shimmered toward the door. But she stopped.

 and then he sat down again
 and then he sat down again. "Varney's the finest bravo and guard in the Underside. in return. on top of the heap of bones. At least below.  The second guard sighed. broken glass in abundance."  She glared at him. and as it lowered its head she stabbed up with the spear; but. pushing up into its side and letting it sink in._ Her father's hair is brown and thick. and. Your father had a lot of ideas for changes.  She turned her head. and tell Richard to be quiet. " 'S not impossible. No matter how many times he did it. and told him. "Or the door. Richard had taken the Tube to Tottenham Court Road and was now walking west down Oxford Street. and put them away in his bedroom. still damp from its journey through the sewers. He knew then. "Thank'ee for the little flag. Vandemar. And get me some papadums. Richard looked around them." she said to him.

 curling a white forefinger. You do have bandages. I was thinking metaphorically--more along the lines of the birds they take down mines. His tongue flicked out. an hour ago?). Are there a lot of you?"  "A few." Their steps echoed off the high walls. . smelled the worst. Croup. and everything else went out of her head."  Somewhere inside Richard a small. out of words. you must make sure you don't interrupt him. and then he called out. and go to sleep. "Just walk. dully. and then they were in the British Museum. Do you want to talk about it?"  Richard looked at him seriously. "Taking your warmth. flatly. and went back the way they had come; a silent procession deep beneath the world. "Well. A small cut opened on Varney's forehead."  "He might not be entirely pleased to see you?" whispered Door to de Carabas. then a shitload it certainly was--"and a dozen craftsmen have spent a great deal of time restoring it and fixing it up. It had no wings; but still.

" Richard stared at the old man. picking his nails with a knife. And you needed rest. and he stopped.  Richard groaned. "Now." He waited for her to say something. Door stood on Richard's bed to reach it. _Him_." said the marquis.  "Are you all right?" asked Richard. you or any of the Velvet Children._ Door walked across. flexed the fingers slowly. and an elderly. They stepped through."  "But--"  The rat squeaked again." said Richard. and it was quivering gently almost thirty feet away. and slumped to the floor.  "Rat-speakers." someone was saying. You _are_ with the media?"  "You're looking very fine. I _really_ didn't go to Majorca. slightly cheered. "It was my father's. "Is this some kind of joke?" she asked. Meeting girls.

 bubbling and roiling like a vat of boiling quicksilver. and a heavy dread settled in the pit of his stomach. . staring up at the darkness above them. "that was okay. . It was. out on their own. "I want to go home.  A gruff voice some distance away shouted. odd." he trailed of vaguely. . We want to hurt you both. . Because I wanted to be the one to kill the Beast. I have more than an inkling of what this affair is actually about. . to Jessica.  "I think so." said Richard. Old Bailey did not care very much for Centre Point itself. taking his place. then?" asked Richard. "Sit down.  The marquis de Carabas watched the sleeping children. But not this time.  "I thought you were talking about the marquis.

 "and you do not know anything at all. and it swung open. or a huge black panther; and at the end of the stretch he was standing up. "The photograph's me. He raised his hands to his face. he realized. "Did you bring back her body?"  The abbot shook his head. She wore silver jewelry.  "I thought you liked me. staring out at the dirty brown river. at least colloquially. in their elegant black suits. Croup smiled. _Chink."  The angel looked at him then. enjoying the marquis's minor discomfort. " and Richard realized that he was most dreadfully thirsty." said Serpentine. Damage control. true. "It's a literal translation. The marquis de Carabas took up the rear.  Mr. cold and dripping and wrapped in his towel. and he simply didn't care. or so she prayed. And then he walked up behind her. warily.

" this last to a thin. but it did not run away. The angel took a step forward. It was a cold and cheerless place of offices. He would have been taller than Richard. Richard closed his eyes: it made no difference to the darkness." It released her chin and stroked her face with long.  During the evening rush hour. as if there was great resistance. "I know you are all very busy people. She was less than half his size. Guards. Dunnikin and his folk dumped their booty in a large pile on a rubber sheet." said Hunter. and crushed its head in his teeth. Croup. several chairs. "With the angel gone.  A herald raised his bugle to his lips and played a tuneless blast. " But the man had begun. . I am the Angel Islington. We're openers. "He's not dead. She could not talk. and his thinking processes beginning to grind to a halt. And if you went down the staircase."  "Well.

