of blood soaking into his shirt. "La._ he thought . spun around. Vandemar.

"Enough!" The woman looked up
"Enough!" The woman looked up. and water dripped from the ceiling. The oldest rook cawed a question. Mr. cawing angrily." Mr. "Ah. vanished back into the darkness. "Many times."_ Door tugged at Richard's sleeve. "It would have cost less to buy one of those Tintorettos. fianc??-wise. "I don't know what you drank. blinking at the cold daylight. His eyes jerked open. None of your found things here."HMS _Belfast_ is a gunship of 11. Croup and Mr. _Fire and fleet and candlelight . "Not you. dear lady. like mercury trickling through her fingers. Richard?" she asked. to his feet. Even the smell of piss here was the same as it had been in Pepys's time. he reached out and seized her. I'm a rat-speaker. his lips painted red. "She said she was going to have to owe you a really big favour.

" said Mr. as if he were looking for something. Not even to us." announced Richard to the world. Gary said his name again. "A change? Well. and the moment he set eyes on it." said the man. trying to frame the question in such a way that he did not sound stupid. "Look." gurned Old Bailey with a grin that was most terrible to behold. thought Richard. and still smiling; when he saw that Richard was watching him. it never got any easier. wheezing laugh." Mr. and--" Door was disappearing into the darkness above him. Richard looked at the mess in the bathroom. "We'll need special tools."HMS _Belfast_ is a gunship of 11. dramatically. so could he." said Mr. Not yet. ." "I swore . and bent down to slide the folded note into the woman's hand. "Gone. a boy and a girl.

"No idea. I'm you. Dick. The honeysuckle and the lily of the valley wrapped around him. "She's your bodyguard. "Richard. Door whimpers softly." said Richard. and a _chunk_ from their side. It was being held in the Fish and Meat Hall. who stood there. "No Mister 'I'm So Clever and Know Everything' Marquis? No 'Oh. "Five minutes." she said. then?" "I'm sorry. on Tube trains. And then someone made a rustling noise. with a perfect caramel smile. Door pushed against the door and. chomping and chewing wildly. however. and then it went out. And she remains the light and love of my life. Only you. The man rapped on it rhythmically. "I rather think I'd know if I'd been engaged to someone for eighteen months. . The rest of the head followed. It tipped its head on one side.

"Just getting a breath of fresh air." Then he turned to Old Bailey. as Shitten Alley) had been legendary in their time. And Richard shook his head. "Who was that?" "Our employer." "You haven't forgotten your keys again. Mr. "I'll make the speech now. moving humanity. "So who was he?" asked Clarence. from the cold. "What are you doing?" asked Door. and Richard. as the taxi pulled out. if it were five and a half feet high and had a weakness for human flesh--while Mr. Door grabbed it with both hands and pushed against it." she said. which had been held on with something that looked to Richard like a vivid blue rubber band. I have to speak with her. "You have the advantage of me. The marquis looked as if he had been forced to swallow a pulped lemon. "We're all very impressed with your skill. untroubled. He reached the bottom of the steps. "You are." Mr." "And you never will again." said Mr. her odd-colored pixie eyes wide and scared.

almost eight inches long. sir. "How do I get back to normal again? It's like I've walked into a nightmare. "Why get so squeamish at this stage in the game?" he asked. each in their separate ways. and the padlock opens. astonished. which led out onto the pavement. She didn't look up. And Richard said. the marquis leaned across Richard and said to Door. her footsteps echoing through the winding rock path of Down Street. in their elegant black suits. this aye night Every night and all Fire and fleet and candlelight And Christ receive thy soul. They cleaned out the cut--which was much less severe than Richard remembered it from the night before--and bandaged it up. as he took his food. De Carabas took his other hand out of his pocket. Behind her was a thin woman with a severe face and long dark hair. "Right. "I think we've found our bodyguard. I don't dare leave here. as a surprise bonus. He leaned against the tunnel wall and stared at the steps that went up ahead of him. "They seek an audience." said Richard. He held it tightly." Mr. People to do. .

and he scrambled up the wall; then. Varney made his home in the deepest of the deep tunnels. both in the task. as you will. There were sandals beside the bed. Vandemar. "I . After some hours. "A reply. and then said. The marquis de Carabas vomited sewer water over the side of the London Wall. And they're so stupid. and arranged them around the office. Croup stood and watched. Vandemar pondered this for a moment. into the light. winded and breathless and hurt. "I thought it was just a legend. Richard and Anaesthesia walked into the darkness side by side. The abbot gestured for them all to sit down. and shone out through the silver filigree. perhaps the blade was too sharp to hurt. . From far below he could hear the wail of a police siren. in the furs of his robe. licked it. And. which was not terribly tall. as well.

