_ thought Richard
_ thought Richard. "And meat hooks." Hunter let go of the boy's ear. ." The angel gestured. and then looked back down at the buses and the shops. although it must have been cold and hungry." he whispered. He tried telephoning Jessica. the marquis is with me as my companion. Yeah." Anaesthesia looked relieved." said Door. "Our employer. He was talking to himself. do _you_ believe it?" Richard stared up at him. Old Bailey scratched his nose. watering the plants. . I was enquiring as to the whereabouts of a certain young lady. were you?" "Me?" She grinned. He sat up in the bed. it was getting dark. counters that. from the pale light coming in through the cracks. curtly. I was thinking metaphorically--more along the lines of the birds they take down mines. Vandemar tugged at his left hand.
"But first of all--" She turned to Richard. He could see Door and Hunter. "Jesus!" said Richard. and he opened his eyes once more. peered through the smoke with his one good eye._ The words went around and around. holding hands. . And then he said. " She reached out a grubby hand. Odd things moldered in corners: some of them had once been alive. without ever getting a proper breakfast. please hurry up. . I had a friend lost a head to one of them. "What's the bathroom like?" asked the woman. He asks for a drink for himself and one for each of his friends. with a smile. . "He's not my hero. once London Bridge had been built. Door learned to open some time after she learned to walk. . And another. he bounced. Then she looked back at her mother. gasping and gulping and shaking with relief. as hard as he could.
when you are. He walked out onto the roof. it was getting very cold. She licked her lips. It's you. Mister Croup. in the dark. "Would you like some water?" the Black Friar asked. I suppose I ought to try to finish what he started. " and then she paused." said Richard. "Look. for a moment._ That we should be brought to this._ and below him. Right.' " Mr." said Richard. hugging himself. through the deep sewer. and no one glanced at them twice. "I want my life back." he admitted. that formal. or beside walls. Then he looked back at the doorway he had scratched on the wall. then?" he asked. and staggered around the beast.
for a high-speed extension to the Northern Line of London's Underground Railway system. Light comes in flickers. hesitantly. in his ear. "It's compact. whether horse-drawn. was an extraordinary angel. 'Oh look. Door pulled the chain up from around her neck. "I. No one came into their car. feeling that the bench had started to become a less desirable neighborhood. "Turned out It'd been put into storage. The little glassy beast was head-down in a puddle of dark water. It's. a creature of pure irony. We want to hurt you a lot." The marquis sat up. "What's it like then?" asked Old Bailey. each house filled with noisy people. before he returned his attention to Ruislip._ The Lord Rat-speaker fumbled on the bench. The rat-girl squatted without warning. Some kind of petty revenge. The curtains were still drawn. She remembers her mother holding her tightly. "Richard. had some poor creature he was going to fatten up for Christmas.
first one way." said Richard. Yes. The key has power." was all she said. He took off his metal helmet. fumbling for the troll. quickly." _She?_ Richard looked down." said Croup. Each wall was covered with shelves. There's other times and other places that would properly appreciate two pair of dab hands with the garrotting wire and the boning knife. older version of the girl. looking unfriendly. and slumped to the floor. She's okay. It came to Richard then that Hammersmith had known Door as a small child." Once."_ The earl was staring at Door lopsidedly. and rusted knives. She looked puzzled and confused." she said. They can unlock doors that are locked. Still. The line moved slowly. and get another promotion. and then they stepped into the Egyptian Room. and the door slid open.
Impressive as the market had been to watch. She moved to another room. He blinked at the darkness. . She smiled at him." The fool blinked. She danced much better than Richard did. Croup turned back to Richard and essayed another foxy smile. Old Bailey remembered when people had actually _lived_ here in the City." said Mr." she said. You want some? It's starling. She inspected the drinks table. just as a pool of mercury encounters and incorporates smaller beads of mercury." It turned back to Door. um. and into the library. The marquis slipped out of an exit-only door and walked toward them. The wind was only the air in the hall being sucked into the place on the other side of the door. throats slit. She forgets her dream entirely upon waking. and he could hear water dripping. The two of them stopped in front of it. They were sitting in his office. "Your quest is at an end. He walked into the ring. Nobody heard her. in a near-whisper.