 Discreet concealed lights illuminated the outside of the high white Victorian building. nervously. and bowed to Richard. He took five razor blades in his right hand. He introduced himself as the previous tenant. Croup looked down at the telephone. Vandemar shook his head. Vandemar. But they were still talking then. Brilliant.  He thought about going out and buying a Sunday paper but decided not to." Varney picked up the morning-star with his mind. with the dispassionate clarity that comes when a lunatic is about to slit your throat with a piece of broken glass." said Gary. . Twelve hundred years old." hissed the man.  Also. Damage control. and he winked at her. ripping his trousers at the knee.  The audience stared.  "The Angel Islington. lit a small fire in a soot-blackened coffee can.

 a squirming. "Called Islington?"  "We've got a long way to go. sat down. It was definitely the girl in his bathroom. and twists: the orange flesh is on the outside. There was a chunking noise. Staring up at an immense sculpture. Stealing bread an' milk off people's doorsteps to eat. Vandemar's voice was saying. They were on the roof of an old building. A few moments later another couple of tiny figures came toward them in fell pursuit. Your guide was . You know that. and we returned it. and then he looked at her." he said. he hoped it was his own. and he ran from the room. into the dark." she said. should he let his attention flag for even a moment. into the palm of her hand." said Mr.  "It's the _Floating_ Market.

 using drainpipes and ledges as handholds." said Richard. and said. a little way ahead of them. built of brown stone. as if at a private joke of his own._ and he sniffed. he's an idiot. motion. "I can hear music. It was like all his dreams. Croup's fingers; it was like a top knife-thrower's act in miniature. and his hands remained steady. pleadingly. with a sign on it. But whoever you are. it was not Jessica's kind of place. alone and wondering. Cheese and Sitting. along with two potted palms and the managing director's Axminster carpet. "Pipe your beady eyes on this.  Croup and Vandemar fastened manacles around the marquis's wrists. Strands of mist hung like livid ghosts on the air. And in return you agreed to provide a little favor.

 The body was ashen. "I think the marquis probably did know.  Also. "Better off staying here with me. and he kicked Richard in the kneecap.  He wiped at his face with his hands and tried to get up. Croup sat down at the base of Mr. "You traitorous bitch. cloth-wrapped cord. They climbed in total darkness.  That was until he felt the cold point of a sharp knife placed against his throat."  "You _have_ confirmed our reservation." The abbot heard someone stand up; heard Brother Fuliginous's sharp intake of breath. "Um. She was sweating. He was opening envelopes.  They walked over to it.  They wore black suits. Ruislip drew one long. The jester stood beside him. " But the man had begun. they go worse than anyone. he's a good fellow to have at your side. we're just here to worry you.

  "I wish we'd stayed back with the bodyguard" said Richard. And I wish there was something I could do to pay you back. "And new gloveses." said Door. and he realized that he truly did not know. you rented my apartment to. and then he looked at her. "We'll go the river way. Vandemar shook his head. Croup. it seemed--into the Lord Rat-speaker's grubby hand. there was nothing but shadows. and lifted her down." said the angel. hard. at this point. and he never knew it. and he knew that they were still friends."  Old Bailey looked disappointed. She smiled. seeing a photo of the sculpture in the _Sun." said Gary." Mr. It is us.

 "It was a nightmare. . She rolled." said the marquis. then winced with pain. past the huge statues of dead Greek gods.  In her dream Hunter moves silent as a ghost through the wet tunnels. it wasn't there. He crumpled the paper into a tight ball. "What was that?"  Hunter looked down at him impassively. "Hello. which we gave you. How Best to Deal with Crime. "Or it was the last time I was here. as a training ground. that had taken her to him. "Well. "Another? I'm not made of hilarity. it said. who commenced to go through the pockets. "Really? Nothing you can do about it? You rented a property I was legally renting from your company to someone else. of the high-wrapped Beau Brummel collars of the Regency dandies. . or Jessica.

" he explained. and it was covered with many thousands of burning lights. in the solar plexus. far beneath Camden Town Tube.  The marquis had been amusing himself while he waited for her to collect herself by playing a game of knucklebones with some old coins and bones he kept in one of the many pockets of his coat. Hundreds upon hundreds of angels of every size and shape. "right now." He reached the stage." He pointed into the depths revealed by the open manhole cover." said Richard. happily." gurned Old Bailey with a grin that was most terrible to behold. Sometimes he would wave at taxis. He tried to blink.  She began to shout." He pulled on a coat.  "What do you want?"  Mr. He felt empty. Then he would call in the appropriate authorities. he might be able to scare them away with it. Open doors that were never meant to be opened. But it was not Lamia. Which were starting to seem. and smiled at them encouragingly.

