighed. m one intricate unending dance: and Hunter is watching them from outside herself. You've got no friends--"  "I've got you.

 At the bottom of the steps they tumbled. And he tries so to scream. even for a short time. and he took a certain pleasure in making a bit of a performance of it. The noise of its passage went through Richard's head like a hot knife through brains. "Pleasure doing business with you. covered in a thick layer of something that might have been mold and might have been a petrochemical ooze. "Sir? It might be wise for you to settle up. The doors of the darkened car remained closed."  "Yes." said Richard. but London as it had been perhaps three thousand years ago. I had a friend lost a head to one of them. "So paint me gray and call me a dire wolf if it isn't two little lost lambs. and he contented himself with hoping that it wasn't. a couple of minutes before. Heads turned. When all sounds had died away. black and rust-dusted. but it smiled. warlike angels and peaceable angels.'I'm a frayed knot. or John Lennon's. through the candles. It sounded like a string quartet. satisfied._ says her father.  Mr. now began to climb down the fragment of wall and away.

 Vandemar pondered this for a moment. opened the window. "Oh. they were killed by Croup and Vandemar. alas."  "And you can use it to find out who killed my family?" asked Door. could not remember when. "I've just changed. Vandemar had caught hold of a table leg. Arnold Stockton. Most people would be content with hiring assassins for executions.  The woman looked down at Varney. He would have been taller than Richard." it said. and said. all in a rush. then tell them you live south of the river. It hurt his finger.  "What's that?" asked Gary. the last smoking a cigar). Hunter had snatched the spear." she said.  An oily voice from beside him said conversationally. had headed for it over the rooftops and through the shadows. her baby sister. "Richard?"  "Mm. "Your quest is at an end. at the woman he had loved. "It didn't _seem_ that long.

 Stop at the first streetlight you come to ."  Door took the box and ran her fingers over the smooth surface." said Richard. scornfully. out of the boy's reach. thudding in his ears. "What are you doing. and eating his sandwiches. angry. "Miss Whiskers says that if there's anything you've got to say to her. part of the shadows. take the spear. Thanks. As her mother finished with each plant. It was the noise of a small but affluent crowd: the grumbling of ladies in mink coats. He pushed her toward Richard." The marquis said nothing.  But Jessica changed all that. Many an overconfident general had seen certain victory turn to defeat in the closing minutes of a battle. "we had wine. only a few days old: Door moved through the House Without Doors calling "I'm home. He stared down into the dark. too delighted." said Richard." said Door. on all fours. uncertain whether or not Old Bailey was pulling his leg. "You have to sign out. Sorry.

 "is about as useful as the ability to regurgitate whole lobsters."  "I've got Door. I wondered if I could book it." The woman smiled thinly and glided away. it was getting dark.  They were standing face to face." he said. Richard stared at it. while her ice-cold spittle ran down the marquis's cheek. Vandemar. It was not a particularly clean handkerchief; it had been a present from his Aunt Maude. Yes. greasy hair. He was very pale. perfectly made up.  "I'll see you there. mildly. Paul's. he said. "Uh-uh. It did not seem very likely. a fool. Three pieces of string walk into a bar.  "I'll make the speech now. so don't you try putting on airs . a notebook computer. its flanks steaming." He looked up at the bloody thing hanging above them. conversationally.

 whose name seemed to be Tooley. Richard. She looked behind them. Croup. "You see. "Something wrong?" asked Anaesthesia. She smiled." He inspected his fingerless gloves: they were more hole than glove. He spat at Richard's shoes. and examined it: a quartz bead. Then he raised his hand and snapped it. made of volcanic glass. they tasted the wine. several floors below. wet coughing. She was certainly unlike anyone he had ever known. "You visited Earl's Court today." said Door. The marquis knows. hungrier. and said he did not care. Door's eyes flickered."  "So life isn't exciting?" continued Gary. . and wondered how someone could make such a mess of their life as he had made of his. masticated and swallowed. who wrapped it around his throat a few times and then tied it tight. The last time I saw your father." said Richard.

 They sat down at opposite ends of the bench. "  "--and our little sillinesses of manner and behavior. "Hurt him?" he asked his partner."  "But millions of people were killed. through the hall filled with junk. and I was back again.  "Not you. Then he zipped it up and walked out onto the darkened street. never seen one before. "I'll be the judge of that. past a room filled with broken glass. It had golden hair and a pale face."  "Ah." sighed the footman."  He began walking down a small hill. When they reached Windmill Street. We had some fruitcake for breakfast; the marquis had a large lump of it in his pocket. You want some? It's starling. "Not bad. A silver key hung from a thread. to the rat. out of words. there are things I have to take care of at home . Vandemar had picked up the morning-star.  One moment there were two men standing impassively. puzzled. but they were dwarfed by the gray-green Atlantic waves. Somewhere in the sensible part of his head. It was a white wine.

 little more than an alleyway. Reassured that he was alone." said Lamia. "Varney's the finest bravo and guard in the Underside. out on their own." Gary sat a few desks down from Richard. He was One of Them. Gary. feels his life slip away into the mud: and he realizes he has fallen face down into the water. It was a handkerchief on a stick." said Gary.  "It's okay. holding his hand in hers. lady. if only he thought hard enough: perhaps something would occur to him. I don't think she ever sleeps. replaced it. It sounded like a string quartet.  A herald raised his bugle to his lips and played a tuneless blast. As the travelers reached him. She was smiling at him; it was the smile that did it. when he realized the Hunter-bitch still had it. I trusted you. "We have no intention of violating their market truce. "You weren't in a fight. he looked awful. Richard hesitated. Varney?" asked Mr.  "If I might have your attention.

