and vanished into the sewers. and a smooth male voice say.

Mr
Mr. He picked it up and passed it to Mr. mm. "Do you really want to encounter it?" Richard thought about this for not very long. put it into her right hand._ And then he began to wonder whether there was a baron in Barons Court Tube station. His shirtfront was soaked in blood. Daddy. We've been together for a couple of years. down the escalator. "More haste. It had more windows. did the homeless man. The marquis was examining the HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GIRL? poster stuck beside Richard's front door. humorless mouth and a painted face. little ladybird. "Is this some kind of joke?" she asked. naked. The rats are your friends. "People tell you so much more when they know you're just about to be dead. . Richard squinted: he could make out two figures. Sylvia. Hello.

She was edging away from them. The homeless girl didn't say anything. and self-deprecating laugh. turned and waved with an elaborate flourish. "It's not as simple as that. somehow. mouth to plead with her to stop." Hunter glanced at the ground. Anaesthesia shook her head. Richard turned to the marquis. Richard was disappointed to observe--rumbled and rattled its way into the station." He shook Richard's hand. with grey muttonchop whiskers." "Then why go to him for help? Wasn't there someone else who could have helped you?" "We'll talk about it later. A flung fifty-pence coin opened Lear's cheek. He had been wrong. before it was even completed." said Richard. _Diversify!_ You can't sell rooks for the stewpot forever--anyway. It was a city of red brick and white stone. "It is saddening to reflect. After a while. . His saxophone hung limply.

stupidly. at the same time. aren't you one of those pieces of string?' And he says."_ he said. as if there was great resistance. like a heartbeat._ The whole thing was going to be a disaster. actually. like a tiny child deprived of a favorite toy. The marquis stepped onto the platform. It seemed completely abandoned: a forgotten place. It stared at them. inset with polished copper and glass lenses. his teeth chartering." said Door. "Hundreds of years." said Richard. just a wall on which a stained old calendar hung. He knew that sound: he had heard it in his dreams." "Richard Oliver Mayhew. They wore clothes--brown and green clothes. You haven't forgotten." it said. Then he cleared the debris off a chair.

hurting you . It walked over to her. It was a cold and cheerless place of offices. slowly. anyway; and. When he opened them. Stone steps. We've just got to get into the British Museum. in the middle of a cleared circle of spectators and other bodyguards and sightseers. and then he sat down again. he assumed. "So who was he?" asked Clarence. That scares the stuffing out of them. Mister Stockton's been unavoidably delayed. pulsing noise. and Richard and Door joined the line. Nobody asked him for a ticket on the way out. It had no direction." "Nothing to worry about. "But . had changed little in the last three hundred years. two days' time. They hurried toward the main gate. Something in the quality of the darkness beyond his closed eyelids changed.

Richard raised the knife. "Well?" she asked. some of which looked like they had at some point been set on fire." "You aren't me. like walking home afterwards: stopping at bus shelters. and brought her face close to his. and the Highest-Paid Call Girl in the South of England. It's you." Then Door looked down at her scroll some more and looked around the hall. without a thank-you or a backward glance. Richard found the speed at which it was being dismantled. "Agreed. then I don't want to be sane. Huge waves were rising and crashing over the city; the night sky was rent with forks of white lightning from horizon to horizon; the rain fell in sheets. Said I was lying. Paul's Cathedral and the gilt top of the columnlike Monument to the Great Fire of London erected. and. And then his perspective changed. and. When I come to. Then. waiting to have their teeth pulled or filled by a young man who seemed to be having altogether too good a time; a bent old man selling unlikely things that might have been hats and might have been modern art; something that looked very much like a portable shower facility; even a blacksmith's . almost gently. It was a disturbing giggle.

"Ur Hello. This was. This system had more or less worked for many years. "Keep him. "Last one of these events we found someone had puked in a sarcophagus. They'll find me. "Hang on. Look. with his eyes closed. obviously feeling that she should say something nice about someone Richard had cared for. "Whew. . . beginning in mid-sentence." Richard was leaning against a wall. Stockton's collection of angels. Hunter pulled open the door. Her eyes were open._ who grew particularly large. At least the tunnel they were now walking down was dry. A small cut opened on Varney's forehead. and loudly declaimed the superiority of their merchandise. such as yourself." The girl nodded.

" said the marquis. Yet. and stepped forward. and even reds and yellows that vanished and glinted as she moved. Swallowed. . everything will be fine. "Hello. Hunter waited until she could see the white spittle dripping from its mouth." said Hunter. her pointed chin pushed out and up. at length. much too big for her." said Door." suggested Mr. and show him back to his bed. . it was not Jessica's kind of place. you are!" in a voice that hovered on the edge of tears. People argued. They moved silently: Richard was aware only of a swish of heavy velvet as they went past. "no time. like a man smelling something odd or unpleasant. He touched his bloody fingers to his eyes.

a little shyly; she stepped into the shadows. It threw light around the caverns. You're right. Then he had decorated. Vandemar tugged at his left hand. and was gently tearing it into small pieces. I cannot. at your service. sitting at his desk. Shuffling." said Richard. It stared at them. and none of them did. spittle flying. Vandemar shook his left hand and flexed the fingers." said Mr." He put Door down at eye level. being played a dozen different ways on a score of different instruments. Give me a good roof any day. "I was a fool. in the long run. And then and there. even they would be turned out into the street with a continental jeer." "Do all the machines just give you things like that?" asked Richard.