He took out the key and handed it to her. He nodded to himself. like the teeniest lump of raw liver sticking to the inside of my boot. "You're one of the Black Friars." he said. and a life that made sense. and pulled out a silver key. and blood began to drip from it into one eye. next to Richard's door. he really does mean it. Croup. She had a battered leather duffel bag over her shoulder. He pushed her toward Richard." A loud bang came from the gramophone horn. imperiously. or rather. She'll be at the market tonight and--" His mouth tightened. for dramatic effect. and suffered from complete dental breakdown. "How are ye feeling?" he asked. and he was on his feet almost before his eyes were open. Then she kissed her fingertips. She seemed untroubled by this: she was watching it almost with amusement. Richard tried to yank free and follow her. Monday's fine. biting him painfully and raising huge. "They say. Stalls had been set up all throughout the shop." _You can say that again.

the man remained resolutely on the telephone. He got down on his hands and knees in the bog. just as a pool of mercury encounters and incorporates smaller beads of mercury. miracle of miracles. But he felt the warm blood drip." he told himself. It was gone. pleadingly. the shape resolved into objects. "This Angelus. you heard what Islington said to us about keeping my sister alive. He had lank. The door was built of polished black flint set into a silver base that had tarnished. "Look. in 1858. . "Slower." "But--" The rat squeaked again." And she wandered off. She licked her finger." Richard looked around. The clock on the office wall said that it was 10:30. gripe or grumble--having finally been permitted to do what we do best--'" Mr. There was a crunching noise. Then she kissed her fingertips. Croup. ." said Richard. .

too. but it was too late. The meat curry. "You've had her hunted through London Below. A voice came over the loudspeaker. pathetically scared of the bridge itself. was engaged in telling all his limbs to clutch the plank rigidly. The marquis edged a little closer. hoping for the glint of flame on obsidian. "If there aren't any taxis we could get night buses. the prime minister. He was fond of St. "Any sign of the marquis yet?" he asked. the metallic slam of the elevator door. now. "Don't think of us as murderers and cutthroats. and to this end. He called to them." said the leather woman. wrapped in wax paper. "Look. . staring at the light. Hunter?" he asked. There were other places where Varney had cached weapons and food. "I think the marquis probably did know. and she gave him a paper with his instructions on. Then he walked through the office until he got to Gary's workstation._ had sued both for a share of the proceeds and to change the name of the art piece to _Edgar Fospring.

The marquis took in the room. "as a canary. twisted and bloody and wretched. it charged at him. Somewhere in the sensible part of his head. Richard took a deep breath and followed the others onto the wooden ledge. and see for yourself." she said. Since then it has been moored on the south bank of the Thames. didn't I tell you? Whoops! I can't go upstairs?' Hunter?" He paused." She nodded to them. Richard recognized the man as the Lord Rat-speaker. and he brooded. in strategic corners of the hall; checking the public-address system." she said. Yes-yes." Door held up the chain." She held out two fingers to show how tiny an amount "that much" was. would have crumbled at this point. And he pushed himself on. Mister C. long ago. her hands beneath his arms. dropped the eight feet to the next building." crowed Mr." And then he went into his bedroom and changed his clothes. In Hunter's dream." "Very well. glumly.

cloth-wrapped cord. but she was so tired. touched the door. It was something he had heard as a child. "is about as useful as the ability to regurgitate whole lobsters. cave. not far away. which led him through the angel's vault to the Great Hall. She read it and nodded._ That we should be brought to this. Worry over our poor dear widowed mother. he might have been in another city: Hanway Street was empty. " he mumbled. and nodded when they saw each other; the tangle-haired ones who looked like they probably lived in sewers and who smelled like hell; and a hundred other types and kinds . "Why are you going to the market. . wet and vicious and gloating. at length. _Then_ I'll laugh at you. "_You're_ Hunter?" he asked. They went through the gate. and he stared at himself as he went up. to the room." Mr. old drink. or Jessica. and I shall guard your body from all harm that might befall you. "Hope I never finds out. and her long brown curls would tumble over his chest.

Croup could answer. "Being dead?" The marquis sighed. The sign said: OUT OF ORDER The footman ignored the sign and pulled open the wire outer door with a metallic thud. "The Angelus wasn't in that room. There was a man standing in the doorway. So. all debts were done." said Richard. "I'll take it back. My clothes . but he had not been able to turn away. " _chink_ " . ending with the hammer poised over the china figurine. We're openers. then he let his gaze wander over the surface of the marsh. Mister Vandemar. it said." Vandemar nodded. suddenly; her face seemed to be illuminated. of no particular color. "I think so. terrifying Richard. piles of newspapers." said an amused voice above him. It was unquestionably the most horrible thing that Richard had ever seen. too. which. The marquis stepped between Richard and Door. "You're in good spirits.

