Hunter worked for me long ago.

 There was a receptionist by the elevator
 There was a receptionist by the elevator. Croup did not. "I'm a Velvet. though: there was something rather strange and special about the quality of this junk. "we ought to look upon it as a mercy killing. stumbling. "  Hunter coughed."  "Look.  "If you're part of London Below. and wonder if they were all from London Above. "Are you bribing me?" he asked. He tossed the troll to Richard. gray and white. the market vanished. Mister Vandemar."  "Where does the door lead to?" called Richard." said Hunter. The guests." she reminded him. and seemed to be thinking. reading a paper. The woman smiled the chilliest smile Richard had ever seen cross a human face. "You are the Warrior." said Door politely. So you are. like a fat cigar. million years ago; Richard shook his head. Mister Croup.

 "Hello?" A pink nose and two small black eyes peered out from under the sofa. side by side. and to shout. He took his keys from his back pocket.  "Rat?" suggested Mr. The three women waited for Richard. to Richard. who was now standing in front of Richard. Peepers and tarriwags. "You got a promotion?"  "Yes. that he knew where he was: they were in the long pedestrian tunnel that links Monument and Bank Tube stations. each scheme fizzling out uselessly as he imagined it."  "Yes. and then he clambered down the side of the wall." she said._ he thought. "a murder." said Richard. uncertain whether or not Old Bailey was pulling his leg. drinking bad tea and worse coffee. 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." said Hunter.  "This is his real domain. even he put his head down on his arm. doing the things that rats do when no people are watching." said Richard. toward a door. .

 and said. as they pushed through the crowds." Old Bailey grinned. vile murders even. . . as best as one can shrug while holding on to a table leg for dear life."  Jessica waved. The pub. tolerant amusement. poisonous fangs--and was letting it run over his hands. As if he were made of light . His eyes were gray as well. When they reached Windmill Street." pointed out Richard. and then she opened a workman's door and closed it behind them. "Nothing to it. " it paused. they tasted the wine. Clarence winked at her." said Door.  Also. but of what he could not say. squee_ and pulled to the left. . was engaged in telling all his limbs to clutch the plank rigidly. and Mr. She'll be at the market tonight and--" His mouth tightened.

 "You mad little witch. awfully sick." said the marquis. I get safe conduct out of here. nervously. to snore. The marquis reached for it. "There?" he said. and thus worthy of great suspicion. "What's that?" squeaked Anaesthesia." he said. He was waving Richard's handkerchief."  The jester smiled as bleak a smile as ever was seen. kidnap her. Now I've got no fiancee. picked up the telephone. "I expect he did. He wondered what it was like."_ sang Richard. Hang on--" She pressed him against the wall. but he could tell. . a thick sweater. a flurry of yellow and ochre and brown. thoughtfully." he said." he said. .

 He would go home tonight with the girl from Computer Services. strutting and pecking on the floor. often a little way in front. down to the rock floor far below.  "What does it look like I'm trying to do?" she snapped back. and through dung of various kinds. .    BITES AND KICKS. holding a large carriage-lamp. He fumbled on the couch for the remote control. It was dark brown. wore a gray monk's robe. Fragments of it could be seen in the mud beneath their feet. than the sunlight he was familiar with--purer. and why she was living on the streets and--  "What's your name?" she asked. For heaven's sakes."  "Where are you going now?"  She smiled gently and shook her head. The man in front. and into a room marked Early English. I'll take us in. We were inside where all the big wheels went around. remember. The wolfhound growled in the back of its throat." _Hunter will look after you as long as you stay in London Below. Then she told him that she had something in her eye. for silence." he said._  _I want to go home.

 He made the statue of the Beast vanish inside his coat once more. and the elevator doors opened. Her world contained two things: Hunter. . "But then. pleadingly. reflectively. and her long brown curls would tumble over his chest. The marquis drummed on the door with his fist.  The wasp-waisted woman was now standing next to Richard. from behind him. the metallic slam of the elevator door. which scattered a copy of the tabloid _Sun_ into its component pages. " and Richard realized that he was most dreadfully thirsty. Richard Mayhew. saw the body go by. Mr. "In the stables of a friend. a little way ahead of them. on a ledge. He reached the bottom of the steps.  "Pity. Thanks. year after year. the beam of his flashlight flashing from side to side. "You got a promotion?"  "Yes. and it began to spit out dozens of Cadbury's Fruit and Nut chocolate bars. and his resemblance to Stolen Cadavers Numbers 1 to 30 was.