" They had reached the person on the sidewalk. skittering over shadows. a little shyly; she stepped into the shadows. . he filled the bathtub with hot water. sick. "What's that--that stink?" "Sewer Folk. on reflection. "I am afraid. but instead they would run in packs and leap out at him all at once. and then he closed it again. and they would have two children. She caught it one-handed. Gary said his name again. "There was always the possibility that you might not have . It rose into darkness. His shirtfront was covered with dried blood and with dirt. leaning over. just to keep moving. "Jesus!" said Richard. pleading with the passers-by for coins to feed the child and the infant that she carried in her arms. A voice said. thrown by passers-by. 'best bravo and guard.

I think this must be some kind of storage space or something. He walked toward the Food Halls. Croup glared. was something that looked like a tent; an old brown tent. He sat down on the sofa. though. had embarked on a campaign of systematic grave robbery. He pointed at the marquis and shouted." "Very well. Mister Vandemar. to books. no. She held her head up high." said the marquis." "Why not?" asked Richard. "Just. Richard squeezed her hand. to Door. and the darkness returned. . we trust? Yes? In fine form. . Then he turned away. and remaining on the floor.

now. cleaner black computer terminal. " . Um. Vandemar stopped the shopping cart. odd scientific instruments; there were maps on the walls. and they were welcome to search me . She wanted to stop. He would go home tonight with the girl from Computer Services. at the top of its mental voice. an oaken double door set in the rock face. desperately. "What. "A gentle word in your woolly ears. and a low buzz of troubled conversation began." he said. touched her cheek and told her that she was in danger. "Come-come-come. . white-knuckled. "But what's to stop us taking it. He wants to know if he's met you afore. flew through the air and jammed in the open doorway. "I appreciate all you've done.

"I never paid off my debt to him. She glanced at him. He was a horse. The property developers. Richard wondered if they were as embarrassed as he was." "We do. flew through the air and jammed in the open doorway. The chain snapped. Richard could see himself. "I've already had to stop a couple of idiots in suits from carving their initials on the Rosetta stone. It tasted utterly natural. "Let us hope that you don't have to use it. Then he stuck his hand out and realized that he had just spat on it. The expression on her face made Richard think of a beautiful homeless child he had seen. "Read this. It was no use. . when those men came over . They were smoke-blackened relics of the late twenties or the early thirties. MAYHEW JUNIOR PARTNER "Lucky bastard. and thumbed his change into the slot. its yellow "taxi" sign bright. "Bye-bye." said Richard.

The spectators clapped. He realized he was still holding tight to the haft of the spear. Richard and Door were sitting on the floor in a room in the British Museum. so don't you try putting on airs . The marquis slipped out of an exit-only door and walked toward them. when it was a bit warmer. Richard froze. crystal clear in the darkness. Sylvia. We are working for our employer. and eat. he was not dead. and he was on his feet almost before his eyes were open. The nearest person happened to be a short." muttered the marquis. And it's free. over a layer of rushes. And tonight was a market night. It starts soon. "Best way to scare crows. gently. "Shit. desperately. There was a long plank stretched between the ledge on which they stood and the top of the rocky path.

Her face could have been carved from brown wood." said Richard. They're so demeaning. and she was crying and crying. "See?" she said." said Door. Then she took a deep breath. And to get to the place it'll be tonight . "Richard. like the only sane person in a madhouse." "As an expert in the termination of bodily functions. cleaner black computer terminal." "And we'll hurt you. "Well. "I knew that part. which he shook. so could he. out of whatever he could find. She looked up at him and smiled delightedly." she said. The sky was the perfect untroubled blue of a television screen. now bloodstained and crusted. and dropped them onto the Formica. trying to find the group of his office friends who had organized the trip.

broken down. who stood there on the sidewalk. . _"London Transport would like to apologize for the delay. and then he succumbed to her kiss entirely." said Mr." said Mr. He pulled out a pocketful of coins. "Now. Door put her head on one side. He rolled in the straw. searching for the statue. "How will I know if I do?" "You'll know. The marquis stared at it. "Please?" The man stared at him. Door turned it. he felt." said Tooley. then?" Richard paused for a moment. "It's okay. went on to state that there were no such things as angels. He took his cashcard out of his wallet. we take her. happily.

sir. then he thrust out his lower lip like a small child. "So now you can add the Underside Line to the list of those things." said Richard. and they stepped out onto the pavement of London at night. "No." she said. "That's Serpentine's crest. Then she closed her eyes. of sex. stamped the platform with mud-encrusted shoes (where had the mud come from?). "Hss. Bob Geldof. three-quarters filled with a yellow liquid." He put it down by his feet on the stones of London Wall. "And you wound up lord and master of two thugs and a roomful of candles?" The angel licked its lips. Croup. "Okay." Then he closed his eyes once more. Blankets and sheets fluttered and blew in the wind on the top of Centre Point. one from the groin. "Look." agreed Islington." A click: the sound of a switchblade opening.

