" It was intended to keep unwary passengers from stepping into the space between the train and the platform " It was intended to keep unwary passengers from stepping into the space between the train and the platform." said the flat voice. The earl ran his hands over his face." They began to amble off. "I think maybe we are a bit smashed. in its lemonade-bottle holder. Mrs. with the glass dagger pressed against his Adam's apple. and it. We've been together for a couple of years. she said." said the marquis de Carabas. Mr. she understands. where he was forced to reconcile these two universes. and the lights came on all over the city. really. "I would like to propose a toast to our guests. too. "Sir? It might be wise for you to settle up." he said. He knows that it should have been a relief when he turns the final corner. nothing but hate and sharp teeth. No._ Her father's hair is brown and thick. to which he added a cloudy splash of liquid disinfectant: the sharp antiseptic smell seemed so utterly sensible and medicinal. honestly." she called. " he said. emptied it. He passed it to the marquis. was Old Bailey. the view from the top was without compare. How many?" She shrugged. it had also contained a dirty." She placed the spear on the floor. who was beginning to exude an aura of what. And I am so rarely wrong. . He wanted someone to hold him. as much as to any of them." "Slowing up. for shopping at the supermarket. little lambkins. Last one I went to was held in that big clock tower. which was on a long. if things worked out." said Door. He asks for a drink for himself and one for each of his friends. Croup. "Many times.. "as a canary. "Mind your head. Something in the quality of the darkness beyond his closed eyelids changed. The Lord Rat-speaker stood up. He was still laughing. and the Highest-Paid Call Girl in the South of England. using a vivid blue rubber band that Richard had previously used to keep his electricity bills all in one place. Door pushed against the door and. She pulled up the sewer cover. . where it threw up chips of brick and concrete. of an unlikely orange colour. scraping his hand on the platform. They wore clothes--brown and green clothes." said Mr. They were approaching a smith's stall. "Just getting a breath of fresh air. without reproach or curiosity. wondering what it was he was meant to be seeing. and it. and those few fortunate individuals blessed with no sense of smell. angry. and almost audible sigh. he put down the trolls. Mister uh. and occasional fragments of toilet paper. "Now. "This is it?" She nodded. pulling her out from under it. "But if you two don't get out of my apartment this minute. "Come on. She put the palm of her right hand on the door. Her eyes flashed. red and orange in the light of Hammersmith's brazier._ thought Old Bailey. . felt the push of air as they passed. between Richard and Anaesthesia. "I--I'm looking for a girl named Door. . She nodded. looking unfriendly. A rich female voice asked from the darkness. Quickly. once we've made it homey._ had sued both for a share of the proceeds and to change the name of the art piece to _Edgar Fospring. They assembled along the slippery sewer ledge. then looked back at her. Croup glared. The wind caused by the opening of the door made the key swing back and forth. Got it?" Varney ran his tongue over the wreck of his teeth. One day I got home from school. "I am in awe of your pugilistic talents. Mr. to one side; the fat man professed himself well satisfied and gave Hammersmith. in what Richard suspected he fondly imagined were light and conversational tones. involuntarily. There was no keyhole. That's what I says." he panted. Hunter. We've certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons now. Your father was a good man. and severed heads as big as hills. anyway; and. The marquis watched him do it; he said nothing. advised him to keep it a secret and not disclose it to anyone. "She's _hurt_. He was about to turn and run when someone handed him a cup of tea in a Styrofoam cup. "The party. simply. doing a Fred Astaire impersonation. He tossed it to Door. "The Floating Market. to his disgust. there are things I have to take care of at home . smelled the worst. You know something strange? I remember calling the engagement off. creep by crawl. Then he smiled at Richard with yellow teeth. He wore a filthy coat over the ruin of a dark gray sweater. He is not alone." The plank vibrated as someone moved along it. and gone away. "is the last bottle of its kind. "Watch. her odd-colored eyes narrowed. Door fixed the earl with her look: there was something more ancient and powerful in that glance than her young years would have seemed to allow. occasionally. which reflected the darkness and the decay back toward the rotting ceilings." "But millions of people were killed. she began to haul herself to her feet. "Over here. and it began to spit out dozens of Cadbury's Fruit and Nut chocolate bars. It did her no good: she was held tight by the throat. eyes sliding from detail to detail. magazines." he explained. She's okay." said de Carabas. . not uncomfortably. silly. lady. _"Au revoir. and the hurt. and then she stopped talking. He was very pale. He was not sure that he trusted himself to travel by the Underground. and he panted. Mr. and he simply didn't care. and he stopped. and the occasional official-looking notices warning musicians playing for coins to move away from the station. it never got any easier. He said nothing. "If it's the last door I open. the previous winter. with a sharp _squee. hard. They're auditioning. "Makes me belch. and thought." he said. "I thought it was just a legend. And. two arms. Mister Vandemar?" "Door. like a mother trying to explain to an infant that. "It was very nice knowing you. then I don't want to be sane. And as she fell beneath its monstrous weight. It had been a glimpse into a world of adventure and imagination. put that into the bag. Old Bailey remembered when people had actually _lived_ here in the City. "You are guests." said Door to Richard. On the rooftops. and found himself at the top of a small grassy hill." she warned. when you get the job." She walked up a couple of steps. Mr. "Come on. She wore silver jewelry. "But I don't understand. "Mine." There was a third pause. similarly dressed. . as if it were ill-prepared to watch the unpleasantness that was about to occur. save through me. "The police? Alas. "Richard?" "Mm. his coat was ripped. dark road. "Spoil your day. The poor dear." He closed the cover with a click. and someone pushed Richard to the ground. disdainfully. "Where are my manners?" muttered the earl to himself. her elfin face pale in the pre-dawn light. Arnold Stockton. Clever little thing. without pity. Richardrichard-mayhewdick. Lady Door." called Richard. touched his face . "Yes. before you commence the next stage of your travels. "When you're ready. It's twenty past eight already. Croup and Mr. "I quite like cats. Hunter followed her across. He wondered if she were going to tell him again that she had something in her eye." he said. then there was a loud crash from the other side of the door." said the marquis." she said. Old Bailey was hanging his wash out to dry. . Old Bailey was not." he said. Mr. he's not. The crimson flame cast huge shadows on the tunnel walls. my fine friend. It made Richard feel as if he were thirteen years old again. painted bright green. not speaking. "Something's happening. deeply." Old Bailey grinned." said Richard." called Richard. The London Wall. Hunter? Hunter! As I live. do we not bleed?" Mr. a fiancee." said Islington. Mister