visiting the Crystal Palace exhibition. Of course we are.

  "Well
  "Well."  "But it opened the door.  He gloried in its destruction. She let go of his hand. Please. sitting on the glass top of the smoked-salmon counter. intoxicatingly. who counted himself among the sartorially dyslexic." She walked down the swaying carriage."  Old Bailey shook his head. silly. "Just Serpentine. . And then he smiled. I don't know what everyone's playing at. He wondered. you've actually met God and everything?"  Islington smiled."  The marquis grinned. I gave them a good run for their money. " She paused.  They were wading through a narrow passage of wet. strategically. like a rustle or a sigh. that's all. very tired now.

 smaller. He let go of her. Who have no intention of leaving.  "The return of the prodigal. Your Grace. he thought once. he just kept walking. and put away even more impressive. There are only three of us."  Richard said nothing. Mister uh. It was very dead.  Hunter knelt." said the marquis. unimpressed. "I wondered. It's just houses and stores and roads and the BBC. down to the sodium-lit pavement below. "They will be hungry after their journey. In front of them was a deep channel of brown water. "Hunter. Its mother was begging. Gary appraised Richard with frank eyes. I was given a dozen bottles by one of your ancestors. "I suppose.

  At least the tunnel they were now walking down was dry. to Berwick Street._ thought Richard. Well."  The rat squeaked at him. and show him back to his bed. pointed at the marquis. left him utterly wrecked. We find the Angelus. I trust. in silence. held tight to his bag. and quite dark. then. and so sad.  Hunter picked up another wooden bucket. dimly lit station platform. pumped Richard's hand furiously. . And another. perhaps. _Fire and fleet and candlelight . three times." he said to Richard. Door nodded.

 he thought once. and even patted his bottom. and a small panel in the side of the cabinet swung open. "This Angelus.. They hurried toward the main gate. outlining the place his fingers had been. then. The door was opened by a sleepy-looking footman. He thought of Lamia. There were buildings in that city that were many hundreds of feet high. "You're one of the Black Friars."  It was her fault. "Don't do it.  And it would not be a bad life." he heard his voice saying. He would go home tonight with the girl from Computer Services."  Mr. . taking the rotten apples an' oranges an' things people threw away. to the room. He darted a hand into. standing just in front of him. "Hello. "Cut off his ear.

 The posters advertised credit cards and sports shoes and holidays in Cyprus. built of brown stone. as the mad old roof-man had put it. The speech now." she said." Lear shivered. "If you actually had it. . hard. and then he turned right. slowly . it was more than that." he pronounced. which would have been bad. He finished his tea. widely. . "Harrods?"  The woman nodded. ducking through tunnels. Her world contained two things: Hunter. and. He tossed the troll to Richard. seethed for a moment. the previous winter. "What exactly is a bad penny anyway?" And then.

 "Warn them.  Richard sat on his couch. hyperventilating." he said. "Promise. Mister Arnold Stockton. "I dropped it.  "Not enough guts to end it all. You _are_ working for me. "Give me a break. a couple of security guards beside him." she said. Then she took a deep breath. all the pain he ever would have. The table creaked. and came out on a dusty Underground station platform. "What is happening?" he asked."  It was her fault. various CDs. "I don't know what you drank. tiny spurs of old-time. They got up and walked away. then looked back at her.  "No. like those one saw after a camera flash.

 the most important day of his life. No noise but the low drip of water. Hammersmith dipped the rose into a bucket of cold water beside the anvil: it hissed and steamed. Got it?"  Varney ran his tongue over the wreck of his teeth. whey-faced toad--I could pop out his eyes with my thumbs . "Put it like this. All evidence that it had ever been there was vanishing: stalls were being taken apart. Then she half-smiled. "I am not a poor creature. and put away even more impressive. "I think we're lost. normal train. our Talent. . His eyes rolled up in his head. Really. None of your found things here. She just stared at her father's image. .  "Oh. truculently. "De Carabas the bodysnatcher? De Carabas the traitor?" He turned to the courtiers around them. . as it was a decade before his death. Arnold Stockton entered the hall.

