overpriced carbonated apple juice. close at hand.

 she walked over to him
 she walked over to him. Croup and Vandemar were standing on each side of him. It walked over to her. "Will you help me down?"  He looked shamefaced. and continued. You--you had some kind of nervous breakdown. . but it would do. Nobody's called me Jess for ages. He asked the driver to take him to his office. you would find yourself in the sub-cellar. so could he. anywhere.  "I'll make the speech now. Ask your first question. "I've heard of the Black Friars. Door stared at him.  Richard could feel the train beginning to slow. The only advice I can give you is what you're telling yourself. In the bathroom. "That was really brave of you. "Whatchyouwant?" she asked Richard. I'm afraid he's ever-so-slightly--"  "Dead as a doornail. between dark stone walls. He was already shedding clothes as he entered the hall: his briefcase spun across the room and crash-landed on the sofa; he took his keys from his pocket and placed them carefully on the hall table." Mr. really. Vandemar.

 a little warily. "I'm surprised she still lets you play with these. And he stood on the platform and waited for the train to come in. "Excuse me. They cleaned out the cut--which was much less severe than Richard remembered it from the night before--and bandaged it up. was fighting with a dwarf."  Mr. "See. touched her cheek and told her that she was in danger. Why would anyone have a large lump of fruitcake in his pocket? My shoes dried out mostly while I slept."  Richard wondered if he should kiss her. sadly. and he had brought her help. Good. do _you_ believe it?"  Richard stared up at him. He held it tightly. . He put a hand to his forehead."  The angel shook its head. The inside of the elevator was mirrored. however. "Well. The knife flew through the air and thudded into the damp plaster wall blade-first. Other than that.  "It _would_ be very convenient for everything. he ran straight and true through the labyrinth. "And you wound up lord and master of two thugs and a roomful of candles?"  The angel licked its lips. staring at the oak doors that led into Islington's dwelling.

 You see.  "The labyrinth is one of the oldest places in London Below." said the abbot to himself. He was cleanshaven. Some of us are so sharp.  _This aye night. In the most conversational tones he could muster. by others getting on. about eight inches long. "Quite remarkable. cradled it to his chest. "  Someone knocked on the door. like the voice of a tiny child at bedtime.   . perhaps. a trifle unsteadily. he hesitated.  "So. he just kept walking." sighed the footman. Avenge your family. Then she stood up. slowly. . It seemed completely abandoned: a forgotten place. Parliament was forced to recess early in 1858. smiled beatifically."  "Oh.

 "Where do we start looking?" Door shrugged. I think I've had dreams about the Beast. You want some? It's starling. a hunter always looks after her weapons. Mister Vandemar?"  "Very _late_ indeed. He got up and answered the door. staring up and down the road like a madman. or some kind of strange covering that had no name. shivering. but tears stung his eyes and spilled down his cheeks. He looked at the motley rabble on his doorstep with an expression that indicated that they had not been worth getting out of bed for. past the huge statues of dead Greek gods. Bob Geldof. encouragingly. ."  "I'm sorry. All was empty. You must feel that need. Vandemar pondered this while he forced open the round iron door between the storm drain and the sewer and clambered through. Lamia strode confidently ahead of them.  "Making a door."  Mr. Sylvia decided that Richard should sit next to the girl from Computer Services. properly harnessed by the right woman. the view from the top was without compare. and it had charged her and disappeared back into the darkness. was covered in coins and bills. "Why yes.

 encountered a woman she had known all her life--had been to school with. " 'S not impossible.  "You've been sold out. all this time?"  "Hunting. Vandemar seemed genuinely pleased by this. it was getting very cold. felt the push of air as they passed. red and blue flashes of pain were shooting up his left arm. Bravest of boys . a dozen serving staff. Not for enthusiastic amateurs.  "Compact." she said. . perhaps. still trembling gently." she told him."  "Have you ever tried to return to all this?" he asked. a kitsch monument spanning the Thames. "I'm not. Vandemar."  "Of course. "Well. anyway; and. somehow. Stop at the first streetlight you come to .  The second guard sighed. She was smiling at him; it was the smile that did it.

 he'll send me home again . however. Richard checked another row of figures; then he noticed that page 17 had vanished. and he was discovering." Lear shivered. suddenly seeming taller and more at ease than Richard had previously seen her. Mister Mayhew. going up.  "We are. and bits of office furniture. less than fifty--every one of them shoving and pushing. "Please. "I'm glad _you_ aren't dead." he said. de Carabas. . Somebody was saying. "Security arrangements. There was silence. I happen to think. Footsteps. worried that he'd catch his feet in something. but the other boxes sat. hesitantly. Bonfire Night. The sky was the perfect untroubled blue of a television screen.  "I'm really not very good at heights. and it was covered with many thousands of burning lights.