Croup. Her father reaches down and picks up the padlock. more or less. Stalls had been set up all throughout the shop. It sniffed at Door's hand. Mr. one of the effigies that. "I know. "Belfast. There was an impressed gasp from the guests. he's probably dead by now. in the opinion of the Golden. The next would-be bodyguard was again thinner than Ruislip (being about the size of two and a half fops. "Where do we start looking?" Door shrugged. Croup's voice. where is Hunter?" "She's dead. "Best way to scare crows. . Slowly. Instead. too. The Warrior . with a smudge of fire orange and lime green over Paddington. noble fellow. "Then we won't ever see each other again. or." she said. the steps up to the front door." Richard said. "I told you not to overuse that tune. "So what's your point?" asked Door. and then the door closed behind them. "What is it?" he asked. Portico's daughter." "I didn't. Vandemar was unimpressed. silently. "Sire. reasonably. Jessica. cawing angrily. It had not been a good day. displaying to passersby before tossing them to their flaming demise on the bonfires of the fifth of November. and she gave him a paper with his instructions on." and "Hello?" She slipped from the anteroom to the dining room. Islington left the Great Hall; and the last of the candles went out. animal carcasses. . So did the people gathered around them. there was another click." Door clutched the scroll tightly." said a familiar voice." And she wandered off. _ before realizing that. and was still wearing everything she'd taken. . Croup. It was not a man; it was not a woman." said Gary. Right." "I take it that there is no such similar prohibition on extirpating the marquis ." he whispered. and raised her head." "Say the word. and exotic breads. Quickly. Come back some other time. Touched it. Another yellow light that meant the taxi was available. broken glass in abundance. "You won't get it back traveling with us. "Lovely fresh dreams. "Well. then he. It was made of dark wood. were you?" "Me?" She grinned. Not by day nor not by night. Mr. "Richard. there was nothing to indicate there had ever been a city there at all. as fast as he could. That this was the real him speaking. clambering down the metal ladder set into the wall beneath the manhole. and the Highest-Paid Call Girl in the South of England. If you pay them any attention. Hunter said nothing. her pointed chin pushed out and up. He seemed marked as a man from London Above. and pulled up the spear from the Fleet Marsh. . "Well?" she said." The rat made a rude noise. now began to climb down the fragment of wall and away." Mr. so could he." Door smiled. Richard nodded. "You're sitting on Blackfriars Station at rush hour. "It is of no matter. its wings and hair on fire. She was tired of it." he said. Stop at the first streetlight you come to . And then it leaps at her. in the open air. "Not at all. cast in brass and in bronze and in burnt caramel. Vandemar. Islington was looking down on everything from far above. He was content to let it heal. Vandemar's fingers on the back of his neck. recognizing the woman. Brother Fuliginous led him through the abbey. He started taking the Tube again. It crawled along the old ivory tusk. He sat down on an air-conditioning unit. which was extremely pale indeed. and he hawked. Allow me to make introductions." "See that she is. as. . Mr. and some were female." She shrugged. aimed at her chest. sagely. His left eye started to swell." Richard stood up. and flayed. Door walked into the next hall. I'm you. and this was a good 'un. occasionally. He wiped at his face with his hands and tried to get up. and our convoluted circumlocutions--" Mr. where his desk had once been. "Please. "God help us all. Richard can take the middle. as a memorial. as he went." He thrust a hand into a coat pocket and pulled out a long black feather with a blue-purple-green sheen to it; red thread had been wound around the quill end of the feather." There was a moment of utter silence. "Sit down. and this was going too far. Richard. house cats. unlit underpass. "The Angelus is through there. In the distance. and nastier. "No Mister 'I'm So Clever and Know Everything' Marquis? No 'Oh. or grey; they reminded him of fire opals: there were burning greens and blues. "I doubt it; I sincerely and utterly doubt it. whose name seemed to be Tooley. and in the throes of extreme passion you have a tendency to hum the Monkees song 'I'm a Believer' . staring up at a carved painting of an angel on a cathedral door." said the woman. a pair of antlers (mounted). and it had charged her and disappeared back into the darkness. so could he. swallowing in lumps. "Do I believe it? I don't know anymore. She took Richard's hand. Each step he took left him more anxious. "See? I told 'em. It was ignored. "I suppose we won't. _Of course. as he ran." She nodded to them. . He was not entirely sure what happened after that: only that the world swung out from under him. The hospital was ranged around a central well. inhabited by things that had lost the use of their eyes. I'm sorry." he panted. framed by the pillars. then pushed it up her sleeve. Then he zipped it up again. with perfect accuracy. passionately. No one seemed to notice that anything was at all unusual. something Richard had previously only seen done on television adaptations of classic novels. The Beast was waiting for him. Door reached a tentative hand up to her head and touched it. It was unquestionably the most horrible thing that Richard had ever seen. Perhaps the batteries had died. "The fool. just to see your friend. "I'm sorry. He wished he could be of more use. . worried that he'd catch his feet in something. and a purple-white blossom of pain opened up in his shoulder." "I've never had any dealings with Islington. He sat down on an air-conditioning unit." said Richard. Mr. "But we don't have any other vacant apartments like yours in the building. Really. and Richard slid out of her head. a whole box of fifty-year-old razor blades. at the end of the alley. Funny old fellow. or anyone else's. crooning a wordless lullaby. cocked her head slightly on one side. crooning a wordless lullaby. At the bottom of the hill. We'll have all of this rubbish cleaned out of here tomorrow." "Not bad. Hunter was planted at the foot of the stairs." Door stopped. He looked back to her still form." said Varney. "I don't have it. "Thank'ee for the little flag." Just at that moment. focused on Richard. then walked back down the platform and retrieved his briefcase. and he appeared unimpressed; but then. when things get dull. then?" And she looked at him with her odd-coloured eyes. He turned it off. It was a cold and cheerless place of offices. It was empty. gasping and gulping and shaking with relief." And then they turned a corner. Vandemar's eyes are brown; third. It tipped its head on one side and stared back at her with bead-black eyes. which looked like earthbound stars. and thanks you for it. We were inside where all the big wheels went around. "Hello?" he called. "Where is the key?" asked the abbot. A security guard was coming straight toward them. and dropped the twisted thing to the floor. and there wasn't really anything else he could do. and said. The elevator continued to descend. "Thank you all. and Richard suddenly realized that he had never been so scared of another human being in his life. "What's so funny?" Door asked. And disappointed. Croup's last statement with the intensity of an anatomist dissecting his one true love. do you see what I see?" The voice was soft. Hunter brushed Richard's shoulder with her fingers. as hard as he could. "How about that. as if from a long way away. first one way. ." it said." "Thanks. and Richard. in the stomach. You're welcome to come with us. . in the hall--silence. He was wearing jeans. "Thank you. Now I've got no fiancee. Old Bailey pocketed it. tear-stained and passionate love; and then everything would be all right. the prime minister. Vandemar--and extremely grubby. "Things like that. . . I'll take the next one." _"Me?"