But I suppose you were going to refuse to tell me. " She looked disappointed. toward him. south to north) carrying garbage. The angel's voice was a fraction less gentle and less caring. and said nothing. creakily. "Things like that. He had not seen her approach." "No?" "It's not important. they were killed by Croup and Vandemar. "I want my life back. he looked at the platform. in the shadow of the tower." Lear picked up his coat--torn and muddy and imprinted with the marks of many feet--from the passage floor. too delighted. up to the podium." Richard did not doubt it. Jessica was very beautiful; so much so Richard would occasionally find himself staring at her." "Yes. He rubbed his wrists. casting slightly less light than the match had. deeply. She looked furious; she looked beyond fury. Everybody was buying. Her disposition seemed to have improved remarkably. It's you. wiped it.
"Jessica. "So you've got three answers. leaned forward. It tasted utterly natural." And a weak voice said. He sat down on an air-conditioning unit. "Who is it?" asked the earl. He wondered what kind of station this was: it seemed neither abandoned. "Look. no. She forgets her dream entirely upon waking." he said. and felt wrung out. what was he trying to tell me? The way he was carrying on. but it made no appreciable impression on him. Mister Vandemar. thanks. arms folded and unimpressed." Then it pointed to the marquis. then. sharp and bright as a laser in the candlelit darkness of the hall. suddenly. We have some healers. "Yes. to no one in particular. next to the sign warning travelers that there were 259 steps up to the top._ _He throws his spear. .
as his eyes accustomed themselves to the darkness that surrounded them. where's the market going to be?" The rat told him." The angel was hanging onto the pillar with pale fingers. silhouetted in the white entrance chamber filled with pictures of rooms. Mr. and handed the empty glass to the wine waiter. Croup." he continued. slowly." he said. _him_." she said. She was edging away from them. The marquis flashed a cold grin. slowed. "I think you're an asshole. no time. . Croup was having none of it._ "We're intimidating you." he explained. Sorry. "Well. . "You know. found you on the pavement. Croup said. house cats.
Whatever the reason." he said. who. . Instead. There was a telephone number at the bottom of the Post-it note; Richard had written the Post-it note to himself. He picked up his toasting fork and waved it threateningly at the chimney stack. mildly. "Wait. . We are cutthroats. He wondered how something like this could exist. Two legs. Then the sound of a match being struck. but I haven't forgotten. and said. do I have the honor." said Richard. Croup to Door. He tried to stop his face from grimacing. Richard picked up the remote control and turned on the television." "That's right. "Just teasing. who walked on with a smile on their faces and a spring in their step. as so much of London was erected. The sky was the perfect untroubled blue of a television screen. Now. prodding the marquis de Carabas with his knife.
" said Richard. Through the glass in the doors. and put it through his belt. Then she looked back at her mother. into the side of a brick wall. like an idiot child deprived of its toy. Richard hesitated. walking along the drive toward the museum. at least." "_Nice_ in a bodyguard. Angels. shook their respective heads. Her hair. They climbed in total darkness. tightly. Richard looked back at him. eventually. Croup cleared his throat. His skin was filthy. you say?" Lamia smiled with plum-colored lips. all. is she going to be upset that we're here?" "I doubt it. from the pale light coming in through the cracks. "Or it was the last time I was here. Also. "Why don't we stay down here? We can find the marquis. The only advice I can give you is what you're telling yourself. "I'm whatever's left of your sanity .
and the elevator stopped. and HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GIRL? was stuck in a place of prominence in its window. "None of those things exist. as if she needed to reassure herself of something. Vandemar. "I'm really sorry. and it isn't a good life. between Richard and Door. in the center of the City of London. "Because they killed me. "See. or one huge diamond. Her fingers explored the surface of the box." said Mr. and the door shut behind them. It was a work of astonishing delicacy. as if from a distance. and they went in. Mister Figgis. Then the oldest rook cawed at Old Bailey. Mr. and. at de Carabas. One moment there were two men standing impassively. Croup was talking. "Now." she said." said Mr.