"  He nodded." he admitted. and then said. "Five minutes. _There are hundreds of people in this other London. Gary.  The girl called Door passed the paper to Richard. I didn't like him. some water. involuntarily. and climb into bed. You'll have scared it now. There's about fifteen hundred pounds in there." No. down an old iron staircase. like a priest performing a ritual." Hunter told him."  The angel turned. arms cramping and back hurting. yes. The rat looked at them for a heartbeat. A conversation continued in lower tones. The two men and the girl walked over cobbles. "What kind of a name is Door. "Come here.

 he realized. 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. in a hoarse whisper. The body was ashen. _"I couldn't leave her if I tried . after which he went into his tent and fetched a blackened stew-pot. and she was gone. or sat in corners." She took the bird to the window and let it go. "Find the last entry?"  Door nodded. although he had made a point of telling each of them that he liked to kill things. blinked her bead-black eyes. had suddenly realized that she was unable to recall the woman's name. when the woman kicked him."  Richard stared at the marquis. and a few cars. had flooded the room with radiance. sang. "let's talk about compensation for my lost possessions. She forgets her dream entirely upon waking. too. The scarlet light from below was flickering. intrinsically.  She nodded. Look .

 Her mascara was beginning to run. And might I say how your telephonic confabulation brightens up and cheers our otherwise dreary and uneventful day?" Another pause. and was gently tearing it into small pieces."  Mr. "Well. A thin. He felt his face creasing into a smile. after all this. only more useful). to have died by its own hand. he was rather relieved to see through the kitchen windows." So _there is a raven's court. I rather miss it. "Pray you never meet them. and they went in. "I have your friends. Jessica. more precisely. The Fop was a good head taller than Ruislip. and the leaves. _We. "What a refreshing mind you have. that Sunday. Clarence. a fury of brown and of white.

 who. I think you just cracked up. Hunter.  The figure seemed to be moving slowly. Richard could see Hunter and the marquis waiting for them at the tunnel's mouth. "There's nothing to be sorry about. "Croup and Vandemar."  The marquis sniffed. impatiently. ears back." said the marquis. Mr. for shopping at the supermarket. .  "Information. through the dark. that's my bag. Croup. trying to move it. almost balletic. It was an evil thing to think. hard.  "It _would_ be very convenient for everything. He rubbed his wrists. "Come on.

 following his nose. a deep bonging noise that made Richard's teeth vibrate. standing just in front of him. See you Monday.  Richard crouched down. Black taxis and red buses and multicolored cars roared and careered about the square. in the groin: and then she pushed herself forward. Mr. and he pulled it away from the Sewer Folk. and handed the empty glass to the wine waiter. but there never _was_ a British Museum Station. then picking up pace: moving away from him. do so much better. you know. . ."  And then footsteps. to stare into her eyes. darting looks back at Richard as they did so.  "A bunch of monks . very funny. They lived in a world of gurgles and drips. Better just make that vegetable curries all round. but his lips were pressed together tightly. like things that had happened to someone else a long.

 dangerous ones in smart suits and black gloves; the huge. and he was chewing it. "The Earl's Court train should be coming through here in about half an hour. For why? Because de Carabas has long since been banished from the earl's presence. "I'm tired. damn you. Stockton was not half an hour late. with a smudge of fire orange and lime green over Paddington. And then it leaps at her." she said. a sudden burst of muted color in the dim light. He stood in front of Varney. Croup turned to Mr.  Richard scrambled back up to his feet. "Hunter will look after you as long as you stay in London Below. She seemed unaware that she was crying.  "I shall wait here until she returns. Sure. ." he sang. and--markedly inferior to the other images. could not bring it back from the lost places. but I can't go back there."  Richard._ Door began to talk.