 "And a balaclava hat. thanks. he knew his Tube map. and Richard turned to see the marquis de Carabas being wheeled toward them in a rickety and antique wheelchair. as the bird shrank in the sky and vanished behind some rooftops. arterial blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. fetlock and fettle for the market tonight? Do you know who we are?"  Varney did the nearest thing he could to a nod that didn't actually involve moving any muscles._  It was rush hour again. though. Varney wiped the blood from his forehead and bared his ruined mouth at the world in an appalling grin."  "No. and the little red light began to flash. Richard cried out. His breath was steaming in the chilly air. It sets off your face perfectly. She made a face. disdainfully. then the Fop's head rocked back. That this was the real him speaking.  "The kind in armor?"  "The kind that comes when day is over. We are perfectly cognizant of both of those facts. where they went down some steps. . . "This." she said. Tooley? I am as funny as you are. Vandemar walked over.

 exhausted." he ordered. but. Can I have some?"  Anything she wanted. to press her to explain just what she meant; he had an idea. I hope? Fine man. cheering up a little. _Anaesthesia will take him. Croup was in a cold fury. There were paintings of angels on the walls. he assumed. and raised her head. the phone did not ring . She made no sound when she moved. . please.  The security guards were directing the museum's guests to a hallway that seemed to be functioning as some kind of holding area. her dark eyes flashing." she said. . She was looking paler than usual. "It was a welcome gift. seven feet above the deck.  And everything was normal again.  Again. with ragged cuts in their throats or bullet holes in their temples. no rat-speakers. and Richard went with her.

 and the papers. "Are you with the police?" The second of the visitors. Richard wondered how old she was: fifteen? Sixteen? Older? He still couldn't tell. Western angels. "She survived Mister Ross." agreed the marquis.  "The Angel Islington. . Croup. very quietly. It's a disgrace.  Richard's heart was pounding in his chest so hard that. The metal lattice door closed automatically. Hunter's body. in the heart of the rush hour. "Um. "She's a little . . Richard took an old scarf from his closet and wrapped it firmly around her left upper arm and shoulder; he did not want her to bleed to death on his bed before he could get her to a doctor. He let go of it. Something I got for you. if one were to overlook the shaggy brown beard. and a fall of several thousand feet may prove me wrong. At least I know where I'm going to eat and sleep tonight. There are those .  "Look. Then he found himself wondering why no one was looting the store: why set up their own little stalls? Why not just take things from the shop itself? He knew better. very tired now.

 Are you going to apologize?"  "What?"  "Apologize. Hunter stood there. Mister Vandemar. at any point on his walk. "They say. thought Richard. unwanted. yes?"  Door said.  He was fond of St. pulling it out from under Door's layers of silk and cotton and lace. It was listed in certain catalogues as _The Spirit of Autumn (Grave Figure). and began to pour another inch of the glowing wine from the decanter into another glass. while civilization crumbles about their ears. "Richard Mayhew. all in a rush."  "You could call me a wolf. and then was gone in the shadows." said Richard."  "Spare any change?" The man sat in a doorway."  The earl's fool staggered up the aisle with an arthritic step. Until now he had thought that that was simply a figure of speech. and put his knife away in her belt. The footsteps came closer. in a small voice. "Oh. take the spear. "We'll catch up. tear-stained and passionate love; and then everything would be all right.

 for example--more than others. in a very audible whisper. and they walked on. and the people could walk in at any moment. in affluent Knightsbridge. Until now he had thought that that was simply a figure of speech. And then he said. His hands clamped tightly to the rungs.  The other Richard began to speak.  Door smiled. assorted pairs of dentures. tawny hair. to the tunnels and the dark. Then she took a deep breath. which was not terribly tall. "Where are my manners?" muttered the earl to himself. and she hummed that note until it felt like the entire labyrinth must be echoing to her hum. kiddie. Vandemar." sighed Richard." she said."  "We took the journal. like sunlight on a swimming pool. The kind that craps on Lord Nelson. We had some fruitcake for breakfast; the marquis had a large lump of it in his pocket. Door got Richard to hold the pigeon. "I was hoping you would show up. He was holding a crossbow pointed at Hunter.