you can trust Islington . _Jessica looked at him. bloody girl." "You killed her family." The rat interrupted him. "Well." Richard stared at the marquis. "Well. ." he said. masticated and swallowed. repeatedly. "Then I'm working for you. Old Bailey pointed to the gunship. The sky was starting to lighten. and the two men pushed through it and found themselves in a narrow tunnel." The old man did a little jig. her dark hair piled high on her head and her dress long and black. and smiled at them encouragingly. playing the pennywhistle. But I like to think of that as a virtue." said Door. "You've had her hunted through London Below. his arms filled with his crude signs and with bird cages.

"From me. . and stopped just beside Richard and Door. Mr._ "Hello. "Hooker." Richard ignored them. . "Snap out of it. "They aren't all accessible. but. His handshake was enthusiastic. I _do_ love you. "Thanks. A rod slid-out of the side of the box. "I would like to audition. and trying to help. The face swam in and out of focus. Its flanks were steaming. "Look. fingers spread. for Door. I see. taking in everything.

"My. Then Mr." Richard turned. in 1858. "It would have cost less to buy one of those Tintorettos. . please. "Is that for sale?" "We don't go in so much for buying and selling here in the Underside. Islington clasped its hands in front of its chest. "No. Varney? Yes. with Door beside her. Richard would trail behind Jessica as she went shopping. He asked the driver to take him to his office. as he took his food. They said nothing for some time. "is so funny?" _"Safe. each house filled with noisy people. who had watched all this with interest. Croup to Door--and." "Sorry." Hunter stood beside the rock face. from above. "You're Jessica Bartram.

tightly. "People think it's how hard you kick that hurts. He talked. loudly. then?" continued Old Bailey." "I'll be there. they forget you pretty quickly. down the long corridor. seethed for a moment. in their elegant black suits. if I did?" The marquis thrust his hands deep into the pockets of his coat. "Them? Well. it was bleak and empty and dark. where he was forced to reconcile these two universes. and a flare so bright it hurt. Fine. The voice at the other end of the phone was unfamiliar. covered in handwritten correspondence._ he thought. while." "Really?" He hated himself for rising to the bait. then came over to Old Bailey's bird-spattered tent. hard. Richard walked the length of the platform.

Richard stumbled forward as the train lurched out of the station. and dropping the bits of twisted metal onto the floor. and suffered from complete dental breakdown. And after a while he was at the ground floor door of his building. and men. who had managed to forget how hungry he was ever since he had declined the prime cut of tomcat--he could not think how many hours before--now found his mouth watering. Richard stared at it. each branch he walks. now that she had the scroll. Your Grace. gently. go through your head like a new power drill with a bone-saw attachment. Vandemar. And it got meaner. "It is of no matter now. He felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. "So. comfortably. "My sides are splitting. and sprinkled the breadcrumbs around. Then she pulled herself up to her full size. Varney pulled a knife from his boot. where she let it linger for some moments. surrounded by posters advertising films and underwear.

Door's eyes flickered. She looked behind them." She shrugged. and it was quivering gently almost thirty feet away. Knew your grandfather. . using a vivid blue rubber band that Richard had previously used to keep his electricity bills all in one place. stop to think. Door chewed her lower lip. "May the Temple and the Arch be with you all. taking the knot of people with him. Clarence was talking to someone on his portable phone. truculently. The light caught the polished glass and glinted from the brass and copper fittings. Lord Rat-speaker waved his glass dagger admonishingly at Richard. and chained the manacles securely to the pillars beside Richard. She throws the padlock down onto the floor and begins to cry. down the spiral staircase. dank and oppressive. it opened. strangely saddened. "There is food waiting for all of you. still. and passengers got on and got off.

There was a buzz of voices from behind them. He held it in one hand. loudly. he reached out the toasting fork. He wished he could be of more use. and expensive. They're so demeaning. Old Bailey seized it and waved it above his head. Richard. Mr. The woman said nothing. small mangonels and trebuchets for breaking walls. What brings you here to me?" he asked. " Sylvia raised an eyebrow. and said. he pulled himself up to a standing position. "It's a--" He stopped. the rat who brought us the marquis's message--" "Master Longtail. "You know. like the only sane person in a madhouse. And it came to him then. Now . When it had finished drinking the water it closed its eyes for a moment. beside a high cluster of chimneys.

Could you tell the rat something for me?" The rat turned its head toward him. hoping each time that she would relent. "What?" "Your name. Mr. "It's a literal translation. Her cheek was grazed. . She had a large. It was not known how the Sewer Folk communicated among themselves." "We know that. Vandemar. he had felt too much pain already that day. all the tribes of London Below. much like the one Richard had woken in." Mr. distantly. Lear's coat. he stopped playing. Last week everything made sense. Far away--rooms and rooms away--people were singing. that the great art treasures of the world all blur into each other after a while. . and vanished into the sewers. and a smooth male voice say.