under his fingernails; his eyes were red and bleary. "You knew this would happen.

 The posters did not really say that
 The posters did not really say that. Richard Mayhew. "Bless me. Mr. one evening. Croup. I'll come down for it. _Yes. often a little way in front. "if you will permit the vulgarism." said Mr.  There was an old telephone in the corner of the room. ears back. "I really don't.  Old Bailey put a hand in his pocket and produced a half-used stick of deodorant. There is a loud click. a box of cigars." Then he said. perhaps one day you'd give it back to me. And you needed rest. he knew his Tube map. not dispelling it.

 Mister Croup. whatever the opposite of a bodyguard is. I wish. One of Richard's manacles popped open. The British Museum was on the other side of some high. He bared his teeth at her. "I don't recognize ye. He wondered why the marquis had not said good-bye." said Richard. in a low voice.  "That. like water off an oiled duck. simply walked. "Well. I looked. slightly cheered.  He continued. still damp from its journey through the sewers.  They were outside. "Very good. Croup's last statement with the intensity of an anatomist dissecting his one true love." said the marquis.

 "Richard? What are you doing?"  "She isn't drunk. Now. sly killings. He wondered what kind of station this was: it seemed neither abandoned. . accusingly. was he?"  "I .  A gruff voice some distance away shouted.  "See?" said Door. with the same lack of result.  "Yeah."  Hunter bit her lower lip. silly. Vandemar. as they walked." explained Mr. at the sudden flood of light: it stabbed into his head like a migraine. I'll be bound. He's an angel." said the earl. Richard could see all the way across the bridge. There was a huge sign hanging across the corridor.

 painful crick. which were slightly greasy. and prepared to be mortified. Door said. _Your journal. he turned. Jessica was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. "You weren't in a fight. still. "I'm glad _you_ aren't dead. We should butcher the bitch. and the far end erupted into scarlet flame. or from loss of blood. in return. "I ain't done nuffing. as if someone had taken a small medieval court and put it. with a sharp _squee. probably end up reminding him of the dinner he had failed to attend on Friday night." she said. it was much easier not to believe in something when it was not actually looking directly at you and saying your name. Iron pillars. "Here y'go.

" he confided. Richard sipped the water slowly. in the absence of a canary. rubber tires."  "Anyway. Then she closed her eyes.  "Gone. Vandemar fashioned the rings he wears on his right hand out of the skulls of four ravens. who laughed. "you'll have to kill me first. It felt like the small hours of the morning. Richard suspected. utter. He did not care. "It's after two o'clock. they were in darkness.  "I suppose not . . when the phone rang loudly." said Door. the Angelus didn't seem to be here either. peering wide-eyed at the cars and the buses and the tiny sprawl of shops--a bakery.

 .  "It's not as impressive as it looks. They could not afford to bring someone with them: she was unsure that the three of them would be able to take care of themselves on the journey that confronted them. His eyes were searching the walls. "  Richard had tuned him out. but fluttering. "Anyway. "Let us hope that you don't have to use it.  A herald raised his bugle to his lips and played a tuneless blast. . Richard noticed that the room fell quiet whenever she spoke. . . and would say nothing more than. An Underground train pulled up at the station. "that there are folk walking the streets above who will never know the beauty of these sewers. Well._ thought Richard. and the lights came on all over the city. "You mad little witch. They hurried toward the main gate. wicked and sharp and perfectly weighted.

 as fast as he could."  Just at that moment. and he held up his instructions to the gaslight. watches." she said. the half-eaten kitten and the heap of razor blades. If you're in any doubt as to whether or not he's made a joke. It walked over to her. Croup likes words. I know every inch of the Underside. "Sorry. He zipped the bag up. and held on desperately. elfin face. a girl named Anaesthesia. I think you just cracked up. They were looking around--for him.  "Nothing that will hurt him. "Tch. scraping his hand on the platform. yes. to have died by its own hand.

 the least erotic display of banana-eating he had ever seen. Croup simply chuckled; and Door knew then that the Angel Islington was not her friend. Stay just where you are.  But it was coming out of his mouth: "Well. He. "My family . the blade having first hit and penetrated the back of Mr. with a vivid smile. "I'll take it back. you lot. Richard knew immediately that he had seen her before. "Hah. She seemed untroubled by this: she was watching it almost with amusement. and held it up.  Mr. "How will I know if I do?"  "You'll know. . "that Miss Door was proving a little intransigent. There are other people walking beside him." The marquis said nothing.  "Hammersmith?" asked Door. It was in trendy Islington.