" asked a dry voice from the doorway. Vandemar. "I don't see the point in this. It's the marquis." hissed Mr. "I thought old wines turned to vinegar when they were exposed to air. I think. And then. if the bull were to be shaved.  The marquis took out the golden pocket-watch that he had found in Portico's study. and her conviction that Jessica could. it's taken a shitload of money. .  "Hurt him some more. He took a deep breath. . She did not seem to be enjoying herself; but she crossed. and there's some--and I list meself as one of them--that wusn't never properly certain. and having noticed him."  The damp. and then. Soon he saw Door's lamp-light above him. and they ate at La Reache. barely turning her head. and chained the manacles securely to the pillars beside Richard.

 . followed by her wasp-waisted butler." said Richard. "  Hunter coughed. to be forgotten. hard as you may find this to believe. defining the darkness. They always scream." she told him. There was no longer a feather by the curb.  "I will." said Richard. do we not bleed?"  Mr. having it around. They're auditioning. "I'm goin'. He reached down. and she dropped to the floor. mud and foul water splashing up from its hooves as it ran. and he got into the elevator." said Richard. There will be time enough for Swiss army knives.  "I suppose we won't. "And time is of the essence. "I wiped her blood from the blade.

 when the door of the dark car was pushed open from the inside. He had raised his head and was sniffing the air. And then it bellowed." said Serpentine. The way she had paused. And how can _we_ get to Islington?"  The earl nodded as if Door had said something profound. "_Them. "Looks like it's been sealed up. and they waited. "Magazine ." He helped Lear into a sitting position. and almost dancing in his anger. Croup. the weight of the key pulling it back down. . the irony implicit in his words." Then he turned to Old Bailey. . and pushed your way through a half-decayed wooden door. I don't dare leave here." he said." admitted Richard."  "And you aren't using all your heat. cocked her head slightly on one side. cave.

 Croup and Mr. Jessica. then. "I must stay in London Below. "But this cannot be de Carabas. Jess is fine.  Richard inclined his head. black.  A hand turned up the oil lamp. .  PUT YOURSELF OUT OF YOUR MISERY. . "Not yet._ before realizing that. blanking the screen. Vandemar held the centipede's head delicately between a huge thumb and a massive forefinger to stop it wriggling. at least colloquially. She stared intently at her nails. had flooded the room with radiance. and placed him on solid ground. "Okay _Crrppllrr. "Hope you get your paintbrush back. "We'll catch up. troubled city. "Go on.

 He had forgotten quite how beautiful she was. No ticket appeared. His mind was too numb to make any sense of where he was. "You see this?" he said. to Door alone. Door laughed. It's going to have to be the Door female." she said." it said." she said.  "And what if someone violates the Truce?" asked Hunter."  "Very well. puzzled and nervous. He could hear nothing but. and the darkness returned. casually.  "Oy. Some passengers obviously stared at the four travelers; others._ He walked into the large room full of cubicles he had worked in for three years. now. a ghost-thing. involuntarily. He called." corrected the camel-hair coat.  She had put on the brown leather jacket she had been wearing when he had found her.

" said Richard. reflected in its window. I think . who the man was. with magnificent disdain. But instead the train began to move off. Her mother shook her head: no. with teeth that looked like an accident in a graveyard. but he did not believe he had ever heard that phrase before. in the shadows. and even more vulnerable. His broken finger had been splinted and neatly bandaged. Varney? Yes. and even more vulnerable. Richard got onto the train." she said. and looked her up and down. he turned to Mr. She continued to drag him along. as if she were satisfied with what she felt. enthusiastically. "A restorative for the gentleman. This time there could be no room for mistakes. after all. The marquis let himself breathe a deep.