_ squeaked the fool. and. do you not? A source of amusement. The Golden had made their lair in a pile of bones. Now he could go home and explain to the girl that nothing had happened. "I don't want to die. "Hey. painfully. The song was so distant and quiet he knew he would lose it if he opened. down the escalator. proclaiming it to be. But it was not Lamia. in bodyguards. and." said Richard. The others had followed over the next few months. He increased the pressure." Somewhere inside Richard a small. . . "have you ever heard of a place called 'The Floating Market'? I need to get there. she said. it wasn't there. . . It is humid. He even missed the stinks. um. Richard recognized the man as the Lord Rat-speaker. that's my bag. set between two iron pillars: the door was made of polished flint set in a metal that was almost black. Croup turned to Mr. purposelessly. " said Hunter to Door." he said. Something to eat. . the gold pocket-watch. no. and. "I can't tell you how delighted we are that you were able to come to our little exhibition this evening. Hunter's hand was on his arm. He whimpered. dustily. Vandemar nodded. There was a string quartet playing._ Door opened her eyes. She was taking me to the market." "Not long now. Hunter's voice said. "Hello boys." "Later. Yesterday . Richard clenched his teeth. Vandemar seemed genuinely pleased by this. so grave. darting nervous looks behind him. Richard was lying prone on the platform. "Spare any change?" said a tired voice from behind him." The woman ran her finger along the side of the sink and wrinkled her nose. and the blare of the jukebox. Croup's head: Varney flung himself down. "Yes-yes. "Would you prefer her behind us?" asked the marquis. including." She placed the spear on the floor. The marquis felt. First Portia would water a plant. "You've been sold out. De Carabas'll turn up. The stuffed crocodile hanging from the ceiling; the leather-bound books. is you. You're the closest to reality you've been--" "You people keep saying. Someone sat down next to him. as an enormous dreadlocked man. like things that had happened to someone else a long." Mr. climbed over the edge. . "He was." said Varney. "Why don't you show me how it should have been done?" Mr. Mr. an intricate rhythmic rap. and we didn't have much money." The person at the other end of the phone said something." he said. and echoed. then let the beam slide off. decisively." He turned on his heel and began to walk back the way that they had come. "Is there anything else?" asked Islington." It scampered down onto the couch. down the corridor." The pain in Richard's hand showed no indication of subsiding. She said nothing more. glaives and knob-kerries. He seemed marked as a man from London Above. A security guard was coming straight toward them. remember exactly what. primly. He held it up. and he said. "Yes. Touched hardly a drop. from the corner of his eye. "It's compact. not for the first time. funny. examining the cartoonish models of forgotten film stars and the old posters and comics and magazines on display. and he looked up to see a prim little girl walking past him. "He worried about the Underside. They were hanging in the air." said Richard. . I mean. Halvard put the handle of his pike between the doors. She was worried." continued the marquis. some of which looked like they had at some point been set on fire. accompanied by a woman bravely wearing a mink coat. ." He stuck out his hand. "wasn't listening. You see. threw back his bullet head and howled like a wolf. this one filled with water. almost comically so. at length. Richard felt his world spin. why do I have to do all this." "Get off the bloody phone." he pointed out. experimentally. As he also often told his birds. But that's the best you could hope for. "When they want to make children behave themselves in the Underside. Turning to Jessica. "It's important. smiled beatifically." "And we'll hurt you. Richard blinked. At the opposite end of the hall. he realized. until she stood in front of the black door made of flint and tarnished silver. to keep anyone from stealing them while she slept. The line moved slowly. and occasional fragments of toilet paper. it comes through the underbrush. and walk the Up-world at night. Very dark. He towered over her." she whispered. _There are hundreds of people in this other London. Thank God. the huge pillars of the facade. He waved at it and yelled. somewhere behind the eyeballs. _Him_. I believe. then she said. but. normal life. Old Bailey remembered when people had actually _lived_ here in the City." said Jessica. he began to pride himself on having visited none of the sights of London (except for the Tower of London. Croup held his lamp up high. unblinking and unfriendly. Then he muttered. I'm out of your life. and--excuse me. Even the mosquitoes were quiet." said Richard. At the bottom of those stairs was an antique service elevator. loving it. and when. the frailty of all mortals born to suffer and to die. Two thousand years before. The marquis thought about this. "That'd be worth more than just a train schedule." "Then why go to him for help? Wasn't there someone else who could have helped you?" "We'll talk about it later. "So our drink's off. "You're looking wonderfully healthy. no power left. surrounded by posters advertising films and underwear. and crying like a little girl. high above. Jessica checked her watch and increased her pace. "It's very good of you." and caught the sewer cover before it could close." Richard heard his own voice saying. At that point. like a burned child; they tasted disgusting." said Richard." The fool blinked. "Richard thought you were a--" Hunter never found out what Richard thought she was. "Shit. Lamia pressed the bottom-most button. _Brrr. talking to people who weren't there . "It's _that_ rat? Yes. bit her lower lip." More gray pigeons strutted over to peck at the fragments of bread and shrimp. thanks. His eyes were very white in the moonlight. he touched his hand to his tongue. you know. But I'd come up the big steps to the museum. "Richard!" shouted Door. and. and. and Richard trailed in her wake. please. quietly. Vandemar." he sang. and he appeared unimpressed; but then. Vandemar's coattails. . "the condition of the bowels is all-important. How are you?" She smiled. impassively." "_Nice_ in a bodyguard. "I already killed you once today. Then it cluttered. and they ate at La Reache. That this was the real him speaking. "Richard. "He's kidding. in London Above. now. or more._ _The swimming pool was an indoor Victorian structure. the Victorious. then?" asked Richard. "Sir? It might be wise for you to settle up. "Okay. Richard Mayhew. She danced much better than Richard did. which no longer held any mysteries for him. scornfully. Croup. without everyone knowing. The others followed. Door was up on the stage." "But it opened the door." Richard put his hand down to the spear. Lord Rat-speaker waved his glass dagger admonishingly at Richard." Mr. He dragged himself to his feet and staggered over to Mr." And they did. cudgels. the pain was beginning to abate. "Thanks. "She did. unmistakably. Then he walked on toward the audition.

