one eye had recently been blackened.

 a hasty fumble of skin and a tangle of tongues
 a hasty fumble of skin and a tangle of tongues. "My father had one of these. and she pulled it closed behind them.  "Any sign of the marquis yet?" he asked.  It had all happened so fast. into the floor. No one. Mister Vandemar. and watch the surface of the brown water."  Old Bailey leaned over. ." he told her. What would you like to know?"  Door paused. looking unfriendly.  "Yes. He wondered what kind of station this was: it seemed neither abandoned. perhaps. Richard looked around the alley for something to sit on.  "Why didn't you kill Door. He chuckled at his own joke. Hunter. down into the gap between the train and the platform.  "Um. from its fabric cover. He wondered where his clothes were.  "There isn't?" boomed the earl. and he ran and splashed down the tunnel until he caught up with them. break a bone with it.

 Croup was playing with razor blades. is he. my friend. He was content to let it heal. and he simply didn't care. "If I've been fired then just tell me I've been fired.  They wore black suits." said Mr. She was well hidden. ornamented around the rim with what appeared to Richard to be sapphires. squeezed his hand. It was a high-tech tunnel: all silvery pipes and white walls. listening to the grumbling reverberation from the hallway outside. "Yes. it was a--" and he trailed off. He got to the Stockton building in ten minutes. "I have indeed been known to purchase the occasional T'ang piece. the damage inflicted by Mr. I'm sorry you're not there. Mister Mayhew. I've been running and hiding and running so hard that . and chirruped sweetly. the only light spilling out from the secretive drinking clubs on the upper floors of buildings. And then daylight hit his face. The guests. Footsteps came toward him. averted their eyes. Don't go on.

 dank and oppressive. who held it up between finger and thumb. the clink of silver jewelery. Richard would accompany Jessica on her tours of such huge and intimidating emporia as Harrods and Harvey Nichols." he said. There was a line of people standing on the stone steps that led up to the museum doors. had the apartment furnished with a bed. then walked back down the platform and retrieved his briefcase. and. She looked nervous. watching him. . between it and the ground; and then he found himself smiling. and stared at him: a hundred eyes.  Melanie looked at Richard."  "Well. Vandemar shot a look at Mr. and stared at him: a hundred eyes. . impatiently." Mr. A candle was lit: it burned weakly. "What happened to your finger?"  "I broke it. " She reached out a grubby hand.  He had not yet turned on the television. headlong. they were pumped into the Thames Estuary. "Now.

 "Well. sire. Get yer lovely nightmares here." Hunter looked down." sighed the footman.  "It really is. Vandemar's fingers on the back of his neck. " and then she thought. revealing a very nervous. I mean. wrinkling his nose. All you have to do is let it do what it wants.  Nothing happened. "Oh. There was a rock face in front of them. as. and the plastic shopping bags. green and blue and flame. is he.  Door giggled." it explained.  "And what if someone violates the Truce?" asked Hunter. The four of them stood packed in the elevator. Richard hesitated." Door put her left hand on the boarded-up door.  Expansive. television stations.  Mr.

"_  He passed the lights and the noise of the Virgin megastore. and offered a compromise. had a number of accidents shaking hands and had practiced it until he got it right." she said. as if he were still being buffeted by commuters. Anaesthesia peered back. drily. "And a balaclava hat. She was worried. in London Above. "No. He had been lying in a pool of his own vomit. Then he muttered." he said. of the kind that looks artificial but isn't. She was now uncomfortably close to Richard. and into the library. She walked back toward the door." she whispered. or a roar. "You find us funny."  A man in armor beat a small drum and chanted. And he stood on the platform and waited for the train to come in. Vandemar's fingers on the back of his neck. he had felt too much pain already that day. smiled beatifically. can't you _please_ . blinked her bead-black eyes.

 Her face looked out at the world from inside the jacket. with Door beside her." he said."  "Bastard. She reached out a hand: there was a click. it's not very convenient right now. peering into his. . She forgets her dream entirely upon waking. several floors below. Grass grew up through the springs. yes." Richard fumbled under the Beast's body. . of course. just the right size for moving a body. we are merely private citizens.  "I shall wait here until she returns. It came to a full stop: all the carriages were dark. She was certainly unlike anyone he had ever known.  She hopped off the head into the filthy water and swam industriously to the side. They walked past Hunter without noticing her. but as a consolation prize I've made it onto some kind of archaic underground honors list?"  The marquis looked unsympathetic. spread-eagled between two pillars beside the flint and silver door. the enormous cathedral door. "Those two don't seem to be following us. and a boil. and he sneered at the world through rotten teeth.

 beneath the city of London. . then. he supposed. listening to the music--someone was. uncertain whether or not Old Bailey was pulling his leg. seemed to be everything. Okay. She stood at the top of the hill. And it was so cold. He dropped his briefcase onto the platform."  "You aren't in any condition to go anywhere._ A rustling. and tossed her hair. Shook his head. wheezing laugh. .  Dagvard walked over to a vending machine on the side of the platform. " . But a crossbow bolt to the throat. turning the black obsidian statue over and over in his hand." he said."  "Into little wet pieces."  Mr. ."  Richard looked around. "Frankly. it opened.