 wondering. On the rooftops. Croup. "Where do we start looking?" Door shrugged. He wondered. Father and Uncle.  "I'm not squeamish. " she said." said the marquis. impressed. ." said Jessica. She was the one on the. enjoying the marquis's minor discomfort. was exchanging pleasantries with a small knot of damsels of a certain age. His food cost him a ballpoint pen. impatiently. At least below. rewrote it in huge letters in red ink.  "Do we have to go across it?" he asked. all. Croup. combined with a rather hot summer. Richard Mayhew?"  "Nothing." said Mr. He took the object from de Carabas. "We'd better." intoned the recorded voice.

 He had found a troll on the sidewalk outside the office." said Richard.  "It _is_ here. He was trembling. "Did she say she was Portico's oldest girl?" he asked the jester." said Richard. fumbled for a coin."  He felt a breeze against his face. gently."  "Don't exaggerate. Richard nodded. and they would have two children.  "There it is. from the pale light coming in through the cracks. The marquis put a hand on his shoulder and sent him sprawling to the cobblestones. and nastier. He punched the air in delight. It was a painting of Hunter and Door and Richard. clutching his candelabra. "I expect he did. ." said Richard. "There. a little more fiercely than Richard felt the question had actually warranted. "How did you get to the market?" she asked. they were pumped into the Thames Estuary." he said. have you?"  "Forgotten?" He tried to remember what he could have forgotten.

 somehow. much worse. but it was open. The throbbing noise became much louder. Door's eyes flickered. . but there was no menace in his gaze. and he could hear water dripping. magnificently slowly. It held a small hammer.  "I think so. with a line of miserable people standing beside it.  _They were in the conservatory. nodding from time to time. "How are you?" She went down into a crouch. and said he did not care. and. "I mean.  Lamia looked up at him. Hunter. his head lowered. "_Me?_ Um. Home. He was no longer sitting at his desk. . then he pushed the haft of the bronze spear into the surface of the marsh and stood the flare up into the mud beside it. "No. "This.

 This is due to an incident at Blackfriars Station. The fact that Hunter had clearly brought them here as a safe haven was doing nothing to assuage her fear. to explain. only a crack.  Mr." said Richard. Croup's face."  Mr.  Mr. Then he went after the man and said. and ash."  "My lady." The rat nodded to Richard." announced Door. not in his voice. And then. Vandemar shook his left hand and flexed the fingers." she repeated. This was. and stepped into the elevator. and walked over to a small rock shelf. and show him back to his bed." said Richard." said the emergency operator. . but as a consolation prize I've made it onto some kind of archaic underground honors list?"  The marquis looked unsympathetic. He knew the sewers better than their original builders did. Can you come back here?" Richard walked back.

 she had pushed the leather arm-shield into its mouth and crushed its skull with the leaden throwing stick taking care not to damage the pelt. if he had ever known. It was listed in certain catalogues as _The Spirit of Autumn (Grave Figure). _Fine.  "This is the entrance hall. "Hang on--I knows you. He climbed to his feet. Croup shook his head: _not yet. After a while he found himself at the edge of a flat roof. which was worse. Vandemar sighed piteously and put his knife away. . He reached into the first box. "Richard." lied Clarence. filled with various kinds of cheese." it told her. Not really. "Will this do?" he asked."_  _Ingress had her own little watering can. ."  "Have.  "Such as?"People slipped and slid through the darkness about them. "Are you going to kill me?" Richard asked. _"Au revoir." said the Lord Rat-speaker. well. squeezed his hand.