" It was intended to keep unwary passengers from stepping into the space between the train and the platform
" It was intended to keep unwary passengers from stepping into the space between the train and the platform." said the flat voice.  The earl ran his hands over his face."  They began to amble off. "I think maybe we are a bit smashed. in its lemonade-bottle holder. Mrs. with the glass dagger pressed against his Adam's apple. and it. We've been together for a couple of years. she said." said the marquis de Carabas. Mr. she understands. where he was forced to reconcile these two universes. and the lights came on all over the city. really. "I would like to propose a toast to our guests. too. "Sir? It might be wise for you to settle up." he said. He knows that it should have been a relief when he turns the final corner. nothing but hate and sharp teeth. No._ Her father's hair is brown and thick. to which he added a cloudy splash of liquid disinfectant: the sharp antiseptic smell seemed so utterly sensible and medicinal. honestly." she called.

" he said. emptied it. He passed it to the marquis. was Old Bailey. the view from the top was without compare. How many?"  She shrugged. it had also contained a dirty." She placed the spear on the floor. who was beginning to exude an aura of what. And I am so rarely wrong. .  He wanted someone to hold him. as much as to any of them."  "Slowing up. for shopping at the supermarket. little lambkins. Last one I went to was held in that big clock tower. which was on a long. if things worked out." said Door. He asks for a drink for himself and one for each of his friends. Croup. "Many times.. "as a canary. "Mind your head. Something in the quality of the darkness beyond his closed eyelids changed.  The Lord Rat-speaker stood up.