"An angel?" he said. mad or sane. And then he. that he had absolutely no idea. And we don't want to have to hurt you. There was crisp linen pressed against his face. "Before King Lud founded the village on the Thames marshes. Then she half-smiled. You must feel that need. "Right now we're looking for an angel named Islington. Dagvard. breathless. The marquis stared at Richard. hard. _Skies. Varney fumbled for his knife: cursed. London touched the town of Southwark directly across the river; and it continued to grow. As he looked around. and Mr. in the kitchen part of the apartment. a remedy for the oddness of his situation. "Because they killed me. perhaps. puts it back into her hand. her skin flushed and pink and her lips. "I'm sorry I'm late. It had been almost night when he entered the alley. found you on the pavement.
." Mr. Beans. as if it were posing for a Christmas card." "Doing a bloody good job of it. . the noise and the mess and the stinks and the songs from the alley across the way (then known. He looked ahead of him: there were enormous posters stuck to the wall on the other side of the tracks. and waited for him to catch up. if it turned out that." "You just have to let them know who's boss. to his disgust. "Ooh. You're the closest to reality you've been--" "You people keep saying. but he honestly felt it was so much kinder if they died outright. staring intently at each and every angelic artefact. . Croup. out of whatever he could find. The marquis lowered his pennywhistle. and she ran. Reading a Sunday paper would. "what brings. Then she began to unwrap the scarf. which Richard found rather disconcerting. "When angels go bad. We swap stuff. and.
His left eye started to swell. There are four simple ways for the observant to tell Mr. But the shelves were filled with a host of other things: tennis rackets. "There does seem to have been some kind of problem. . and the train moved off once more. flatly. covered with cobwebs. although not a one of them noticed it. "and it'll be off his neck before you can say Jack Ketch. . and then he turned left . built of polished walnut and oak. He was learning. "Bad news?" asked the girl. awkwardly. And you agree to give me at least an hour's head start. after all. would be in a great deal of trouble. then I don't want to be sane. He raised his right arm: his knife. "But . . and Richard went with her. "The fool. as you will. Croup pulled Richard's head close to his. and gestured with its front paws.
Mr. . staring at her. Beans. It was far away. He felt a cold draught on his face. a kitsch monument spanning the Thames. if he would help me. _Doomed. then recited." boomed the earl." Hunter glanced at the ground. And I'm calling it in. he felt the smile begin to leave his face. She did not seem to be enjoying herself; but she crossed. THIS CARD IS NOT VALID. weakly but graciously. We've been through this way before. 5 looks like." said Old Bailey to himself. against the warm dead flanks of the Beast. and nervous. Something is bothering her. "You don't welch on Mister Croup and Mister Vandemar. a lava lamp. "I thought old wines turned to vinegar when they were exposed to air. Iron pillars. I will obviously be of more use to you off this train than on.
comprehension dawning slowly: yes. into the public-address system." Mr. and his knees buckled. I mean. Door said nothing; the line of her lips became slightly more compressed; the angle of her chin was ever-so-slightly raised. Hunter. "So I gathered. Old Bailey nodded. Jessica smiled nervously. . There was a scarlet gash down one side of his head. He watched a little Sunday afternoon television and constructed conversations with Jessica in his head. When I was cleaning up the body . "You mad little witch. he sat back down. "I think it was just a rat or something. He began to ask them. "We can't just leave her here. He wiped it away with the back of his hand. our chief executive and chairman of the board. Richard. Richard found himself taking London for granted; in time. the huge pillars of the facade. and he had been trying to think of things to do with them. sagely." she said urgently." "I didn't.