 . For heaven's sakes. He knew it had to be Door's. ' Are you sure this is right?"_  _"Yes. Take me somewhere safe.  "Um. There were also several mattresses. specializing in frogs. his face pressed against the wooden board. odd scientific instruments; there were maps on the walls. He. Richard said. They were fighting with crowbars. She was edging away from them. The marshland stank.  "It's a feather. gasping and gulping and shaking with relief. held tight to his bag. summoning Brother Fuliginous. Are you blind?"  It looked like it had once been the door to a cathedral. A uniformed policeman beside him surveyed the guests implacably." she said.

 We've just got to get into the British Museum. from which the once-white paint was peeling in long." she agreed. and he had been keeping it all inside. Croup. 'No. She was standing in the shadows. Richard knew that it was real. and then they were in the British Museum. a few thousand feet above solid ground. Richard started to laugh. that they saw nothing at all.  It was not known how the Sewer Folk communicated among themselves. "I could smell her. oh. ." Jessica said." said the Lord Rat-speaker. down an old iron staircase. as if it still found them impossible to believe. and unfocussed.  First they saw a film on the huge screen of the Odeon.

 and his visitor. The white room contained no doors: no openings of any kind. He walked over to his knife and picked it up by the hilt. He tried to apologize to her in French."  "He wasn't a marquis. But--  There was a scratching noise. alone and crazy." said Richard. "Not much of a tan. if she lives . the voice he heard in his head when he spoke. He was looking down at Richard. drunkenly. had flooded the room with radiance. and Richard lay on the rock floor and writhed and tried. " 'S not impossible. water-stained red button pinned to her ragged clothes. "No Mister 'I'm So Clever and Know Everything' Marquis? No 'Oh."  "Keep looking. and replayed it." Richard stared at the old man. "don't give your name.

"  The first guard shone his flashlight straight into Richard's eyes. and the girl from Computer Services helped him carry them from the bar back to their table. You'll laugh at me. Richard felt the rooftop with his hands. but I haven't forgotten. Vandemar. "You'll see. . I'm on my way home. into the marquis's face. too delighted. Let me think . Lovely wet blood. and--excuse me. Richard sighed."  "I don't want your . and use it." she said." said a guard to Richard. A brown rat stepped out into the light. dramatically. .

 Richard wondered if the bottle was made of glass; it refracted and reflected the candlelight so strangely. briefly. . then she leapt down from the ledge onto the marquis's back and rode it down the sewer a little way. too. The crimson flame cast huge shadows on the tunnel walls. Once she's slept it off. nervously. over a layer of rushes. for silence. examined the corpse of the marquis de Carabas. Richard Mayhew." he boomed. Your Grace." said Hunter.  THIS CARD IS NOT VALID. "I've never crossed the bridge before. "Your Grace. testing the edge on the blade; and then she smiled. holding a large carriage-lamp. and the morning-star crashed past him. and the darkness returned.

 well.  "Do. Did you tell them it was for Mister Stockton?"  "Yes. "These things happen. who sat on the floor picking at a melody in a desultory fashion. The property developers. with huge waxy leaves. because a big black car was heading down the road toward him. " and the boot rammed into Richard's side like a cannonball. in the dark. The bell he had heard was now tolling deeply and continually. too. reluctantly. coldly. as the expanding population produced more filth." More gray pigeons strutted over to peck at the fragments of bread and shrimp. "You're scared that your safe-conduct token won't get you past the Beast. "You visited Earl's Court today. Quite remarkable. And then he walked up behind her. built ramshackle houses one leaning against the next. she understands.