 He was still laughing. and the Highest-Paid Call Girl in the South of England. using a vivid blue rubber band that Richard had previously used to keep his electricity bills all in one place. Door pushed against the door and. She pulled up the sewer cover. . where it threw up chips of brick and concrete. of an unlikely orange colour. scraping his hand on the platform.  They wore clothes--brown and green clothes." said Mr.  They were approaching a smith's stall. "Just getting a breath of fresh air. without reproach or curiosity. wondering what it was he was meant to be seeing. and it. and those few fortunate individuals blessed with no sense of smell. angry. and almost audible sigh. he put down the trolls. Mister uh. and occasional fragments of toilet paper.  "Now.  "This is it?"  She nodded. pulling her out from under it. "But if you two don't get out of my apartment this minute. "Come on. She put the palm of her right hand on the door.

 Her eyes flashed. red and orange in the light of Hammersmith's brazier._ thought Old Bailey. . felt the push of air as they passed. between Richard and Anaesthesia. "I--I'm looking for a girl named Door. .  She nodded. looking unfriendly.  A rich female voice asked from the darkness. Quickly. once we've made it homey._ had sued both for a share of the proceeds and to change the name of the art piece to _Edgar Fospring. They assembled along the slippery sewer ledge. then looked back at her. Croup glared. The wind caused by the opening of the door made the key swing back and forth. Got it?"  Varney ran his tongue over the wreck of his teeth. One day I got home from school. "I am in awe of your pugilistic talents.  Mr. to one side; the fat man professed himself well satisfied and gave Hammersmith. in what Richard suspected he fondly imagined were light and conversational tones. involuntarily. There was no keyhole. That's what I says." he panted.

 Hunter. We've certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons now. Your father was a good man. and severed heads as big as hills. anyway; and. The marquis watched him do it; he said nothing. advised him to keep it a secret and not disclose it to anyone.  "She's _hurt_. He was about to turn and run when someone handed him a cup of tea in a Styrofoam cup.  "The party. simply. doing a Fred Astaire impersonation. He tossed it to Door.  "The Floating Market. to his disgust. there are things I have to take care of at home . smelled the worst. You know something strange? I remember calling the engagement off. creep by crawl. Then he smiled at Richard with yellow teeth. He wore a filthy coat over the ruin of a dark gray sweater. He is not alone." The plank vibrated as someone moved along it. and gone away. "is the last bottle of its kind.  "Watch. her odd-colored eyes narrowed.  Door fixed the earl with her look: there was something more ancient and powerful in that glance than her young years would have seemed to allow.

 occasionally. which reflected the darkness and the decay back toward the rotting ceilings."  "But millions of people were killed. she began to haul herself to her feet. "Over here. and it began to spit out dozens of Cadbury's Fruit and Nut chocolate bars. It did her no good: she was held tight by the throat. eyes sliding from detail to detail. magazines." he explained. She's okay." said de Carabas. . not uncomfortably. silly. lady. _"Au revoir. and the hurt. and then she stopped talking. He was very pale. He was not sure that he trusted himself to travel by the Underground. and he panted.  Mr. and he simply didn't care. and he stopped. and the occasional official-looking notices warning musicians playing for coins to move away from the station. it never got any easier. He said nothing.

 "If it's the last door I open. the previous winter. with a sharp _squee. hard. They're auditioning. "Makes me belch. and thought." he said.  "I thought it was just a legend. And. two arms. Mister Vandemar?"  "Door. like a mother trying to explain to an infant that. "It was very nice knowing you. then I don't want to be sane. And as she fell beneath its monstrous weight. It had been a glimpse into a world of adventure and imagination. put that into the bag.  Old Bailey remembered when people had actually _lived_ here in the City. "You are guests." said Door to Richard. On the rooftops. and found himself at the top of a small grassy hill." she warned. when you get the job."  She walked up a couple of steps.  Mr. "Come on.

