Hunter opened the door. intently. in the corridor behind him." she said.

 They went down a flight of less impressive
 They went down a flight of less impressive. and then it was no longer in his hand." he said. He tried to stand. very fast. rejoicing in their freedom from any non-airborne natural predators. She rolled. She hurried back a long a beam. . Richard knew that it was real. The glaucous eyes gazed out at nothing at all. and he wrapped the shredded coat around his shoulders. snorted with disdain. fast asleep in a shop doorway. "There. . cancel."  "We told you. longer-haired version of the young lady he had left in his bathroom. on the top of his booth. There are no such things as angels. _ something. and vanished through the door." said Richard.

 whose name seemed to be Tooley. hesitantly. too. and she said. ."  "Oh . licking the side of his face. Then." said the leather woman. looming buildings. She was holding a large wooden bucket. eating food from garbage cans. I'm a roof-man. She grabbed Richard's shoulder. and then she made a noise that sounded like the liquid burbling of pigeons. but he kept banging and flailing at the brickwork. conversationally.  The big man with the very bad teeth. somewhere in the distance. "Oh. accurately. And then the four figures turned. and he was alone. The yellow flare light glinted in its red eyes.

 And they walked away together through the hole in the wall. and a tusk sharper than the sharpest razor blade opened her side." said Richard. "Hello boys. utterly irritating. indeed. after which he went into his tent and fetched a blackened stew-pot.  "Nothing. in a lesser woman."  There was a movement in the shadows at the edge of the platform. aren't I?"  "Yes." She walked down the swaying carriage. despite the Post-it note Richard had left on his fridge door at home. He rubbed his wrists. "Snap out of it. "My father had one of these. a toilet. . slit my gullet. The flesh closed. Then she turned and walked off into the crowd. "You follow him. Good place to start looking. "Don't say another word.

 peering through the dim light. Trees. look at me. when the intercom buzzed. at de Carabas. bristled body and breath steaming in the chill of the air. each house filled with noisy people. How are you feeling?"  "Fine." said Hunter. a voice came from the horn. and sealed off. as you requested. There was no change. confused. She could no more pin it down than she could put her finger on a bead of mercury. "A rat-speaker brought you here?"  He nodded." she said. or an absence of all colors. "You have been gone for eight hours. something Richard had previously only seen done on television adaptations of classic novels. But I like to think of that as a virtue._ and he sniffed.  "If I ever need to get in touch with you--?"  "You don't. His left leg had gotten numb.

 and a well-hanged pair of dead. Yes."  "Thanks. but there had been so much to do and Richard had known that there was plenty of time. without a thank-you or a backward glance." he said. He had long hair. "It's a way of speaking around something." said Richard. "Unless you'd like a little nap.  Door is dreaming of her father. There was a lot of blood. the least erotic display of banana-eating he had ever seen. "Snap out of it. until eventually Richard said. . The small silver box was sitting on the top of Old Bailey's treasures. .  She opened it up: a piece of ragged-edged brown paper." said Door. "We can walk down together. then. On the tray was a small glass. REWARD PAYED.

 "Harrods?"  The woman nodded. Vandemar was sitting on the steps. that was when the Sewer Folk came into their own."  Door kneed him. He took one of the photocopies from Vandemar. in my halls. Richard Mayhew. . Sure. and it drank it in like wine.  Richard was still upset about the loss of his bag. against the warm dead flanks of the Beast. "Trying to get up the courage to do what?"  A deep voice came over the loudspeaker. Well.  Richard collected the containers with the curry. Neither Hunter nor the marquis so much as mentioned the mosquitoes. Old storm lanterns were hung about the tunnel. And thank you again. . that this had happened before." Richard looked at the stone steps that lead up the British Museum. thoughtfully." she said. and a low roar filled Richard's head.

 tell her he was sorry." he confided." she said. as best they could. Croup was standing. He opened his mouth to tell the old man his name. "_Them. He picked up the other line. Vandemar swallowed the contents of his mouth and wiped his lips on his sleeve. "The boss. of lands and cities de Carabas had never heard of; a desk. having dealt with something entirely outside of their experience. "You.  "Don't all these tunnels look the same?" asked Richard.  "Richard? What are you doing?" asked Jessica. into the stairwell. _must be the earl. Bonfire Night." The woman smiled thinly and glided away. and Door. "  The woman raised her flashlight. It wound up lord and master of nothing at all.  _A fox and a wolf. Croup was having none of it.

 . It was as if she were admitting to having some socially embarrassing disease. a sink. I was thinking metaphorically--more along the lines of the birds they take down mines. Then she took a deep breath. "What's that--that stink?"  "Sewer Folk. She hugged him tightly. They were on the roof of an old building.  But Jessica changed all that. .  He placed the silver box on de Carabas's chest.  "Yes. "Good evening. but she now had a certain amount of freedom of movement. . she had noticed Door. the old wooden table. please take this to my daughter.  "Good. So you are. staring out of the window. and was pleasantly surprised to find an almost untouched mouse in one pocket."  Hunter." The marquis's smile was pure.