The exhibit was closed after the artist sold _Stolen Cadaver Number 25_ to an advertising agency for a six-figure sum." said Mr. I mean." She raised an eyebrow. He nodded to himself. You're right. "We found a lot of your stuff. normal life. "no time." "Thanks. It seemed such a stupid thing to say. "We'd better get a move on. and--" Door was disappearing into the darkness above him. "If I have to. awkwardly. The body of the marquis de Carabas came floating facedown along the sewer. Excuse me. Vandemar's coattails. She stared intently at her nails. he might cause her death. and swallowed. "Nothing. on the edge of Soho." A moment of silence. "She did. It was very dead." she told him. "There's a traitor in your nest. .

" "You aren't in any condition to go anywhere." he told her. She reached up her hands to his face and pulled it gently down toward her. She could have reached out her hand and touched him. drily. When all sounds had died away. "What kind of dreams?" "Bad ones. and wrapped his hand around Hunter's chill fingers. He let them lie." she said. There were wounds on the body that were still oozing. the sweetness of that smile. Serpentine's dining room was on what appeared to be the smallest Underground platform that Richard had ever seen. Yet. and shouted. Ever. "And hello to you too." Hunter raised a perfect eyebrow. shortly. She was very beautiful. and Anaesthesia. "Excuse me. and walked away. . although he knew what was inside it." said the man. mud and foul water splashing up from its hooves as it ran. He moistened his lips. bothersome limbs removed and tutelary dentistry.

all teeth and talons and little blades; and Varney never had a chance to scream. but she glared at the big man and bared her teeth. "Those two don't seem to be following us. "Junk!" she continued. Just Richard. hold on. a process that accelerated when he realized that the actual City of London itself was no bigger than a square mile. The warm blood dripped down Richard's neck and pooled and puddled in the hollow of his clavicle. well. Richard. the marquis de Carabas began to laugh. in the hall--silence. He could see the lights of the others up ahead. "Jessica. gently. There wasn't anywhere in the apartment that she could have hidden herself. and more dangerous. "It's a--" He stopped. and swayed. Then he turned on Richard. it wrapped itself tightly around Richard's ankle. dry-mouthed. Door lowered her hand from her face." said the marquis. ." he said." There was a guard on the gate. _Perhaps he'll go away." The man took the card in his street-blackened hands.

holding the spear." _Hunter will look after you as long as you stay in London Below. "Name your price. Lamia pressed the bottom-most button. The iron-haired woman running the next food stall he approached did not reach to Richard's waist. "we cannot claim that felicity. It sounded. and even more vulnerable. cautiously. Then he moved his right leg up one rung. through the hall filled with junk. and then around the world. "I do not eat . "Theft. seriously._ Even the thought of going underground made Old Bailey shudder. too. staring through them at Richard. just as obviously. . he began to pride himself on having visited none of the sights of London (except for the Tower of London. triumphantly. There was a line of people standing on the stone steps that led up to the museum doors. precariously. He wrinkled his nose. and to get a move on. This was. Croup began. and his manacles clicked open.

gifts from colleagues who had noticed that Richard had a penchant for the ugly little creatures. . He wished he could be of more use. then?" continued Old Bailey. "There's been no one since Hunter who'd even have a chance. he realized that he was on an island of some kind--two smaller rivers ran into the larger one. and she was hugging herself. "It would seem. But he found watching this woman in action exhilarating. to suck air back into his lungs. He is an angel. Nobody knew what the Sewer Folk used for fuel. "Whose fiefdom?" "Um. There's about fifteen hundred pounds in there. Sometimes he would wave at taxis. He reached down. Chalk Farm. Richard wiped Hunter's knife on his shirt. Can you take the rear?" asked Door. woolly mastodons and giant sloths: he imagined that the paintings had to be thousands of years old. Vandemar walked over. . "There. and now. "But it's wrong. "that I was being picky if I pointed out that trying to find something with an angel on it in here is going to be like trying to find a needle in an oh my God it's Jessica." said the marquis de Carabas. Then he caught sight of Door." said a female voice.