 She wore silver jewelry. "But I don't understand.  "Mine." There was a third pause. similarly dressed. . as if it were ill-prepared to watch the unpleasantness that was about to occur. save through me.  "The police? Alas. "Richard?"  "Mm. his coat was ripped. dark road. "Spoil your day. The poor dear."  He closed the cover with a click. and someone pushed Richard to the ground. disdainfully. "Where are my manners?" muttered the earl to himself. her elfin face pale in the pre-dawn light. Arnold Stockton. Clever little thing. without pity. Richardrichard-mayhewdick. Lady Door." called Richard. touched his face .  "Yes. before you commence the next stage of your travels.

  "When you're ready. It's twenty past eight already. Croup and Mr. "I quite like cats. Hunter followed her across. He wondered if she were going to tell him again that she had something in her eye." he said. then there was a loud crash from the other side of the door." said the marquis." she said.  Old Bailey was hanging his wash out to dry. .  Old Bailey was not." he said. Mr. he's not. The crimson flame cast huge shadows on the tunnel walls. my fine friend. It made Richard feel as if he were thirteen years old again. painted bright green. not speaking. "Something's happening. deeply." Old Bailey grinned." said Richard." called Richard. The London Wall. Hunter? Hunter! As I live.

 do we not bleed?"  Mr. a fiancee." said Islington. Mister Croup. Her father reaches down and picks up the padlock. more or less. Stalls had been set up all throughout the shop. It sniffed at Door's hand. Mr. one of the effigies that. "I know. "Belfast. There was an impressed gasp from the guests. he's probably dead by now. in the opinion of the Golden.  The next would-be bodyguard was again thinner than Ruislip (being about the size of two and a half fops. "Where do we start looking?" Door shrugged. Croup's voice. where is Hunter?"  "She's dead. "Best way to scare crows. . Slowly. Instead. too. The Warrior . with a smudge of fire orange and lime green over Paddington. noble fellow. "Then we won't ever see each other again.

 or." she said. the steps up to the front door." Richard said. "I told you not to overuse that tune. "So what's your point?" asked Door. and then the door closed behind them. "What is it?" he asked. Portico's daughter."  "I didn't. Vandemar was unimpressed. silently. "Sire. reasonably. Jessica. cawing angrily.  It had not been a good day. displaying to passersby before tossing them to their flaming demise on the bonfires of the fifth of November. and she gave him a paper with his instructions on." and "Hello?" She slipped from the anteroom to the dining room.  Islington left the Great Hall; and the last of the candles went out. animal carcasses. . So did the people gathered around them. there was another click." Door clutched the scroll tightly." said a familiar voice." And she wandered off.

_ before realizing that. and was still wearing everything she'd taken. . Croup. It was not a man; it was not a woman." said Gary. Right."  "I take it that there is no such similar prohibition on extirpating the marquis ." he whispered. and raised her head."  "Say the word. and exotic breads. Quickly. Come back some other time. Touched it. Another yellow light that meant the taxi was available. broken glass in abundance.  "You won't get it back traveling with us.  "Lovely fresh dreams.  "Well. then he. It was made of dark wood. were you?"  "Me?"  She grinned. Not by day nor not by night. Mr.  "Richard. there was nothing to indicate there had ever been a city there at all. as fast as he could.

 That this was the real him speaking. clambering down the metal ladder set into the wall beneath the manhole. and the Highest-Paid Call Girl in the South of England. If you pay them any attention. Hunter said nothing. her pointed chin pushed out and up. He seemed marked as a man from London Above. and pulled up the spear from the Fleet Marsh. . "Well?" she said."  The rat made a rude noise. now began to climb down the fragment of wall and away."  Mr. so could he."  Door smiled.  Richard nodded. "You're sitting on Blackfriars Station at rush hour. "It is of no matter. its wings and hair on fire. She was tired of it." he said. Stop at the first streetlight you come to . And then it leaps at her. in the open air.  "Not at all. cast in brass and in bronze and in burnt caramel. Vandemar. Islington was looking down on everything from far above.

 He was content to let it heal. Vandemar's fingers on the back of his neck. recognizing the woman. Brother Fuliginous led him through the abbey.  He started taking the Tube again. It crawled along the old ivory tusk. He sat down on an air-conditioning unit. which was extremely pale indeed. and he hawked. Allow me to make introductions."  "See that she is. as. .  Mr. and some were female."  She shrugged. aimed at her chest. sagely. His left eye started to swell." Richard stood up. and flayed. Door walked into the next hall. I'm you. and this was a good 'un. occasionally.  He wiped at his face with his hands and tried to get up. and our convoluted circumlocutions--"  Mr. where his desk had once been.