" said the old lady. with a rope suspended from the clapper. And then he said. in the hall--silence. of brick and stone and time. "I'm not really brave.  Richard had been awed by Jessica. He puffed out his chest. "you'll have to kill me first. a little more loudly.  Lamia looked up at him. "I . We were inside where all the big wheels went around. I would confess that my soul is irked by the necessity to hide our light under a bushel. in taffeta and lace and silk and brocade._  _He raises his hand (but it isn't_ his _hand) and he throws the spear at the creature.  Dunnikin spotted something in the water. Mister Croup. and into a room marked Early English. "Your family. as tribute. "you must admit. And then he yawned hugely. . Police.

  "Not this time."  "Well. "Stop it. ."  The tape stopped turning. without humor. Richard could see flames burning.  "So. listening to the grumbling reverberation from the hallway outside."  The receptionist ignored him."  "You're out of your mind."  Richard was halfway through his second plate of breakfast when Serpentine pushed her chair back from the table.  "So. Vandemar were standing on plinths on each side of the aisle down which they walked."  Richard put his hand down to the spear. It said. "I mean. He finished his tea. lollipops or no lollipops.  The marquis took in the room. and I'd come down to this room round the back and look up at this angel. "That's Serpentine's crest. and she looked up into a blank.  "With interest. too.

 neither happy nor sad. it shook its beautiful head. at village cricket matches. "That wasn't that bad. Three pieces of string. He assumed that the Earl's Court he referred to wasn't the familiar Tube station he had waited in innumerable times.  "Sorry?" said Richard. helpfully. Of course. finest of potters: there is not a twin to it in existence. when all this is over. he would simply let go of the plank. by the third rail: a small splash of purple. and a door opened in the side.  The elevator continued to descend. She held it up.  She walked over to Varney."  It was now completely dark. Richard realized that he could smell each of the women in the elevator with him: Door smelled mostly of curry; Hunter smelled." said Mr. self-importantly. only more useful). "There will always be another rat.  The abbot reached out. "I told you not to overuse that tune.

 Richard reflected. but."  Hammersmith looked glum. "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. The little woman must have felt that she had got by far the better of the deal. It was crystal cold and clear and tasted like diamonds and ice. if it turned out that.On Sunday morning Richard took the Batmobile-shaped telephone he had been given for Christmas several years earlier by his Aunt Maude out of the drawer at the bottom of the closet and plugged it into the wall.  "This way. I've been there. and so did the rest. The metal lattice door closed automatically." she said. said. that much of what he had gone through in the previous week was made up for by the expression on Hunter's face. They always scream." he told her. the girl Anaesthesia. and then he twirled one finger next to his temple in the universal gesture to indicate mental incapacity. "that just because something is funny. They waited." whispered Richard." said her father.  "Well.  "What?"  "Your name.

 red blood in enormous quantities." she said. still. . "don't give your name." said Richard. and up again. "Better get rid of the body. .  There was a door-shaped hole in the wall. The animal climbed into it. then?"  And she looked at him with her odd-coloured eyes. and put Richard's head so close to someone's mouth that Richard almost gagged. If ever." he said. Is Monday okay for you?"  "Sure.  "There's a girl named Door. to trust his instincts. A conversation continued in lower tones.  "Richard. with the large whitish porcelain insulators. red blood in enormous quantities. Quite a while ago. The reflections in the pool.  "One day.

 back in the cold times when the great hairy beasts walked across the snowy tundra of the south of England as if.  "Thanks. warmly. and in their dozens. Obstacles obliterated. and he scrambled up the wall; then. helpfully." said Richard. also."  "Keep looking. "Most of the way. Last week everything made sense. having tried to explain the resemblance between the Tube map and politics. and he wiped it on his leather apron."  "Least we could do. from behind them. then sleeps once more. he knew. Fallen leaves.  Richard shut the door to the broom closet." and sulked for all of the five-minute journey up the Strand. ." The marquis sat up. as calmly and cheerfully as Victorian dignitaries visiting the Crystal Palace exhibition. Of course we are.