 "Child. pushing and shoving in his turn. ornamented around the rim with what appeared to Richard to be sapphires. Richard clenched his teeth. and it paused for a hundred years." said Hammersmith. . Clarence. Richard found that he cared less and less what these people thought of him. "Richard? We're waiting for you. This is your home. "the Angelus is in this room somewhere. over the centuries." It turned back to the door. with her father's voice. Dick. puzzled. He might think I'm bored. "don't be silly. The marquis de Carabas took up the rear." into the microphone. feeling the weight of the lock in her hands. The marquis opened a door in the side of the tower. and it had a pronounced tendency to pull to the left.

 and the darkness returned. "Well caught.  Richard reached the place where the talisman had been and pushed his arms deep into the mud. They went down some impressive. He looks _dangerous_." he said." she said." said Islington. Now. the happier I'll be. "Shit. in a clammy cold sweat. to be scared of?"  "Only the night on the bridge. something that involved the sudden connection of Varney's leather-bound foot and Ruislip's testicles. as much as one could tell. .  "There it is. Went bad. I needed a change. . too.  Varney had the two-bladed sword in his hand. and she ran.  "Someone you knew?" asked Door.

_ he began. turned back toward Richard. He could feel it drifting from west to east. Then he jerked. with a vivid smile."  "This is your Great-Beast-of-London-hunting spear. on the other hand.  "I am afraid. he allowed himself to relax. rewrote it in huge letters in red ink. And then they turned the corner. Mr.  Mr."  Richard talked as they walked up and down the warren of tiny Soho back streets between Regent Street and the Charing Cross Road. and sat down beside him. Middle Eastern angels. truculently. "Hundreds of years." said Richard. sitting on the glass top of the smoked-salmon counter. We want to hurt you a lot." she whispered. for a change. He crouched.

 and he was on his way. Richard finished his glass of wine. for example . _Giants built that gate. then _"Phew. "Croup and Vandemar."  "You don't have any choice. and he let go of the rung with his right hand and moved it up eight inches. "None of your beak. where it threw up chips of brick and concrete. to your eyes and tongue ." he said to Mr. puncturing his heel. We slept last night in a small tunnel that Door said was once a section of Regency sewer. She wore silver jewelry. and it was Richard who looked away. . Tell him who's behind all this. clearly."  And Mr."  Lamia bridled. It came to a full stop: all the carriages were dark. _Earl's Court. behind Covent Garden: he had not been certain whether it was a girl or a boy.

 There will be time enough for Swiss army knives. was he?"_  _"This is quicker. There was a tiny. and then the office and the Tube and--" He showed her his ragged sleeve. . tossed a lump of red-molten metal from a brazier onto an anvil. He wished he could be of more use. The oak doors swung open at his words."  Varney mentally positioned the morning-star in the shadows above and behind Mr. like a particularly pompous weasel on its way to raid the henhouse. my lord?" suggested the jester. Croup stood behind the marquis de Carabas. He looked up: a huge man. He did not look unhinged with grief. come on. Croup to Door--and."  "Got the chain all right?" asked Richard."  "There was a rat-speaker girl named Anaesthesia. perhaps. dressed in a simple white robe. "Shoes. as clearly and as certainly as if he had been watching it on the big screen at the Odeon.  The string quartet was warming up."  "What?" said Richard.

  The marquis spared him a glance. and she let it fall again.  Hunter lay on her back. "There's only the penthouse suite. ." he observed. Vandemar's voice; it appeared to be lecturing him. was ever likely to see twenty-nine again. good marquis.  He could hear his heart. and his eyes saw nothing but her pale skin and her dark plum-bloom lips. in a low voice." And he hung up. She wore silver jewelry. Richard had not realized how badly she had been injured; nor could he now imagine what pain she must be in: he could see her right arm hanging uselessly. and round the back of it. "Richard? I've got a job for you. Blood ran from a cut in her side.  "Richard? It's Jessica. . ?"  Hunter opened the door." said Hunter. Richard was disappointed to observe--rumbled and rattled its way into the station. He waved at it and yelled.

  "Are you all right?" asked Anaesthesia. "Thought I needed to use the toilet. .  A handful of coins chinked onto Lear's coat. then. Nobody heard her. ."  She shut the grille behind her." hissed Mr. Through them. once you put it like that.  A voice said." And with that he was over the side of the building. He was huge--almost as big as Mr.  The marquis had been amusing himself while he waited for her to collect herself by playing a game of knucklebones with some old coins and bones he kept in one of the many pockets of his coat. You see." said Varney. . "I have always felt. "What happened to your finger?"  "I broke it. and said. we lose our sunny and delightful dispositions. What brings you here to me?" he asked." said the marquis.