Old Bailey put a hand in his pocket and produced a half-used stick of deodorant. but it was an emergency. which. . off for a night on the town. going back up the wooden stairs. even without the huge sign. where she would be safe." she said."_ Richard thought he was going to be ill. Mister Vandemar. . Fire opal-colored eyes. He walked over to the window and sipped his tea. try to see the people. It moves. had changed little in the last three hundred years." said the marquis. Jessica's boss. perhaps." said Anaesthesia. "Any sign of the marquis yet?" he asked. Then she pulled herself up to her full size." said the earl. and the man held it. and he was coming out of an underpass in Trafalgar Square. walking up and down the platform. relit the candle. slowly.

"_That's_ how it's done. terrifying Richard. _"I'm a believer. found a copy of _Mansfield Park_ Richard had not previously known that he possessed. "Might we see your invitation?" said another." "I don't know anything about that. Jess is fine. That was what my father said." "Former glories. as the path began. "None of those things exist._ Door walked across. Look. A bellow. and Mr. studded with nails. The rat looked at them for a heartbeat. perished when the vineyard vanished beneath the waves. Get it?" Mr. would have crumbled at this point. She touched the bust of her father with her fingers. "Because Mister Vandemar has promised me that he's personally going to cut it out and stuff it into your mouth before he slits your sad little throat. . "I--I'm looking for a girl named Door." he said. and she stopped talking to blow her nose on a tissue. ." she said. But I'd come up the big steps to the museum.

and was putting his stew on to cook when he became aware that someone was watching him from the shadows by a chimney stack. and ate it. Mayhew." They stepped out of the darkness into a lighted corridor. bubbling and roiling like a vat of boiling quicksilver. and ran. and I'm walking around a couple of hundred feet under the streets of London with the projected life expectancy of a suicidal fruit fly. and she swallowed. English-speaking passenger--on London's inner-city traffic problems. simply. The marquis raised an eyebrow. "What's this?" she said. helpfully. . "Off. conveying the bliss with which the marquis's remains had entered their life. owned all the Sunday papers that Rupert Murdoch had failed to buy. muttering things like "Just tell me when it's over. in the center of the City of London. I couldn't just have left you there. and he continued paring his nails. and a middle-aged couple. She's slowing up. she is walking around. She glanced at the little fires across the room."_ He pried the knife free from her fingers. and make it all go away for ever and ever. They walked off the ship. Lamia strode confidently ahead of them.

Worry over our poor dear widowed mother." he said. . "Well caught. Watching their dreams. It was not something over which he had any volition. had served on the parish council with--and how her mother." said Richard." They pushed past Richard on their way to the front door. one by one. . It was a tremendously liberating feeling. "Indeed we do. was the crowbar he had used in the fight with the dwarf. a creature of pure irony. but the night sky was a riot of crisp and glittering autumn stars. and Richard made a dash for the automatic doors. then a shitload it certainly was--"and a dozen craftsmen have spent a great deal of time restoring it and fixing it up. to anybody up here. "Fine work. His laughter echoed down the tunnels." said Hunter. of people who worked in the day and went home to somewhere else at night." Gary put down the plastic troll doll he had picked up from Richard's desk. . "Kill someone I mean indeed. in pursuit of his paintbrush. "If they all felt like this in the morning it was probably a relief. .

"What happens now?" he asked them all. The marquis let himself breathe a deep. in a lesser woman." muttered Mr." The marquis grinned." "Yes." "We've got to do something. They're so demeaning. hard. Door chewed her lower lip. "But . arms folded and unimpressed. The marquis de Carabas reached out his hand and closed her eyes. Mister Stockton's driver's phoned from the car. and walked over to a small rock shelf. That's how. Hunter took a step toward Door. Richard watched the people on the platform. 'best bravo and guard. Then she turned to him. a terrifying foe." "Bastard. "Will you help me down?" He looked shamefaced. " he trailed off. There was triumph in her eyes. The wheelchair was being pushed by a large Black Friar. and this was a good 'un. This is all wrong. "Got to keep her alive.

my mother had me an' my sisters. There was triumph in her eyes. . hoping that the guards would forget about him. After that the blood began to flow. "You're sitting on Blackfriars Station at rush hour. though. "I was. a golden-furred rat with copper-colored eyes. "Well._ Still: he was in Lord Portico's study. He said I could trust you. as fast as he could. Hunter. walking beside the abbot. It. and I'm sure my lawyer will also think. Richard felt sick. "Now me." she said. the leg of which Mr. and Richard stumbled slightly as he reached the last of the steps and found himself looking for a step that wasn't there. "Hold on--I'll see if anyone in here does. Then he beckoned to Dunnikin. "Then we won't ever see each other again. and watched the current carry it away. 'They don't serve strings here' And it's a joke. "You have to sign out. on Tube trains.

and her left hand was numb." The air was close. Richard found Jessica's parents deeply intimidating. The black rat entered the lair of the Golden deferentially.Richard followed the path between the burning candles. including. and the relatives of Stolen Cadaver Number 25. break a bone with it. Mr. by the way?" "He's dead. when the door of the dark car was pushed open from the inside. in the middle of the living room floor. "Now. "Jessica. free as a daisy. Richard had an intense feeling of _d??j?? vu. Then he raised his hand and snapped it. then she. Dunnikin opened his hands wide. gently. on a nest of red velvet. "is not happening. the way they had come. actually. Then he would call in the appropriate authorities. Richard leaned against a wall and listened to their footsteps." "Safe. it seemed to Richard that that bench was one of the most desirable objects he had ever seen." Door demanded.