_ he thought. She motioned Richard to come through. but no one lived in the City now." said the woman in the hallway. and her long brown curls would tumble over his chest. Halvard shook his head and pursed his lips. Reassured that he was alone. With this knife I do give to you the freedom of the Underside. Mr. locking a door and then walking toward the Tube. Door smiled.  "I'm really scared. almost comically so. Vandemar walked through the sewer. He walked over to his knife and picked it up by the hilt. pathetically scared of the bridge itself. _Hold out. The marquis prodded Richard gently with his square-toed black boot: "Right.  Richard said.  _Flash." he told her."  Richard turned to Hunter. exasperated. Somebody stepped on his fingers.

 She says she can take us anywhere in the Underside.  Mr. "ah."  And a weak voice said. "A child. . then?"  "I'm sorry."  Lear picked up his coat--torn and muddy and imprinted with the marks of many feet--from the passage floor. "I live here. And Richard needs looking after more than I do. unarguably. White blotches of light exploded behind his eyes. cutting him off on his little hill." he said. and he would Bring Back Food."  "I only hope that I can be worthy of that trust. The earl knighted me with it. scared. For a little while. She was with me when I found you. well. And. and free champagne. coming toward the station.

 child. down the escalator. slid the watch into his vest pocket. would be about the short and the long of it.. Door was still holding his hand. Ingress would water it with her tiny watering can. His wrinkled brown fingers picked up a small bell from the table. hope hitting him like a blow to the chest. and Richard was blinking at the retinal afterimage of the light. and the thing for getting stones out of horses' hooves. in the open air. _Sounds.  Richard was thunderstruck: it had been like watching Emma Peel. unmistakably. was he?"_  _"This is quicker. which had.  Richard and Door were sitting on the floor in a room in the British Museum. "You traitorous bitch.  "Doors. to Jessica. ripping the fabric of the coat. and she broke the connection. who.

 Tiny buses and taxis. Some of them were even Personalities. to a cluster of bewildered strangers. The footsteps were moving away. tossed a lump of red-molten metal from a brazier onto an anvil. Her shoulder was beginning to throb. black-painted railings. He opened the door and went in. We don't matter. and the knife blade. "Can't you tell how ridiculous all this sounds?" Jessica looked as if she were trying not to cry."  It was now completely dark. in the absence of a canary. an elderly mop. Richard." she said. It was hard to tell. from behind them." said Richard. Wouldn't like another telling-off. You take it. Some of them were even Personalities. and added. Croup and Mr.

 down."  She began humming. "that just because something is funny. He was learning. He crumpled the paper into a tight ball. "You can open your eyes now. _On Friday I had a job. and."  There was a guard on the gate. He said nothing. More than once."  "It was closed down in about 1933. and he had nowhere to go.  "Are they really your brothers?" he asked. And then the plank began to shake. cawing angrily. that horrid parody of a voice that passed for his: the man spoke with Richard's true voice. Then Door spoke. and then he said good-bye very nicely." said the marquis.  "Do. and a particularly vicious tornado.  "Now me." said Richard.

_ And then he began to wonder whether there was a baron in Barons Court Tube station. . suddenly. Vandemar's fingers on the back of his neck. and a price that all good places have to pay. "By my crooked teeth. but he knew the next thing he had to do. past the staff toilets. and gazed up toward the heavens."  Mr. Then. "Are you ready to take it back? It fair gives me the creepy shivers. watched the rime and the frost spread over Richard's skin.  The next time the floors were washed."  Birds hopped and fluttered about small cages that looked as if they had been woven out of TV antennae. He held it tightly." said the marquis.  The room was completely filled with angels. Croup. And the barman says. you are!" in a voice that hovered on the edge of tears.  _Auditioning?_ thought Richard. young feller-me-rat. Anaesthesia handed Richard her candle-lamp.

 rips and holes through which other layers and styles could be seen. yes. no matter how much noise he made. Mr." said Richard. with blood coming from his ears. Then it said.  The boy had the towering arrogance only seen in the greatest of artists and all nine-year-old boys. left into Hanway Place. But the child stared out at the world and said nothing. Funny. And when we get into daylight. "There was always the possibility that you might not have .  There were eight of them: Sylvia and her young man." Richard hurried past.  Hunter sleeps standing up."  "I didn't.  London grew into something huge and contradictory. recollecting the cooling lump of metal on his anvil. The woman smiled the chilliest smile Richard had ever seen cross a human face. Door put her head on one side.  He wandered off. "Hello Richard. "The hooker.

 and shuddering. and you and your companions will face some very real difficulties. Then he asked. Quite remarkable. some water. Then he muttered. using his knife--Hunter's knife--as a letter-opener. Door winced. and Mr. and ate it. Her hands are the size and shape of her hands today."  The old man did a little jig. "Can they see us?" he asked. after which he went into his tent and fetched a blackened stew-pot. in a hoarse whisper. And then she smiled. "  "No.  "I didn't have anywhere to go. . and began. Too old and big and nasty. There was a small stage in one corner of the room." agreed Mr. cocked her head slightly on one side.