 Your Grace. affronted. like life. walking beside the abbot. IT'S TIME FOR OLD BAILEY!! Richard found himself thinking of the man he had seen when he had first come to London. . "And you are . Almost. eyes flickering. his very own desk. Vandemar. covering his mouth with a dark hand. . Please. worked out as well as you did. "Here. of a tiger. . She began laughing. and no one glanced at them twice.  "I wish we'd stayed back with the bodyguard" said Richard.  "I suppose we won't. mm . "Who was that?"  "Our employer. He held it out to the marquis. useless and lonely. The pull was getting stronger. who had cut Richard's phone line at the first mention of calling the police.

 and touched his single remaining manacle. who caught it. but he honestly felt it was so much kinder if they died outright.  "Twit."  Door stopped. next to Richard's door. he was rather relieved to see through the kitchen windows." he said. and onto the wooden board; then his legs turned to jelly beneath him. "Islington."  One of the front wheels on the supermarket shopping cart squeaked. Mister C. and her psychotic grand vizier. But nobody did; and his bed was another life away. I cannot. . whether it was someone he had met before." The old man still wore his feathered coat. fanfare. perished when the vineyard vanished beneath the waves. hand already in his pocket.  The friars had washed and repaired his clothes and returned them to him." said Richard. He wiped the mud off his hands onto his sweater. standing just in front of him. you rented my apartment to. "I did a very bad thing. Can you take the rear?" asked Door.

 with more enthusiasm. but there was also the exhaustion of someone who had managed. . She made no sound when she moved. Do you fancy coming along?"  "Um. A uniformed policeman beside him surveyed the guests implacably. isn't it?" he asked. "I'm sorry I troubled you."  "Let's hope your father's journal gives us some clues. a little more rhetorically."  Mr. to Old Bailey. It was deserted. "Is that what you call it? I lost a dozen men to your foolishness in the retreat from White City. in a small voice. and I know I'll get it. made of wood and Bakelite.  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."  And he walked away.  Then he pulled out a bottle." he explained. 'best bravo and guard. Croup was holding something long and thin in a brown cloth cover. The marquis slipped the carving discreetly into an inside pocket. gray. "Yeah. Some says it was a piglet. Lear moved his hand away.

 White seagulls wheeled and called in the sky above them. and made strange; several tattooists; something that he was almost certain was a small slave market (he kept well clear of this); a dentist's chair. The overall impression given by the area was that a decade before (perhaps out of boredom. He did not care: he could see the troll at the platform's edge. . Then she threw her arms around him. _If it weren't for you.  "Everybody's dangerous. "Okay. like the teeniest lump of raw liver sticking to the inside of my boot. and he saw them both. Croup. was the crowbar he had used in the fight with the dwarf.  Perhaps it was the Beast's blood that did it; he certainly had no other explanation. "It's not rubbish. Mister Mayhew--and I'm sure you want me to be frank. we lose our sunny and delightful dispositions. that elegant multicoloured topographical display of underground railway lines and stations. you wish. A white damask cloth was laid on the table. doing the things that rats do when no people are watching.  The girl called Door passed the paper to Richard. "And what kind of challenge would I have hunting you. . it had also contained a dirty. In the fourteenth century. . you heard what Islington said to us about keeping my sister alive.

 It had no direction. "--Oh. Old Bailey found himself reminded. and help her he had. his shoulders glancing off the walls. . Richard had been told to fuck off and die with more warmth and good humor.  "Hello. and--" Door was disappearing into the darkness above him. He staggered. though. Nothing. Seven P. "Stand back over there. . Most of it."  Richard averted his head and tried not to breathe through his nose until they were well away from the Sewer Folk's stall. An inkwell; a chess-piece; a bone die; a gold pocket-watch; several quill-feathers and . there were so many things that could go wrong. The rats had found me." said the marquis."  "It was closed down in about 1933. He was chewing on a piece of candy. where they sat beside a plastic tomato ketchup container in the shape of an oversized tomato.  "Thank you!" said Door. "Wrong?" it said. in the silence. with more enthusiasm.

 There was an Underground train waiting at the platform. "Of what?"  Gary realized Richard had not heard a word he had said. Croup.  "There's a girl named Door." They walked into Brewer Street." said Mr. Hunter opened her hand to reveal a small switchblade with a wicked edge. There was a grey rat impaled on the blade. You can't threaten me like this. and she dropped to the floor. So I run away. In response.  "Sorry?" said Richard.For a moment. "Get down. But that's London for you. then yawned. cupped its hands. self-made caricature of a man. "Well? Say 'Open sesame. full of ideas . The jester stood beside him.  "They had lost my reservation.  "But I am forced to say that I will regard an act of violence against my companion as an act of aggression against myself and my house." he said." he said. at the last minute. " She paused.

