me like this. Croup likes words. "Now.

 "if I startled you
 "if I startled you. left it; the ones who stayed wrapped cloths doused in carbolic around their faces and tried not to breathe through their noses. He looked up at her and doffed his imaginary white silk top hat to her. if that was the whole truth. Vandemar. .  Through the opening. seemed to be everything." He put Door down at eye level. He said nothing as they walked on for another five minutes and eleven mosquito bites. At the bottom of the hill.  "Where is the key?" asked the abbot. The table was piled high with evil-smelling foodstuffs." And they did." finished Mr.  "Well. "I mean. on his chest. He tugged at his forelock."  Gary looked at his watch. now. "I am the greatest warrior of London Below.  She looked at his hand with concern. .

" said the angel. Croup slapped it out of his hands. And then he said. as if to reassure itself of their existence. ." Richard fumbled under the Beast's body. Croup reached over and took the key from him. "Pretty sure. on a nest of red velvet. His father had died quite suddenly when Richard was still a small boy. "On Friday. Vandemar were dangling out of the door. because he had nothing else to do for the next ten minutes. ." said Richard."  She was no longer smiling. He waited for Richard to go through. the black animal figure he had taken from Portico's study. ?"  / _don't need this shit. As if he were made of light . "I'm goin'. with ragged cuts in their throats or bullet holes in their temples. It began to spin around and around. It was as if the market had never existed.

 rubbed her forehead. somewhere in the distance. PLEASE ENTER YOUR PIN NUMBER. and it grew. The wolfhound growled in the back of its throat. He was still laughing. There was something familiar about them both: it was like a tickle at the back of her throat. thought Richard. Vandemar was unimpressed. "That's nice. Croup."  "What's happening?" whispered Richard. with red thread tied around the quill. . For heaven's sakes." he told her. he looked awful. Vandemar. I've got my library cards. Clever little thing. as if he were simply passing the time. several chairs. "We mustn't keep Mister Stockton waiting. hugging himself.

 but it did not run away."  "Huh? But that's ridiculous. who gave to charity and invested ethically. . looked at the statue of the Beast. "A spear. Something in the eyes. Croup expanded on his theme. viewed his jokes as deep and philosophical parables containing profound and penetrating insights into what it meant to be human. And then they would get up. I would no longer worry about the young lady.  "Where's the next Floating Market?" asked Door. isn't it?"  "Is it?" asked Richard."_  _Richard was sure he had heard the name before." announced Door. I'm not sorry. And then it leaps at her."  Mr." said the marquis. There is something she has to know. and it hit Richard's face like a slap. the wisest and the oldest. and began. "You've kept your looks better than I.

 Croup and Mr. He chuckled at his own joke. door to door." he said. . Croup and Mr. "Ow. eventually. She's a guide. Maybe he was the one who was going mad. She looked out over her party and smiled benignly. Then it cluttered. I don't know how long I've got before they find this room." said Lamia. involuntarily. "Can't you tell how ridiculous all this sounds?" Jessica looked as if she were trying not to cry. and the sewage was swept off into the North Sea.  "Well done. Then he zipped it up and walked out onto the darkened street. Hunter shone her flashlight into the blackness beyond the doorway: a flight of stone steps. and pulled out a silver key. Hammersmith and Shepherd's Bush to the west. wrapped in wax paper."  "You can say that again.

  "Down there. "Taking your warmth. The fact that Hunter had clearly brought them here as a safe haven was doing nothing to assuage her fear. exactly what they planned to play. Mr. dozens of shoes. ."  Door wiped the last of the curry from her bowl with her fingers. dirgelike. going where I'm told. Because I needed the spear. He sat up and wondered if he was suffering from a concussion.  Richard was beginning to suspect that they were quite lost." said the marquis. but then they turned a corner. ?"  "No. His wrinkled brown fingers picked up a small bell from the table. The crowbar went flying across the room. Vandemar." A ratcheting whirr came from deep in the guts of the machine. Varney took a step backwards. I can't spare a soul. Are you coining?"  He looked at her then: a small creature with huge eyes staring at him urgently from a heart-shaped. and they gather about my throne to sing hosannas to my name.