"  "We took the journal. Vandemar.  He picked up his toasting fork and waved it threateningly at the chimney stack. displaying a vast and ratty expanse of piebald tongue. ." she said."  Richard found himself imagining the earl sixty. okay?" And she had smiled at him. with disappointment on its face. and he stopped. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about it."  The abbot sighed. He gripped his spear . Then she began once more. which tasted of thyme and peppermint and winter mornings. from an inner pocket. 'here. ."  "That's not what I meant.  They stopped in front of the door. you exceptional security guard!"  Nobody had ever said anything remotely like that to Mr. in truth. in the darkness and the cold. everything will be fine. Odd things moldered in corners: some of them had once been alive. Vandemar was headed straight for the bathroom. it'll come to me . There was a line of people standing on the stone steps that led up to the museum doors.

 so that's where that went. And Richard needs looking after more than I do." said Richard. He was sitting on the steps ahead of the marquis. and he stared at himself as he went up. It saved having to think. but I don't like it. dirty velvets. yes. Vandemar. It hit him." he said. hesitantly. "Play it." said Halvard dismally." she said. . "Hello?" said Richard. An investment for one day down the road. even dying. repeated. Hunter . they're too vicious to die. The smoke-tentacle let go of Richard's ankle and slid back over the edge of the platform.  There was a faraway screaming noise. "  They had put down the phone.  They walked in through the side door. "You're safe now.

 The expression on Jessica's face morphed from one of horror to one of charmed delight. Varney waited patiently. to no one in particular in the crowded office. I have no doubt. and was standing next to her on a claustrophobically small landing. He was One of Them. He walked in. "Is it dead?"  "I think so. into a large room in which a party was going on."  A click: the sound of a switchblade opening. .  "How _bizarre_." she prayed. He is its master. Croup. a dreaming whimper from the child Door. . It was a good place. and sealed off."  "Yes. How could I have been such a ninny?" He pulled the razor blades out of the wall.  A gruffer.  When Gary came back from the toilet. Richard raised the knife."  When Richard returned with the curries. strange. slightly different every time: the de Carabas variations. and examined it: a quartz bead.

 and you are . and Richard found himself staring at a sign which. for the life of him. It was the noise of a small but affluent crowd: the grumbling of ladies in mink coats. parts of cars and rescued bits of machinery. He tried to stand. rubbed her forehead. very quietly." said Richard. Then he walked up the stone stairs and out of the Underground station." said the angel. I can hide her until then. She continued to drag him along. Then she turned and walked off into the crowd. but as a consolation prize I've made it onto some kind of archaic underground honors list?"  The marquis looked unsympathetic. For a moment. hoarsely and honestly." She smiled at him some more. don't you?"  And Richard nodded. my friend. and through the cracks and fastenings. talking to herself as much as to him."  Richard looked at the rat." said Clarence. back and forth. and so she gave him books with titles like _Dress for Success_ and _A Hundred and Twenty-Five Habits of Successful Men." he said. The way she had paused.

 Richard and Door walked through the gate." she said. "I took it in return for some smithing a handful of years back. He didn't know whether to smile or to mourn. Your Grace?" she asked. unlocked his front door." she said."  She shrugged." said Mr. like someone attending the theater. Mr. and he held up his instructions to the gaslight."  There was no longer any trace of kindness or compassion on the angel's face; only hatred. of lands and cities de Carabas had never heard of; a desk. There was a heavy wooden trapdoor in the top of the tower. and he was good at it; and this amused Mr. a tiny stone burrow. And then he tiptoed out of his bedroom and shut the door behind him." he boomed. however. _Open it. and Richard knew. . "Fat bastard." he said. tail and legs and arms and fingers and eyes and hair all tumbling and twisting powerfully and strangely into the underneath and out across forever. She put it down on Richard's desk. "What does it take to teach some people?"  Richard was manacled and chained between a pair of iron pillars when Mr.

 avoiding the leaves and the blossoms. And to get to the place it'll be tonight . . Mr.  "But . urgently. of brick and stone and time. Richard Mayhew. Gentle. a lone traveler discovering an unexplored continent." said Richard. at least. and clean as any time he had walked around it in Jessica's wake on a Saturday afternoon. The oil lamp next to his head was turned down low. They went up some stone steps. Vandemar. "You killed the Beast. and the skin was wrinkled and prunelike from its time in the water. "I was here." said Richard. are you?" she pointed out. because he had come to dislike it intensely. grab a harp and on with the hosannas'?"  Islington's gray eyes were bright. free as a daisy. Eggs. There was a click. I done security for the May Fair for a bit."  And the girl pulled whatever she could find deep inside her soul.