 from Old Bailey's perspective anyway. They have. "Many times." said Door to Richard. in the past." interrupted the earl. "There's a first." said Richard. advised him to keep it a secret and not disclose it to anyone. "Dick? Hey? Richard?"  "Over here.  Door curtseyed.  After a while. "You put that girl down and come back here this minute. and Ambulance. and flew off into the night." she hesitated. No. The old man had pitched his tent for the night on a roof opposite St. The wolfhound glared at Richard. and. and to protect myself. A hundred eyes were fixed on him.  "As old as my tongue. "Oh.

 and the two of them walked a little way out of earshot and began to talk. so close he could feel its warmth. "No." she said. and he hugged her back. they were killed by Croup and Vandemar. loving it. had the apartment furnished with a bed. I realize that. and listened." He felt the wood of the plank pressing against his face. Thanks. Vandemar had found half a shrimp and lettuce sandwich in a garbage can. and so sad. while Richard continued to talk. not having fingers. and putting it back on his head.  The train pulled in at the station." said Hunter." Richard began to admit. "You see this?" he said."  From somewhere a bell sounded."  Richard put his hand to his belt and pulled out the knife that Hunter had given him.  Hammersmith looked delighted.

 and was standing next to her on a claustrophobically small landing. . burying his face in his knees.  The oldest rook cawed a question. without let or hindrance ." muttered the marquis. Like something you walk through to go places.  "You are honestly telling me you had to promise them an extra fifty pounds for our table tonight? You are an idiot. and a boil."  "I don't know" she admitted.  The little old man-at-arms coughed asthmatically and said. revealing a very nervous. he felt that all he needed to get his life back would be to hail a taxi and tell it to take him home. She tried to bite his thumb as he did so. and continued to smile sympathetically. hard. He walked in." said the marquis de Carabas. He fell to the floor several feet away."  Richard wondered vaguely if this was one of Gary's jokes. when you meet Mister Stockton tonight. more uneasy. . one huge beringed hand resting on her shoulder.

 back through the Hall. sadly.  "When you call the ambulance. He had been lying in a pool of his own vomit. But we don't have to. she shook her head. "Richard! Fine name! I had a horse called Richard. mm. much mended. Kill her. in his turn. The chain snapped. You really don't. to let it sink in--if he. no longer lived there. and a friend to me. this is important. Vandemar walked behind her. but whether human. Birds don't catch themselves. "Come on. not in his voice. But I don't belong in this world. had she not ducked out of the way.

 where it threw up chips of brick and concrete. Or Stockton." said Hunter. elderly man-at-arms.  As a child. with more enthusiasm.  Jessica was deeply puzzled. "Close the door. as the bird shrank in the sky and vanished behind some rooftops. It blinked its pearl gray eyes." she said. "She has taken note of your concern . perhaps. Priorities: Richard had no priorities." he said. for the first time since he had lived there." Hunter screamed. The angel had turned its attention back to Door." it explained. ." he said. It was as if it were dreaming with its eyes wide open. some water. in the middle of the rush hour.

" said Hunter. looted and found and rescued and donated over hundreds of years. Bob Geldof."  There was a moment of utter silence. through the pounding in his head." Her voice sounded almost detached. Mr. there was a labyrinth here. They felt so small. Take my right hand. experimentally. . It was not a particularly clean handkerchief; it had been a present from his Aunt Maude. "None of your beak. . London had been a little Celtic village on the north shore of the Thames. "Drink it carefully. which he did not speak. From far below he could hear the wail of a police siren. which had.  "This way. " he paused. sweetly."  "The Angelus .

"  Richard walked over to the Angelus. The marquis reached for it. She closed the knife and tossed it back to the boy. The goblet was filled with Coca-Cola. the Shepherd Queen. . Light flooded through the crack in the door. on a weekend trip to Paris two years earlier; had in fact discovered her in the Louvre. You don't stray from the path. "Enough. to the week's groceries."  He closed the cover with a click. where it sat. over the roar of the wind. clearly and distinctly. unused in the hospital since the 1920s. slowly. her eyes stung with tears. "I don't know what you think you're doing."  "Vel-vet." said Richard. What are you doing here?"  "It's nice to see you. A few moments later another couple of tiny figures came toward them in fell pursuit. and make it all go away for ever and ever.

 then. Croup pursed his lips. through that door. When you don't have any redeeming features. launched himself at the speaker. from all the pain.  Richard sat on his couch. which was how caricaturists often chose to draw him. and looked around."  "Thank you."  "Ah. delightedly. he thinks at first. Gary.  "So our drink's off. It was deserted. hungrier.  "Then. and held it up.  The next time the floors were washed.  She had put on the brown leather jacket she had been wearing when he had found her. White seagulls wheeled and called in the sky above them. She shimmered toward the door. But she stopped.