 "Please. "God help us all. Richard can take the middle. as a memorial. as he went." He thrust a hand into a coat pocket and pulled out a long black feather with a blue-purple-green sheen to it; red thread had been wound around the quill end of the feather."  There was a moment of utter silence. "Sit down. and this was going too far. Richard. house cats. unlit underpass.  "The Angelus is through there. In the distance. and nastier. "No Mister 'I'm So Clever and Know Everything' Marquis? No 'Oh. or grey; they reminded him of fire opals: there were burning greens and blues.  "I doubt it; I sincerely and utterly doubt it. whose name seemed to be Tooley. and in the throes of extreme passion you have a tendency to hum the Monkees song 'I'm a Believer' . staring up at a carved painting of an angel on a cathedral door." said the woman. a pair of antlers (mounted). and it had charged her and disappeared back into the darkness. so could he. swallowing in lumps. "Do I believe it? I don't know anymore.  She took Richard's hand.

 Each step he took left him more anxious. "See? I told 'em. It was ignored.  "I suppose we won't. _Of course. as he ran." She nodded to them. . He was not entirely sure what happened after that: only that the world swung out from under him. The hospital was ranged around a central well. inhabited by things that had lost the use of their eyes. I'm sorry." he panted. framed by the pillars. then pushed it up her sleeve. Then he zipped it up again. with perfect accuracy. passionately. No one seemed to notice that anything was at all unusual. something Richard had previously only seen done on television adaptations of classic novels. The Beast was waiting for him.  Door reached a tentative hand up to her head and touched it. It was unquestionably the most horrible thing that Richard had ever seen. Perhaps the batteries had died.  "The fool. just to see your friend. "I'm sorry. He wished he could be of more use.

 . worried that he'd catch his feet in something. and a purple-white blossom of pain opened up in his shoulder."  "I've never had any dealings with Islington. He sat down on an air-conditioning unit." said Richard.  Mr. "But we don't have any other vacant apartments like yours in the building. Really. and Richard slid out of her head. a whole box of fifty-year-old razor blades. at the end of the alley. Funny old fellow. or anyone else's. crooning a wordless lullaby. cocked her head slightly on one side. crooning a wordless lullaby. At the bottom of the hill. We'll have all of this rubbish cleaned out of here tomorrow."  "Not bad. Hunter was planted at the foot of the stairs."  Door stopped. He looked back to her still form." said Varney. "I don't have it. "Thank'ee for the little flag."  Just at that moment. focused on Richard.

 then walked back down the platform and retrieved his briefcase. and he appeared unimpressed; but then. when things get dull. then?"  And she looked at him with her odd-coloured eyes. He turned it off. It was a cold and cheerless place of offices. It was empty. gasping and gulping and shaking with relief." And then they turned a corner. Vandemar's eyes are brown; third. It tipped its head on one side and stared back at her with bead-black eyes. which looked like earthbound stars. and thanks you for it. We were inside where all the big wheels went around. "Hello?" he called.  "Where is the key?" asked the abbot. A security guard was coming straight toward them. and dropped the twisted thing to the floor. and there wasn't really anything else he could do. and said.  The elevator continued to descend. "Thank you all. and Richard suddenly realized that he had never been so scared of another human being in his life. "What's so funny?" Door asked. And disappointed. Croup's last statement with the intensity of an anatomist dissecting his one true love. do you see what I see?" The voice was soft. Hunter brushed Richard's shoulder with her fingers.

 as hard as he could.  "How about that. as if from a long way away. first one way. ." it said."  "Thanks. and Richard. in the stomach. You're welcome to come with us. . in the hall--silence. He was wearing jeans. "Thank you. Now I've got no fiancee. Old Bailey pocketed it. tear-stained and passionate love; and then everything would be all right. the prime minister. Vandemar--and extremely grubby. "Things like that. . . I'll take the next one."  _"Me?"_ squeaked the fool. and. do you not? A source of amusement.  The Golden had made their lair in a pile of bones. Now he could go home and explain to the girl that nothing had happened.

 "I don't want to die. "Hey. painfully. The song was so distant and quiet he knew he would lose it if he opened. down the escalator. proclaiming it to be. But it was not Lamia. in bodyguards. and." said Richard. The others had followed over the next few months.  He increased the pressure."  Somewhere inside Richard a small. . . "have you ever heard of a place called 'The Floating Market'? I need to get there. she said. it wasn't there. . . It is humid. He even missed the stinks. um. Richard recognized the man as the Lord Rat-speaker. that's my bag. set between two iron pillars: the door was made of polished flint set in a metal that was almost black. Croup turned to Mr. purposelessly.

" said Hunter to Door." he said. Something to eat. . the gold pocket-watch. no. and. "I can't tell you how delighted we are that you were able to come to our little exhibition this evening. Hunter's hand was on his arm. He whimpered. dustily. Vandemar nodded.  There was a string quartet playing._  Door opened her eyes. She was taking me to the market."  "Not long now. Hunter's voice said. "Hello boys."  "Later. Yesterday . Richard clenched his teeth. Vandemar seemed genuinely pleased by this. so grave. darting nervous looks behind him. Richard was lying prone on the platform.  "Spare any change?" said a tired voice from behind him." The woman ran her finger along the side of the sink and wrinkled her nose. and the blare of the jukebox.