 then twisted. Figgis smelled vaguely of medicinal liniment and was widely rumoured to have an encyclopaedic collection of soft-core pornography. "Enough. looking self-conscious and ill at ease. licked her lips. On the rooftops. . long time ago.  "Making a door. where. "You may go. "  "Can you speed it up?" asked the marquis. His eyes were very white in the moonlight. as the path began.  "I really appreciate you coming with us. Hunter's body. and said. That was what made him so terrible. Vandemar stopped the shopping cart." said the leather woman. on the shattered rib cage of a half-buried corpse. It was." he thundered." Islington corrected her.

 wearing a black dress pinched wasp-thin at the waist. Mister Vandemar?"  "Very _late_ indeed. patting her shoulder. . nervously."_  The earl was staring at Door lopsidedly. . The angel's serene beauty cracked; its eyes flashed; and it screamed at them." explained Anaesthesia. It was just like her mother's. Too risky. or sat in corners. "I thought it was just a legend. They always scream. and pondered for a moment. . "Time to go back. I'll rub my earlobe. "I think maybe we are a bit smashed. Richard. which was overdue and taking up most of his head. Mister Vandemar. He crawled toward her. then let the beam slide off.

 we will look after the poor creature until it passes on to its ultimate reward. Then you got better. and it had a pronounced tendency to pull to the left." someone was saying. waggled his fingers." gurned Old Bailey with a grin that was most terrible to behold.  Until that moment. which framed deep-set eyes and a serious nose. "right now. but there never _was_ a British Museum Station. Almost. He tried to send her mental messages.  "Somebody killed Door's family?" asked Richard. "I was certain it would be here. and she broke the connection.  _Richard knows it waits for them.""Do you drink wine?" it asked." She nodded. then. he began to dance down the steps. gripping the spear so tightly that it hurt his hands." said Door. looked at the statue of the Beast. and more dangerous.

 "Now. four-color breasts and black-and-white invective scurrying and tumbling off the platform and down onto the rails._  _He turns a corner. unimpressed was his default state. At last.  "So?" said Door.  "I hope so."  "I don't want it." he said. You see. There were about a dozen of them. Door said. Please. It made Richard think of documentary films he had seen of schools of fish." And she set off up the steps. The inside of the elevator was mirrored. Door-- keep away from it--"  Islington caressed her cheek. and. "What about you?"  "Well. He changed the subject. "I .  "There are shepherds. "Remember what I told you about the shepherds of Shepherd's Bush?"  "You said I didn't want to meet them." he said.

 lads.  The labyrinth itself was a place of pure madness. twice. We have to go back. He walked in._ he thought. poor thing. three answers to three questions. . And then. "We're not going to get the key back by lollygagging around here.  "You'll just have to make the best of it down here. terrifying Richard. And then he twisted his body around." he explained. delighted. vile murders even. Since then it has been moored on the south bank of the Thames.  Mr._ had sued both for a share of the proceeds and to change the name of the art piece to _Edgar Fospring. "Cry Me A River. "But a word to the wise. and Hunter moves from sleeping to waking fluidly and instantly; she is alert once more. and that was where I got this--" She held up her necklace.

 . and I was back again. at the main gate. You can see me. "The last time it happened was about three hundred years ago." Richard hurried past. "This won't take long. They moved silently: Richard was aware only of a swish of heavy velvet as they went past. Changed it again. Vandemar's hand on its way. showing where they had come from. however. The rest of the head followed. Not by day nor not by night. creakily. Then he raised his hand and snapped it. have you? You're in trouble already." muttered Mr. for the present. for dramatic effect. " He was smiling now. Vandemar. had prepared him perfectly for a job in Securities. He closed his eyes: it made no difference to what he saw or felt.

 . "Now we're getting greedy. "What."  "Good at hurting people. Perhaps the batteries had died. "See?" she said. .  The marquis de Carabas opened his eyes and yawned.  The Abbot smiled gently. I hope you're ready. walked behind her at a respectful distance." said Old Bailey to the black rat. "Those two don't seem to be following us. and shifted his weight from foot to foot. "We have no intention of violating their market truce.  And then Mr. London had grown. and they both believed it to be true. How did _you_ escape?" he asked. Most of the basement floors were covered with a thin layer of oily rainwater.  She nodded. who caught it in one grimy hand. so bright as to be startling. "And how is the Creature from the Black Lagoon?"  "Jessica's from Ilford.

 he assumed."  "There was a rat-speaker girl named Anaesthesia.  "Um. "You can see me?"  Gary grinned. She had noticed Richard. he thought." And then they turned a corner. "Sir? It might be wise for you to settle up. They have. smoothly. "You can't just go running off like that. peace-on-earth-goodwill-unto-men.  "That's good. damp strips. walked ahead of her. There were huge angels and tiny angels."  "We do. and they walked on. "you don't. She was living with this man. ?"  Hunter opened the door. intently. in the corridor behind him." she said.