 Nice food. flew through the air and jammed in the open doorway. Croup's head: Varney flung himself down."  Mr. or a spring. hesitantly." There was a third pause. watching it as it twined between his fingers. Croup slapped it out of his hands. serrated on the other; there were faces carved into the side of the haft. Shuffling. and he wondered if there was something he should do. as if she weighed no more than a mouse. . by others getting on. "I'm sorry. for good measure. moving pens and pipes and peashooters. but tears stung his eyes and spilled down his cheeks.  "Our principal will be delighted. Do _you_ know the way to Islington?" Hunter shook her head. "It's like I've become some kind of non-person." he said. think nothing of it.

"  "Vengeance?" Door thought for a moment. "A few dozen. It was ignored. Vandemar was holding tightly. Vandemar. came from the doorway." she continued. well." said Door. Then she began to unwrap the scarf." he said. inside . without much conviction. echoing away. at the confluence of many of the churning foamy waters." said Door. . and nervous. "Hunter?" he gasped. "I don't know how I could have missed it before. have had almost as much as I'm willing to take._  It was a small statue of a boar. Whatever the cause. .

  "What are you giving him?" asked Door. "Violate the Market Truce? Brrrr." she whispered. Who have no intention of leaving. Old Bailey lowered his toasting fork. "Right then. She was reading _Cosmopolitan. then walked back down the platform and retrieved his briefcase. He began to feel like that now. "Up there. a little unsteadily."  Old Bailey looked disappointed. He tossed the troll to Richard. Croup.  "Hope I never finds out._ thought Richard. while he lifts his spear. An orange-red sun rose in the east. with the key. . The nearest person happened to be a short."  She inclined her head. squee_ and pulled to the left.  Hunter waited until she could see the white spittle dripping from its mouth.

  Varney looked at Door. but about upsetting you. and the two men walked into the shrine."  Hunter stood beside the rock face._  Door looked up at the earl. he's probably dead by now. the others can't be too far ahead. Swallowed. Vandemar found the telephone. like British Museum. But if this is all there is. damp strips. "You're both being silly. There are others who want the situation to worsen. I think I can confidently state. It was a good place." said Richard." she said brightly. "Then I'll bugger off. for silence. "I'm afraid we won't be needing your services after all. 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. When Mr. Croup and Mr.

"  Richard shrugged. "I'm not actually a rat-speaker. "I thought it high time I came down here to talk to you in person. all rolled into one and sprinkled with a generous helping of a mongoose killing a king cobra. You haven't forgotten. "And new gloveses. . "Said to be quiet. and mended. Dick." and then Mr. four-color breasts and black-and-white invective scurrying and tumbling off the platform and down onto the rails. and held on desperately. "A toast: to former glories."  Yes. standing in the shadows. if I did?"  The marquis thrust his hands deep into the pockets of his coat. Blinked his one eye. mirrored structure in the City of London. "In York. as he bit off its head and commenced to chew. almost proprietarily." said Richard. and he let go of the rung with his right hand and moved it up eight inches.

 I hate these functions. He would watch. They waited. Yes.  Mr. loudly. containing an aggressively emerald-colored liquid. pretended that he had been hailing a cab. And you've saved my life. It was like a haunted house. "But . a monster or a god."  Slowly. and there were some things I was probably better off not knowing.  "Then. "Well. They hurried toward the main gate.  "Yes. every alley and lane and runnel of it.  "Well." He looked around the cluttered office." said Richard."  It handed the glass to Door. and then they were in the British Museum.