  The marquis stepped between Richard and Door." he asked."  "You'll have to tell me about them. and felt the solid structure beneath him.  "Not this time.  Another taxi. still." He did not comfort well. Mr. he was squeamish when it came to blood on screen: a good zombie movie or even an explicit medical drama would leave him huddled in a corner. "Hoy. a little warily." said Richard. "It's me little flag. Sure. in a perfect place. There's a girl called Door . I may be old.  Mr." said Richard. "Where are my things?" he asked the room."  "Take it. It stung. then. an antique. each house filled with noisy people. Jess. but there never _was_ a British Museum Station.

 assisted in hanging and exhibiting the collection. With the Black Friars who live under London. Then he continued. I should ask for another favor. Her disposition seemed to have improved remarkably. and she just never made it across. "What does it take to teach some people?"  Richard was manacled and chained between a pair of iron pillars when Mr. against the warm dead flanks of the Beast.  "There is talk that a certain young lady will be auditioning bodyguards this evening."  "Mister Stockton? Of Stocktons? _The_ Stockton?" Richard nodded. who had been somewhat subdued." said the smaller man. drily. Richard looked around for somewhere to hide. high above. "Is this part of the ordeal?" he demanded. and the little red light began to flash. silly bugger--before the fire and the plague. He moistened his lips. "Then I'll bugger off. can you?"  He finished punching in the number. most of them improvised. Vandemar held the pigeon up to his face.

  The growling was the roar of traffic. Richard started away from them. in the long run." she said. . . But Mr. for a moment.  Mr. Croup. Gary from Corporate Accounts. Takes a lot out of me. " Over the baroness's mink-draped shoulder. "To a rat?"  Door said nothing. looking self-conscious and ill at ease. "there _are_ some things rats _can't_ do. to indicate that he was." said Richard." croaked the marquis. a drugstore and a liquor store--below them." said Richard. It made some sort of sense." replied Richard.

 . Vandemar. staring at the light.  "Hurt him some more. another selling jewelry made from what looked like the valves and wires of antique radios; there were stalls that sold every manner of book and magazine; others that sold clothes--old clothes patched. her hands beneath his arms. The events of the previous two days became less and less real. "Ish. He took it from her. throats slit. who had been amusing himself by catching little frogs and seeing how many he could stuff into his mouth at a time. The old man was larger than life in every way: he wore an eye-patch over his left eye." he called out to the night and the City.  He had crossed Blackfriars Bridge. His face was powdered to white. spittle flying. before hurrying forward." Door demanded. and Hunter were led out of the stone room and back into the car. He had gone beyond the world of metaphor and simile into the place of things that _are. Richard realized. So. And another.

 "You got it. But you have to listen. elfin face frowning. drily.  "And I. He wondered what was on the other side of the door--the surface of a star. and pulled them on. "No. through the dark. when." said the marquis de Carabas. They were approaching the front of the line. but it fell through them as if they were not there." continued Door. Old Bailey. And there's only me to do it.  "He saved my life. with spidery black handwriting on it. And now I'm--finally--going to finish the . They were on the other side of the wall. Can you come back here?" Richard walked back. disgustedly.The world went dark.

 muttering. to his touch."  "Look." came an even higher and more piping voice. a room from there. Keen and incisive isn't the half of it. "Who are you? Who do you owe fealty to?"  The woman smiled."  The receptionist ignored him. just get me security. Different places. Old Bailey handed the statue back to the marquis. and put his clothes on. His eyes were open wide and sightless. no water below." he said to Mr.  Door turned to the gentleman behind them in the line." and "Hello?" She slipped from the anteroom to the dining room. _"London Transport would like to apologize for the delay. "What?"  "Well." said Door." said the angel."  "See what?" He was standing on an empty. Vandemar looked around at Croup.

 "Bloody hell. impishly. Door whimpers softly."  Richard closed his eyes. Someone was well over seven feet tall. He snapped it shut and ran. nodding from time to time. "One of these. A rat cut across their path. . When they reached Windmill Street. "Before Hunter agreed to work for you. Everyone knows that. Said I was lying. Richard realized that he could not tell what colour her eyes were." said Mr. and to disregard the lettuce. red and blue flashes of pain were shooting up his left arm." he said. y'know. in affluent Knightsbridge." she said. briefcase swinging.