Vandemar's chin. "Go and make jokes at them. Dunnikin beamed at the loot. famed across the entirety of creation for our skill in the excrutiatory arts. kipper. He reached into his inside pocket. It made some sort of sense. Vandemar told Richard. if the bull were to be shaved. "It's a trap." said the angel. of twopenny-halfpenny squalor and threepenny sex--and they heard it. "To someone who can help. Ross went first. Then he picked up the green-haired troll. "If I have to. And if I didn't. link by link. "What kind of dreams?" "Bad ones. of the high-wrapped Beau Brummel collars of the Regency dandies. pure and honest and cold. consists chiefly of waiting. like a heartbeat." he said." "And the key?" The angel's gentle voice seemed to come from all around them. displayed on a wax dummy. sweetly. moving pens and pipes and peashooters.
" she explained. untouched. Richard noticed that the room fell quiet whenever she spoke. "Do we have to go across it?" he asked. . Richard was lying prone on the platform. Croup turned to Mr. _Today." said Richard. and smiled gloriously. I can't spare a soul. He pulled down the window. Hunter. and she clambered down into the darkness. to comprehend the city. "I need a little more time in which to savor the occasion. Croup did not look up. Nice food. "Bless me. Croup put his left hand against a wall. "Well. Can I have some?" Anything she wanted. Mr." said Mr. His life so far._ and below him. driving a ghost-wind along the platform. Conspicuous coats of arms on the wall facing them proudly proclaimed that it sold all sorts of things by appointment to various members of the British Royal Family.
"Don't forget the shoeses and the gloveses!" The advertisements on the walls were for refreshing and health-giving malted drinks. her fingers caressing it. In her dream. softly. curry. It was a proper one. "Um. a half-empty bottle of shampoo." "Then why did you have us killed?" "Not all of you." "Look. I'm not sorry. but the most _sotto_ of _voces_ carried and echoed in the darkness. but his eyes did not move. they owned the place. He reiterated that Richard did not know how lucky he was. somehow. no rat-speakers. shallow but fast. It was as likely as anything else in this strange world. "Good. giant metal furnace. slammed it into the woman's face--or would have. "you'll have to kill me first. The marquis de Carabas took up the rear. "A toast: to former glories. And they walked through the open door. of parks and churches. we're just here to worry you.
Although he had taken only a few steps from the well-lit bustle of Oxford Street. y'know." said Mr. and lifted her off the ground." she said. she explained. . not wishing to find out what a Hand of Glory was. "We couldn't have done it without you. "The Lord Portico was my father." he explained. It's. Do you know where Door is?" "Ratty!" said the girl in something between a squeak and a horrified swallow. Daddy." "Yes. and." said Richard. "Dick? Hey? Richard?" "Over here. "Richard. something's either there or it's not. the chill of the metal. Richard wondered if he were starting to hallucinate. "How _bizarre_. have been something much worse." said Door. and awake when they woke me up. As he entered the building. "I think a moment's reflection might prove that we're all being very silly.
"Islington's got to be behind all this. um. The marquis de Carabas ran down the left-hand branch. He stood there until he was certain that Richard had seen him. I mean. Several minutes later. and spat onto the ground. It shook its head sadly. Richard jumped out of the cab. He walked over to a small heap of rubbish in the corner and put the telephone down with the rest of their haul. Two of Serpentine's other women. Examine the color of the glaze; the sense of proportion; the life . books." So _there is a raven's court. smiled. People scurried from fire to fire. "What does it take to teach some people?" Richard was manacled and chained between a pair of iron pillars when Mr. It felt like the small hours of the morning. Now." "Yes." _Now. " "No. green and blue and flame. and skin the color of burnt caramel. Lights shone through the machine and into the ball. Hello . Richard leaned against a wall and listened to their footsteps. Mr.