  _They were in the conservatory. Vandemar."  The marquis was still some yards away. then gently ran it across the side of the head of the spear. to be honest. It was a sphere." Richard took an involuntary step backwards.  "Yes. but sincere. Richard reflected. Croup. near him. She nodded. Richard wondered how the marquis managed to make being pushed around in a wheelchair look like a romantic and swashbuckling thing to do. "Just one. Door smiled. and clean as any time he had walked around it in Jessica's wake on a Saturday afternoon. purposelessly. Hunter inclined her head toward Richard."  Old Bailey shook his head. And another.  "I am your bodyguard. No one.  Old Bailey reached into his pocket and pulled out the black rat.

 "Richard. and chestnuts. utterly bemused. Door ignored the guards entirely and set off into the museum halls with Richard trailing along behind her."  Door kneed him. . . "Shit. You was with the marquis de Carabas. and said. It starts soon. curiously. The other guard kept coming. firmly."  Mr." said Richard.  Mr. People got off and other people got on. Jessica. more gently. "I was hoping it would be diamonds and pearls. The marquis looked as if he had been forced to swallow a pulped lemon.  "Excuse me. or rather of how the Tower of Babel might have looked were it inside out.

 and touched Richard's arm. Vandemar.  "You. we'll have to call him the _late_ marquis de Carabas. he let go of the rungs with both his hands. "He's kidding. and your brothers. pulled out a cigar case. "Do you remember the marquis de Carabas?"  "Of course. When he tried to talk to Anaesthesia about the movements." she said. Life was almost under his control. and beamed. She caught it one-handed." He inspected his fingerless gloves: they were more hole than glove. or. of a lifetime. A candle flew past his head. "Richard? This is Jessica. they would spend the morning in bed. At times. "That's good. Having no door key. he could just proceed dreamlike.

 a young man named Clarence. And he only had the one suit. and small. Varney pulled a knife from his boot. He stood in front of Varney."  She had forgotten them all; forgotten Richard down in the mud. then. I can't spare a soul. "My family. having tried to explain the resemblance between the Tube map and politics. And they're so stupid. ." sighed Richard.  _Jessica looked at him. he ran through Trafalgar Square. Croup clambered down from his plinth." she said. . rare. The table creaked. She was taking me to the market. You see. greasy hair. unsure of what he ought to do with it.

 He changed the subject. "Your quest is at an end. in triumph. "Your brother?" asked Richard. in a conversational voice. Right." said Door. cheerfully. to climb down the side of the wall. as loud as the wind had been. Lights flickered dimly. using a vivid blue rubber band that Richard had previously used to keep his electricity bills all in one place. "Why should it be bad luck?"  "Do you know who the rat-speakers are?"  "Of course. Listen." said Mr.  Mr. then I don't want to be sane. There was still the wreckage of that man in there somewhere. he had stopped laughing. miracle of miracles. her purse wide open. His coat was gone: instead. She put one hand on the painting of her father's study and took the marquis's large black hand with the other. No matter how many times he did it.

 Richard found. Vandemar was unimpressed. not scarecrows. and none of them did. "With cities. Then she pulled herself up to her full size. or an hour."  "I've got Door.  She sniffed. "Something wrong?" asked Anaesthesia. at least colloquially. and often quite funny.  "Hello. .  "Crows. Strike! Under and up! _Now_!" before the Beast hit her and her words turned into a wordless scream. untouched. Stocktons owned a little bit of everything: satellites. of a bull elephant. and there were plenty of explosions and flying objects on the way. Clarence. And then it charges.  Until that moment. and crushed its head in his teeth.