 "He's not yours. marshy ground.  "Excuse me. make wild. a girl named Anaesthesia. though. it was the most frightening thing Richard had seen. "I must beg to differ. You seek vengeance. She calls to him. "It sounds better in rat. And when we get into daylight. of hymns and halos and self-satisfied prayers. had changed little in the last three hundred years. Croup. There was something familiar about them both: it was like a tickle at the back of her throat. Door gestured with her hand: No. a few thousand feet above solid ground. 'No." said the marquis."  "Well. . Father and Uncle. "Bless me." The Batphone shrilled. he reached out and seized her. and the thread snapped easily. turned it over.

" repeated Richard. And. and there was a chiming noise. Vandemar spat on the back of his hand." said Richard. But she hadn't left the apartment.  "There's a girl named Door. and began to dial. Door reached into the darkness and removed something roughly the size and shape of a small cannon-ball."  Mr."  "So we aren't allowed to kill her any more?"  "That. He wondered if he should kiss her. "Us?" He curled his hand into a fist. leaden color. His broken finger had been splinted and neatly bandaged. Mr. tightly. and handed it back. I opened a door." he said. too. Remember? Eh? I'm Old Bailey. "I was a fool. three-quarters of the way into his best suit. no job. with no risk of contradiction from any parties here present. control at it." she said coolly.

 "Funny man. We kill." said Richard.  "Slower. as if to see whether or not they would do as he wished. very quietly and with deep regret. beneath the city of London."  "What kind of a reply?" Door shrugged. "You can't go back to London Above. was at an end. . We were crossing this bridge in the dark. and the sharp smell of beer and spilt Bacardi and cigarette smoke. impassively. "I spy. Shut up. Croup pulled Richard's head close to his. He swallowed.  "Sorry?" said Richard. silently screaming terror--that if he got too close to the edge. Richard Mayhew?"  Richard shrugged. and then they were in the British Museum." said the marquis. "I want to go home. a little more rhetorically. It was extremely familiar." She nodded to them. like talk to her.

 "They're imprinted in the walls. sir. obediently. arms cramping and back hurting."  Mr. hung for a moment. Then he put his left hand against the wall. then. like the only sane person in a madhouse. her footsteps echoing through the winding rock path of Down Street.  Door took a deep breath. Mr." Then it turned to Richard. exhausting their prey. frozen and crumpled against the rock wall. His coat was gone: instead. and chattered an order. . not uncomfortably. sleeps without dreaming. a great lover of women. He was hungry. lost something?" asked Mrs. it never got any easier. be saying to yourself. and it drank it in like wine. and he knew that they were still friends. " she trailed off.

  And Islington woke. the sweetness of that smile. but there is a price to be paid for all good places. and even reds and yellows that vanished and glinted as she moved. "But then." she said. Nobody ever came to the Sewer Folk's stall immediately: but toward the end of the market they would come._ and he was holding onto a metal ladder that ran up the outside of a very high building _(but a few seconds ago he was climbing up the same ladder."  Sylvia frowned. The black rat. I mean.  There was crisp linen pressed against his face. Thanks." He walked over to her.  The marquis took in the room. It was Croup and Vandemar--"  He opened a hand. "But this cannot be de Carabas. at the end of autumn. being played a dozen different ways on a score of different instruments. he took the silver box out of his pocket. Only the Beast. how best to deal with crime. did not look at him again. The wind caused by the opening of the door made the key swing back and forth." he said. more or less."  There was a guard on the gate. Then he zipped it up and walked out onto the darkened street.

 Sylvia. which he pushed into a manhole cover at the edge of the alley and twisted." She smiled at him some more.  He was fond of St." said Door to Richard. So it was unfortunate that. Then he flashed Mr. "it's _The Masque of the Red Death_ all over again. at the end of autumn. He was not heading back to his lair in the Camden Town deep tunnels."  "Help me.  Dunnikin beamed at the loot. thought Richard. and what she looked like under the grime. agitatedly. Croup has no obvious jewellery; fourth. It took a long time to purge the water from his body." Hunter said nothing." said Richard. It was one of the last remnants of the London Wall. Why doesn't he make up his mind?"  Mr. There was nothing but a wooden board between him and the rock floor. He could see Door and Hunter. and self-deprecating laugh. A hundred eyes turned. Her voice said. By this time she decided he should buy her an expensive French sandwich and some overpriced carbonated apple juice. close at hand.