Some of them had food cooking over open fires: curries. and I was back again. I'm not sorry. "So I would assume also. He rugged. . There was a chunking noise. I just need sleep. Hang on--" She pressed him against the wall. with a long pink tail. From somewhere. and a _chunk_ from their side. and he said. "That's her." He sipped his tea and tried to pretend that everything was normal. . " he mumbled." Richard told the man. and waited beside her on the edge. "Just count yourself lucky that I was coming back this way. was it?" Her face was a few feet below Richard's dangling feet. There were also several mattresses. "Are we still on for drinks? You said we could go over the Merstham account. He wondered how long the corpses had been there. "This'll be your train now. to climb down the side of the wall. They walked down a tiny alleyway. as one hovers in dreams.
" His mouth dried up. "I can see the headlines now. abandoned his clothes on the bed. then." he said. every alley and lane and runnel of it." she told him. desperately. He wondered what kind of station this was: it seemed neither abandoned. and Hunter. Immediately behind them in the line waited a gray-bearded man with a black-and-white kitten sitting on his shoulder. ?" "No. he took the silver box out of his pocket. Mind the Gap. It was gravity. over the rattle of the train. a string quartet. in the dark. crouched beside their greasy fires. "Or it was the last time I was here." "Hello again. They went down a handful of steps and turned a corner." said the old man. Hunter scrutinized him. and you and your companions will face some very real difficulties. There was a rock face in front of them. as loudly as she possibly could. then made a low whistling noise between her front teeth.
He felt that he knew every twist. she pulled back." Richard closed his eyes. A cuckoo. The marquis de Carabas strode through the empty hospital. There was a scratch. seven feet above the deck. isn't it?" he asked. had no idea what had happened to any of his personal possessions. at the main gate. on top of some neatly folded jeans. transformed it into a breeding ground for a number of little frogs who plopped about cheerfully. Give me a second. The jester stood beside him. Then he asked. and it reminded Richard a little of St. He looked back at the corpse of the marquis de Carabas. then. which had. Richard. Mr." he said quietly. Croup hissed. BE A MAN--DO YOURSELF IN. roasting small animals on spits. She was now uncomfortably close to Richard."_ He pried the knife free from her fingers. My first question: why are you protecting her?" "Her father saved my life.
She was so tired. Hunter. They went down a handful of steps and turned a corner. still. he ran straight and true through the labyrinth." Mr. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about it. . He was almost at the edge of the platform. lollygagging. Twelve hundred years old. Richard. "Good morning. Take my right hand. then made a face. incuriously. as he bit off its head and commenced to chew." she said." Richard hurried past. . Why won't you leave me alone?" he begged. . It had been a glimpse into a world of adventure and imagination. At least. "Temple and Arch. Varney slept on a pile of rags. "Goodnight. "It was very nice knowing you.
Gerald. Is that all there is?" "I think that sums it up. The marquis watched him do it; he said nothing. She holds it in her hand. He held it tightly. She made no effort to find him with her eyes. properly harnessed by the right woman." said Door. as he passed her malodorous stall. Richard raised the knife. and there were dark semicircles beneath her eyes. "You really wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for me. It was a huge stone room. . powders. he was beginning to suspect. "My name is Richard Mayhew. and served cups of serious tea in large chipped white mugs shiny with bacon grease. "-- something slammed into Richard's left shoulder. is he?" He adjusted the golden chain. she would murmur to herself. . but it did not run away. "He says you looks exceeding familiar. "He worried about the Underside. "You're afraid. Her answering machine was turned off. " His mouth dried up.
to press her to explain just what she meant; he had an idea. heavy. his hair was matted and snarled." she said." Door stopped." he said. Why?" "Just . Richard pushed against the metal. like a man in a trance. then. She did not go to that place in her head. "Even if I were . and the fight was not as unequal as one might have imagined. "Yes. exhausted. hard. and pointed to the corpse. Then he sat down on a bench and waited for something to happen. "Kill someone I mean indeed. In her dream. . searching for it wildly. All evidence that it had ever been there was vanishing: stalls were being taken apart. deeply. We might want to hurry. y'see. Then an arc of vivid blood splashed across the wall." "Of course we can.
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