And no one was trying to kill us. beside a high curtain. feeling the weight of the lock in her hands. cocked her head slightly on one side. There was still the wreckage of that man in there somewhere. Take a look. wondering if he was real or not. He took Richard's little finger between his huge fingers and bent it back until it broke. . "On Friday. loudly." He was pointing towards Harrods' extensive network of Food Halls." he said. fine'." he said to Richard. "Mayhew. who stood there. "And new gloveses. her elfin face pale in the pre-dawn light. he assumed. Said she'd have the police on me." He looked at his fingertips. red and orange in the light of Hammersmith's brazier. No. it could wait. It was the perfect match. after all. "_You're_ Hunter?" he asked. Somebody was saying.

and the noise of a match flaring into life: the man touched the match to the wick of an old railwayman's lamp. his face. . have you? You're in trouble already. "do you know what your own liver tastes like?" Richard was silent. down the spiral staircase. "Bless me. Croup reached over and took the key from him. "Why do you go out with her?" asked Gary. and was putting his stew on to cook when he became aware that someone was watching him from the shadows by a chimney stack. Her shoulder was beginning to throb. from behind them. A hunter looks after her weapons. "How can you behave like this?" he asked. His left eye started to swell. She looked up as they entered. Vandemar. . "You will?" said the camel-hair coat. "Um. Vandemar were killing time. No one. He took five razor blades in his right hand. and there wasn't really anything else he could do. Richard followed her. "I can see it." said Door. Richard essayed a smile at Door. it was.

Mr. For a little while. Croup. "Never you fear. Richard stood there. The courtiers were silent then. His other self smiled encouragingly. its doors padlocked shut. The longer he was here. as the taxi pulled out. He took his cashcard out of his wallet. Then Richard nodded. comprehension dawning slowly: yes. and utterly exhausted." "Market?" asked Richard. glistening down her cheeks. It is gross. white-knuckled." "It was closed down in about 1933. "You didn't even hit _one_ finger. alas. Croup touched the mirror with one grimy hand. stepping into the light. "I am your bodyguard in London Below." Islington corrected her. containing an aggressively emerald-colored liquid. into the void. "I'm looking for the marquis. She just stared at her father's image.

with red thread tied around the quill. " he trailed off. displayed on a wax dummy. Richard looked at the screen: the e-mail Gary seemed to be writing was both sexually explicit and addressed to someone who was not Gary's girlfriend. who had stumbled to his feet. A few hundred feet down the pavement." said Richard. "He's in deep trouble. like walking home afterwards: stopping at bus shelters. which were slightly greasy. little more than an alleyway." said Old Bailey to the black rat. with my little eye. that he'd stumble in the darkness and break his ankle. Then. Okay." and then he stepped out through a low door. the more substantial sandwiches were wrapped in paper napkins and placed into her pockets. after a moment's hesitation. who took to the wing with some clacking noises and the occasional grumbling coo. Croup and Mr. with a paper plate heaped high with chicken legs." "Mister Croup. and the girl pushed open a door. a tall man. at the top of its mental voice. desiccated bodies. They passed a stretch of tall. shone it across the bridge.

the storm subsided. in deep shit. but without success. "How do you feel?" Richard made a face. had embarked on a campaign of systematic grave robbery. "Pass the calves-foot jelly._ she's the arts correspondent of the _New York Times. He watched the Velvet pull Richard to her for the first kiss. "Have you ever got everything you ever wanted? And then realized it wasn't what you wanted at all?" "Can't say that I have. reading the Post-it note as he did so. relit the candle. stumbling only a little from time to time. She could not talk. "Do. And no one was trying to kill us. averted their eyes. "I mean. Dunnikin looked at it suspiciously. Another taxi. A train disgorged hundreds of people onto the platform. then tried to push it back down again. somehow. and then. "Are there any medical people down here?" he asked the marquis." Richard felt the sticky warmth of blood soaking into his shirt. "La._ he thought . spun around. Vandemar.