 Diversify. and she ran.  "So I gathered."  "Look."  The marquis was checking the time on a large gold pocket-watch. as well. They were standing together in the ballroom."  Richard and Door followed the angel through the caverns. as a training ground. and she was hugging herself. and thorny political issues of the day."  And then he was silent; and from far above they heard the sound of crows flying. and she was hugging herself. Door looked at the writing on her scroll. Vandemar's push. "This Angelus." It occurred to Richard then that her skin was very white. walked through the labyrinth beyond Down Street. "I don't know who you are or what you're trying to do. then." agreed the marquis." she said."  "What do you want us to do?" asked Richard. three hundred years before.

 doubtfully. "La. We'll keep her safe. Croup." she said. Mr. indicating an archway effectively blocked by an iron door.    WANT HER BACK. They were all looking at Richard. scared. He was balding underneath his cap. "The dance is not yet over. and a heavy dread settled in the pit of his stomach. when it seemed that the wind would become so strong that it would blow the world away and blow the stars away and send the people tumbling through the air like so many desiccated autumn leaves--  Just then--  --it was over." lied Richard bravely. and helped Door up. at no one in particular all the way across the room." _Hunter will look after you as long as you stay in London Below.  "It's been better. "Fried eggs poached eggs pickled eggs curried venison pickled onions pickled herrings smoked herrings salted herrings mushroom stew salted bacon stuffed cabbage calves-foot jelly--"  Richard opened his. And when they got too cold to walk they went into an all-night greasy spoon cafe. Something to eat. Serpentine knelt in the wet mire and ran one finger down Hunter's cold cheek. and Richard trailed in her wake.

 . Thirty feet away from them the Beast slowed. You do have bandages. of what point he was trying to make. "There's nothing to be sorry about. He asks for a drink for himself and one for each of his friends. like comforting people. Some passengers obviously stared at the four travelers; others. Lights flickered dimly. You see."  She turned her odd-colored eyes on him. and he threw."  She glared at him. Richard wondered if he would easily be able to find Door and the marquis: and then the crowd parted. "Your Grace. . Permit her to be harmed in any way and you will displease me deeply. his eyes gleaming in the dark beneath the earth." He reached across the desk. He took the object from de Carabas. as they slowed down. how the knowledge was spread. her odd-colored eyes narrowed. "The ones who matter know.

 He punched the air in delight. to which he added a cloudy splash of liquid disinfectant: the sharp antiseptic smell seemed so utterly sensible and medicinal.  She giggled. Mr. The place did look a little like a stable. Stockton liked making people uncomfortable. She was surprisingly light. and a large bubble of gas floated up and popped noxiously and obscenely beside the talisman." He examined his hands. a whole box of fifty-year-old razor blades." he said. It was a huge and happy smile. "You can hear me. The wolfhound glared at Richard. I don't know. and made it onto the crowded platform just as a train came in. okay?" And she had smiled at him. "Wrong?" it said. Vandemar's voice was a night wind blowing over a desert of bones. "Where do we start looking?" Door shrugged. and her smile would have stopped a revolution. 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. Because I wanted to be the one to kill the Beast. and its hooves.

 _Parity. "It can't be. a district filled with antique shops and places to eat. Nothing more to see. Then he stood up. blinking at the cold daylight."  "Not long now.  But there was nobody there. "you'll have to kill me first. rougher male voice said. Jessica stepped over the crumpled form. ." said the marquis. now that she had the scroll. This time there could be no room for mistakes.  "Oh.  "I was going to say. which said:    THE ROYAL SOCIETY    FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY    TO HOUSES  And beneath that.  Watching their dreams. half-buried in the mud. "Some kind of curse or something?" Hunter hesitated. old ketchup caked black about its nozzle. There were steps in front of him; Richard began to ascend."  A man in armor beat a small drum and chanted.

 And you've sent everyone involved off to some distant corner of nowhere. Then he turned away. and the door shut behind them. and the Beast came out of the dark. Leicester Square. Croup scuttled on ahead of them." His gaze was fixed on the statue. you old trickster. obviously.  "With interest. Really. part of the shadows. go through your head like a new power drill with a bone-saw attachment." said Hunter. and the muted roar of traffic. the others can't be too far ahead. She examined it closely. a flurry of yellow and ochre and brown. We have reason to believe that you were embroidering the truth more than perhaps a little. Across the street. and there were dark semicircles beneath her eyes. You can't threaten me like this. Croup likes words. "Now.