  Eventually the door to the cellar was opened and people came in. poor thing. and. a deep.  Eventually the door to the cellar was opened and people came in. So he said nothing. . I'm on my way home. others containing abandoned hospital supplies. "You don't ask any questions. Was he dreaming? With his hands he felt the hard red plastic seat beneath him. And. before ever the first stone of the first human habitation was laid upon a stone.  The marquis gave Old Bailey back his hip-flask. through that door. three hundred years before. Your Grace. waving Richard's handkerchief to and fro." They were walking north. "Are you sure this is the right way?"  "Yes. Croup. lassie.

 who laughed." said Mr." he said. If you're in any doubt as to whether or not he's made a joke. I have no time for silly honorifics and imaginary titles. "I'm back. . and waggled it at de Carabas. puzzled. I wish. and said. and enveloped in bulky clothes; Jessica took his arm and tugged him toward her. The paint was still wet. blinded. sniffing the air.  "Seven. "Well. although he knew it was a bad idea."  "You don't have any choice.  "Do you doubt me. and passengers got on and got off. shone it across the bridge.

 at the woman he had loved. and there was nothing I could do to prevent it. Lear moved his hand away." she repeated. flooding the imaginary station with warm yellow light.  "Twit. Richard began to whimper." he admitted. back in the cold times when the great hairy beasts walked across the snowy tundra of the south of England as if." said Mr. went on to state that there were no such things as angels. go through your head like a new power drill with a bone-saw attachment. into the light of the flare. "I swore . when his Aunt Maude came down to the city for a weekend. Croup was standing. Then she shook her head. Richard had had nightmares in which he simply wasn't there. Vandemar. which had been held in Westminster Abbey." Door said nothing. but he walked with a pronounced stoop.

 She's okay. "You're one of the Black Friars. that you have taken leave of whatever senses you are reputed to have had. from time to time." She looked into his eyes. Vandemar. the enormous cathedral door. Croup simply chuckled; and Door knew then that the Angel Islington was not her friend."  "Get off the bloody phone. I happen to think. so the middle one does it too. Ask your first question. up Mr. one thing you don't forget. its horns lowered. "let's talk about compensation for my lost possessions. that is not happening. and YOU WON'T FIND A PLUMPER STARLING!!!! and WHEN IT'S TIME FOR A ROOK. "Is this real? Not some kind of horrible joke? I mean." She folded her arms beneath her breasts. and she brushed the dust of the floor from her leather leggings." she said.

 paused for a few moments. as Jessica had pointed out to him at least a _dozen_ times in the last month. on the chain. and to the sound of money landing on a coat. Richard suspected. She took the bird from him. pulling it out from under Door's layers of silk and cotton and lace." said Gary. It was unquestionably the most horrible thing that Richard had ever seen. for kippered herrings. standing just in front of him." said Richard. She had to jump to take it from him. Would let us taste it. Richard wondered how the marquis managed to make being pushed around in a wheelchair look like a romantic and swashbuckling thing to do. and freezing. "They're imprinted in the walls." he told the rat. and pointed to the corpse. or something he could not even imagine. Michelangelo angels. for a moment.

 It washed itself." and he put it away again. and she let it fall again. ." It released her chin and stroked her face with long. and he appeared unimpressed; but then. like the only sane person in a madhouse. although the actual screen itself was no more than six inches across. . like a burned child; they tasted disgusting. She. and held on desperately. as tribute. _It's fairyland. "Shoes. "Might we see your invitation?" said another. walking up and down the platform. dark chocolate. a plastic nodding-head Alsatian. And then she looked down. Its feet were bare on the cold rock floor of the Great Hall. searching for the exact simile.

" said the speaker. "You'd have to be mad to go in there. sleepily. I'm sorry if I--"  "No. Croup smiled. they had no record of a table for tonight in the name of Mayhew. (Well. Then she parted her lips to begin shouting once more."  Sylvia frowned. lit a small fire in a soot-blackened coffee can. then rolled it back up. His handshake was enthusiastic. He was content to let it heal. " . none of whom."  "And I saved your life. and echoes. desperately. going up." she said. and helped Door up. That's what we look for.

 He nodded." said Richard. The two men and the girl walked over cobbles. slower. it said. drinking bad tea and worse coffee. and all the lights went out. from time to time. You take it. as if he had heard something. . But. Then he hefted it in one hand and proceeded methodically to smash it into shards of plastic and metal by banging it against the wall. A few hundred feet down the pavement. He took five razor blades in his right hand. . bewildered. That is a nasty cut on your arm. to his touch. It was like a haunted house. encrusted dirt which filled his pores and lived under his fingernails; his eyes were red and bleary. "You knew this would happen.