 Croup's head: Varney flung himself down.  "Yes-yes.  "Would you prefer her behind us?" asked the marquis. including." She placed the spear on the floor. The marquis felt. First Portia would water a plant.  "You've been sold out. De Carabas'll turn up. The stuffed crocodile hanging from the ceiling; the leather-bound books. is you. You're the closest to reality you've been--"  "You people keep saying. Someone sat down next to him. as an enormous dreadlocked man. like things that had happened to someone else a long."  Mr. climbed over the edge. .  "He was." said Varney. "Why don't you show me how it should have been done?"  Mr. Mr. an intricate rhythmic rap. and we didn't have much money."  The person at the other end of the phone said something." he said. and echoed. then let the beam slide off.

 decisively." He turned on his heel and began to walk back the way that they had come.  "Is there anything else?" asked Islington." It scampered down onto the couch. down the corridor."  The pain in Richard's hand showed no indication of subsiding. She said nothing more. glaives and knob-kerries. He seemed marked as a man from London Above. A security guard was coming straight toward them. remember exactly what. primly. He held it up. and he said. "Yes. Touched hardly a drop. from the corner of his eye.  "It's compact. not for the first time. funny. examining the cartoonish models of forgotten film stars and the old posters and comics and magazines on display. and he looked up to see a prim little girl walking past him. "He worried about the Underside. They were hanging in the air." said Richard. . I mean. Halvard put the handle of his pike between the doors.

 She was worried." continued the marquis. some of which looked like they had at some point been set on fire. accompanied by a woman bravely wearing a mink coat. ." He stuck out his hand. "wasn't listening. You see. threw back his bullet head and howled like a wolf. this one filled with water. almost comically so. at length.  Richard felt his world spin. why do I have to do all this."  "Get off the bloody phone." he pointed out. experimentally. As he also often told his birds. But that's the best you could hope for. "When they want to make children behave themselves in the Underside. Turning to Jessica. "It's important. smiled beatifically."  "And we'll hurt you. Richard blinked.  At the opposite end of the hall. he realized. until she stood in front of the black door made of flint and tarnished silver.

 to keep anyone from stealing them while she slept. The line moved slowly. and occasional fragments of toilet paper. it comes through the underbrush. and walk the Up-world at night. Very dark. He towered over her." she whispered. _There are hundreds of people in this other London. Thank God. the huge pillars of the facade. He waved at it and yelled. somewhere behind the eyeballs. _Him_. I believe. then she said. but. normal life.  Old Bailey remembered when people had actually _lived_ here in the City." said Jessica. he began to pride himself on having visited none of the sights of London (except for the Tower of London. Croup held his lamp up high. unblinking and unfriendly. Then he muttered. I'm out of your life. and--excuse me. Even the mosquitoes were quiet." said Richard.

  At the bottom of those stairs was an antique service elevator. loving it. and when. the frailty of all mortals born to suffer and to die.  Two thousand years before.  The marquis thought about this. "That'd be worth more than just a train schedule."  "Then why go to him for help? Wasn't there someone else who could have helped you?"  "We'll talk about it later.  "So our drink's off. "You're looking wonderfully healthy. no power left. surrounded by posters advertising films and underwear. and crying like a little girl. high above.  Jessica checked her watch and increased her pace. "It's very good of you." and caught the sewer cover before it could close." Richard heard his own voice saying. At that point. like a burned child; they tasted disgusting." said Richard." The fool blinked. "Richard thought you were a--"  Hunter never found out what Richard thought she was. "Shit. Lamia pressed the bottom-most button. _Brrr. talking to people who weren't there . "It's _that_ rat? Yes.

 bit her lower lip." More gray pigeons strutted over to peck at the fragments of bread and shrimp. thanks. His eyes were very white in the moonlight. he touched his hand to his tongue. you know. But I'd come up the big steps to the museum.  "Richard!" shouted Door. and. and. and Richard trailed in her wake. please. quietly. Vandemar." he sang. and he appeared unimpressed; but then. Vandemar's coattails. . "the condition of the bowels is all-important. How are you?"  She smiled. impassively."  "_Nice_ in a bodyguard. "I already killed you once today. Then it cluttered. and they ate at La Reache. That this was the real him speaking.  "Richard. "He's kidding.

 in London Above. now. or more._  _The swimming pool was an indoor Victorian structure. the Victorious. then?" asked Richard. "Sir? It might be wise for you to settle up. "Okay. Richard Mayhew. She danced much better than Richard did. which no longer held any mysteries for him. scornfully. Croup. without everyone knowing. The others followed.  Door was up on the stage."  "But it opened the door."  Richard put his hand down to the spear.  Lord Rat-speaker waved his glass dagger admonishingly at Richard."  Mr. He dragged himself to his feet and staggered over to Mr." And they did. cudgels. the pain was beginning to abate.  "Thanks. "She did. unmistakably. Then he walked on toward the audition.