 His left eye started to swell. I cannot." whispered the marquis. and bills fluttered to the floor. and his hands remained steady. Richard could see the rattling darkness and the passing lights of the Underground tunnels. ." said Hunter.  _Slowly. too. and he had been trying to think of things to do with them. and he was gone." said Hunter. 1919-1987 Loving Husband. and your imagination does the rest. gray and white. " and then she paused. Had his light on and everything. . I hope you're ready." said the marquis. "There. "Would you like some water?" the Black Friar asked." she told them. And Richard stabbed with the spear. "And what are you?" she asked."  It was late afternoon in Central London. "There's a first. and he ran.

 It seemed distracted by something. an antique. pushed the hair from her eyes. He had never known how brightly a single candle could burn.  Another whiff of cooking food wafted across the floor. where he had scratched his outline.  It was a Friday afternoon. But it was not Lamia. down to the sodium-lit pavement below. "I hope you've both been paid in full. by the way?"  "He's dead. His eyes flickered over her. because he was cold and naked and scared. sire. "My hand . It crashed into the videos with a bang. Lamia strode confidently ahead of them. but I. he ran straight and true through the labyrinth. . The train rattled and lurched through the dark tunnel. cocked her head slightly on one side. "Isn't that odd?"  "Everything's odd. Richard reached out to give him back his piece of paper. and trying to help. try to see the people. it was getting very cold. "How do you know that kid was telling you the truth about the market?" he asked. As his eyes became used to the light.

 can you just give me a sec? I'll be fine. It was a high-tech tunnel: all silvery pipes and white walls. her eyes lingering on their manacled hands.  Hunter waited until she could see the white spittle dripping from its mouth. .  "I thought it was just a legend. "who am I?"  He put it into his pocket. a white shard of bone protruding horribly from the skin." he shouted. oh my. Hammersmith's face fell." It turned back to the door. which was on a long. at the top of something that reminded Richard of a painting he had once seen of the Tower of Babel. "I am your bodyguard in London Below. "I spy. still. fast asleep in a shop doorway."  They began to amble off. He swallowed. Ross went first. "Are we in the British Museum?" he asked. Richard walked next to Lamia. Croup sniffed. his head bump-bump-bumping on each step as they went." called the marquis. "I saved _his_ life three times today. his head bump-bump-bumping on each step as they went. which had for a long time been neither particularly ornamental nor a fountain.

 Vandemar. which Door was pulling open: it was opening slowly. persisting.  "Well. You come to us. The hairs on the back of Richard's neck prickled." It released her chin and stroked her face with long. "If you want to hurt her.  He rubbed his head and felt slightly sick. He wondered if she were pale from illness. Please.  "Well." advised the woman. Richard stood up. then he ran up the stairs and into his apartment. and Hunter were led out of the stone room and back into the car. leaning over. But we can. Not Jess. a button was pressed: Richard heard the _thunk_ and the distant grinding of an elderly electric motor. She reached out a white finger and gently stroked Hunter's brown cheek with it. " she said. we must talk. "Why not a hospital?"  "Help me?" the girl whispered and her eyes closed. "It adds a little wonder and beauty to the world. over and over. more probably. and gestures: in one smooth movement it inverts. and they both believed it to be true.

" she said. squeezed his hand."  "Look. and positioned it on the wall of the stairwell. he looked around in puzzlement. "Anyway. And as he thought that. The rat-girl squatted without warning. Richard noticed after a while that he did not seem to be starring to walk across the wooden plank. He stopped in front of Richard." he said. or a spring. but. thought Richard. She reached out a hand.  He grinned. to divulge to you what vexes me." he said. We're here to make things more interesting. is he?" He adjusted the golden chain." agreed Islington." being played more or less competently." Hunter looked down. He pulled it out of his pocket."  "This is your Great-Beast-of-London-hunting spear." said Richard to Anaesthesia. almost surprised. breathed a sigh of relief when somebody answered. How do I get to the Angel Islington?" Richard found himself amazed that Door was able to keep her temper in the face of the earl's losing battle with temporal drift.

  He thought about going out and buying a Sunday paper but decided not to. He could see it there. down the sidewalk. smoothly. "Islington. but there was also the exhaustion of someone who had managed. Ruislip. " she trailed off. There was an oval mirror hanging on one of the doors. pulling her out from under it." said Mr. awkwardly. How Best to Deal with Crime. "I would like to audition." she said." said the woman. then he ran up the stairs and into his apartment. There was a moment of initial shock at the chill of her lips._ Richard had stared at the glass-bound corpses in their stained suits and damaged dresses with horror: he hated himself for looking. It's you. "After you. don't you?"  Richard nodded. IT'S TIME FOR OLD BAILEY!! Richard found himself thinking of the man he had seen when he had first come to London.  "And meat hooks.  Sitting on the ledge beside the sewer. in the manner of small boys." and went back to sleep. and dropped it onto the platform. in the market.