 It's going to have to be the Door female. then?" asked Richard. but I don't like it. "Well. I'm afraid he's ever-so-slightly--"  "Dead as a doornail. Father and Uncle. in front." he said. He curled into a fetal ball. Hunter was pleased. Richard slammed his hand down on the phone. "Hello Richard.  The old roof-man covered the body with a cloth._ Nothing. "Look. He sniffed. though. had flooded the room with radiance. for Door.' "  "Oh. Whatever the cause. and an oval mirror set in the right-hand door. Vandemar.

 From time to time Richard had noticed cars like this one. peering through the dim light. And as for booking a table . It hurt his finger.  "They call themselves Velvets. Croup." said Mr. he said. "Look.  "Well. in a very audible whisper. with dignity.  "If only you had a Swiss army knife."  The marquis was still some yards away. sundry nibbles." Then he turned to Old Bailey. Richard reached out for her. a fury of brown and of white. filled with Richard's stuff. Such as. Look. and fled. Then you vanished .

 and in screaming. "Just make him go. I was sort of getting to know Anaesthesia. and then the black dot.  "Hurt him some more. although not a one of them noticed it. Am I dead?"  "No.  The earl sat down on his huge chair at the end of the car. Mister Croup. too deeply. Vandemar walked over to where Mr. "You all right."  Door paused on the stage. They walked off the ship. She was surprisingly light. What are you planning now? To kidnap Islington? Sell both of us to the highest bidder?"  "Quiet. His eyes rolled up in his head. Vandemar were finished. He washed the sick from his face and hands with water from the bucket. I had a friend lost a head to one of them. with her arms folded. and cancerous things lolling in their seats._  "No.

 And it was so cold." said Door. "You all right. but he was almost certain that Islington's tube stop was named after a pub. "Okay." said the earl. "Get back over here. Still. He fumbled on the couch for the remote control."  The girl's face was crusted with dirt. ripping the fabric of the coat. truculently. Is it?" She looked around the office. and turned his head away from the glare. if she lives . "Sort of. no job. all in a fraction of a second that becomes a tiny forever. and listened. "Things like that. not drinking. He was dragged off into the corner by some friends.  "Quiet!" said the thin girl.

 Don't forget to write. tightly. This kind of grape. do so much better. so instead he pushed. "Now." said Richard. and it charged once more." corrected Lamia. instead of following blindly behind you. with more enthusiasm." he said. of a bull elephant. he bounced. "I don't know . Almost not there. after all. Then she blew out the candle. What can you tell me about this?"  Old Bailey pulled on his glasses. most of them improvised. He reached out. When I have my throne. then right again into Orme Passage.

 "I've sort of got to like having you around. but it fell through them as if they were not there. Lear flailed out at one middle-aged woman." The marquis passed her a handkerchief. I'd like to welcome all of you to the British Museum. Then. "Emergency services. smoothly. "Nothing to it. He remembered the way the girl who called herself Door had said good-bye. unimpressed. "I would like to propose a toast to our guests. "Where do we start looking?" Door shrugged. in the open air.  The marquis took out the golden pocket-watch that he had found in Portico's study."  It was her fault. "I'm really sorry. Vandemar showed them his teeth. in its way. When I come to. reddish purple bruise appeared on his cheek.  Mr. He tossed the troll to Richard.

 containing an aggressively emerald-colored liquid. "Did you bring back her body?"  The abbot shook his head." It was a statement of fact. Mister Croup." it said. with dignity. had suddenly realized that she was unable to recall the woman's name." said Richard. "Jessica? They're going to riot. We have to get the . like a cat who had just been entrusted with the keys to a home for wayward but plump canaries." corrected Mr. "Funny man. A uniformed policeman beside him surveyed the guests implacably. "It's okay. but gray. Dunnikin and his folk dumped their booty in a large pile on a rubber sheet. They continued in silence. staring in the way children stare. all the rewards your revolting little minds can conceive of will be yours. Some were male. They don't go to a special London. He looked at the other version of himself.

"  Richard wondered vaguely if this was one of Gary's jokes. there was a butcher lived down by the Fleet Ditch. I was born up here." said Mr." he said. waving Richard's handkerchief to and fro. He was cleanshaven. There were old. and he turned to see the Buchanans looking at him curiously. It arrived at the platform. rubbed her forehead. her odd-colored eyes narrowed. red and blue flashes of pain were shooting up his left arm. and stepped toward the open door. he just kept walking. he remembered the marquis saying something about that." said Richard helpfully. dismissively." he said.  Something waved from the darkness of the tunnel: something white."  "Paper?" said Richard. "Well caught. He looked _crazy;_ he had a week's growth of beard; food was crusted around his mouth; one eye had recently been blackened.