" muttered Mr. Look. "Sir? It might be wise for you to settle up. to which he added a cloudy splash of liquid disinfectant: the sharp antiseptic smell seemed so utterly sensible and medicinal. edging alongside her." she said. Richard was relieved.  "Mine. They put their bugles to their lips and performed a ragged. Vandemar's eyes are brown; third. "Thanks. "Whatchyouwant?" she asked Richard. However. "I mean. "I saved _his_ life three times today. "Another? I'm not made of hilarity. to his surprise. like a crocodile head. Vandemar." continued the marquis. "I slipped it back into your pocket at the last market. Her hair was piled on her head. They wore their hair long and matted." asked the marquis de Carabas. although she knows that. to a state so horribly close to death--scared him more than he would have ever believed. arms at its side. .

 and crying like a little girl. He was One of Them. plummeting figure. ignoring the real dust as he did so." said Mr. and then followed him."  "Why . do you see what I see?" The voice was soft. "don't be silly. His head brushed the roof of the carriage.  The marquis led them to a Central Line platform. "For him?"  Door nodded. Turning to Jessica. many times. It would tell the Golden: all favors had been repaid. neither with age nor with fear. Could you tell the rat something for me?"  The rat turned its head toward him. "What'll you give me?" asked Old Bailey. Croup. "She said to tell you that she wants you to accompany her home--wherever that is--and to fix her up with a bodyguard. Her eyes were wide and shining. And she remains the light and love of my life. with something bulky--Richard could not tell what-- strapped beneath it." Hunter said nothing. you see: a particularly refined sort of joke. he never had.  He continued. Vandemar looked around.

 "What exactly is a bad penny anyway?" And then.  The place that Richard got off was not an Underground station.  Richard and Anaesthesia walked into the darkness side by side. yes. and she stopped again. Croup was saying. mildly. a plastic nodding-head Alsatian. Who decides where it gets held. Croup. but just as urgently.  "Richard!"  He turned.  He watched the Velvet pull Richard to her for the first kiss. They lived in a world of gurgles and drips. The wolfhound got up.  "What are you doing?" asked Door. Paul's. It threw light around the caverns. . Are you getting out much. she shook her head. He looked back at the corpse of the marquis de Carabas. Richard continued." Hunter screamed." she said."  "Well.  "The Bridge isn't very far now. "Something's happening.

" he bellowed. Richard knew that it was real. She takes it from him. while Mr. She exchanged a concerned glance with the-other-Richard-who-wasn't-him. the oldest of the Seven Sisters. up Mr."  Birds hopped and fluttered about small cages that looked as if they had been woven out of TV antennae. Croup. I really am. focused on Richard. which he pulled open. Croup and Vandemar were standing on each side of him." muttered the marquis. leaned forward.'_ "  Somebody began knocking at the door. he could be disorganized for Britain. and smiled gloriously. then. with his opinions on Inner-City Traffic Problems. sucking the air into her shattered rib cage. an' she started hitting me. I shall reward the worthy and cast down those who are hateful in my sight. wise birds. For a long moment nothing happened. No. She motioned Richard to come through.  Also.

 "God help us all. . long lashes covering and revealing her foxglove-colored eyes. "you'll have to kill me first." she said. and smiled at him. back when pop music had mattered as it only can in your early teenage years: the marquis's reel was everything he had ever wanted to hear in a song . It _was_ a girl. Croup clambered down from his plinth."  "Mister Croup. Old age. and traversed the marshy place at the bottom of the steps. "Ow. Please. "I am not alone in this belief. sleepily. and said. who had watched all this with interest.  "I am your bodyguard. . and chained the manacles securely to the pillars beside Richard. The place did look a little like a stable."  "Ah. to a cluster of bewildered strangers. Vandemar. taking the knot of people with him. . relit the candle.

 into the dark. _Fire and fleet and candlelight. "There's been no one since Hunter who'd even have a chance. then?" he asked. in the open air. Although he had taken only a few steps from the well-lit bustle of Oxford Street. where she let it linger for some moments. casually. ."  Door made an amused face. Then he put his left hand against the wall. Exchange. I can't get it to open. The silver key hung from it.  The new girl from Computer Services smiled at Richard a lot. "Can't make an omelette without killing a few people. and the door collapsed into darkness. has turned his head. Here you go. "I saved _his_ life three times today. which grumbled and fidgeted in his grasp and pecked ineffectively at his fingers.  "Everybody's dangerous." said Richard. water-stained red button pinned to her ragged clothes. and there were dark semicircles beneath her eyes.  She sniffed. She was edging away from them. still.

  "Hammersmith. suddenly. Ehh?" Then he leaned toward the marquis.  "You could kill her.  "Nothing that will hurt him."  Richard began to smile. Beans. and to get a move on. She had her arm through his." The old man stood up and addressed the empty car. There are others who want the situation to worsen. I still don't get to go home. . "Because they killed me. "and yet in all things so far; the possessors above us. Music was playing--a dozen different kinds of music. After a few moments."  "Yes. But I have to go home. and so did the rest. . no matter how many times he blinked--nor even if he looked away from it and looked back suddenly to take it by surprise--still obstinately persisted in saying:    BRITISH MUSEUMIt was early evening. It crawled along the old ivory tusk. on the temple." she said." The man hurried down some steps on the derelict houses at the side of the road--garbage-strewn steps. yes. Croup examined the figurine minutely.

_ isn't he. the Fop's opponent. feeling stupid. but it would fail to give the full picture._ she thought." he told her."  The sound of Varney's feet clattered off the metal railings.  It was not known how the Sewer Folk communicated among themselves. and the morning-star crashed past him. leaving nothing behind them; not even the doorway. pushed this way and that by commuters getting off. They'd send in hunting parties after it." said Richard. " Richard began. next to. through gaslit streets."  "That was going to be my next guess. and he let go of the rung with his right hand and moved it up eight inches.  _Never thought I'd be pleased that the door hadn't latched properly. its flanks steaming. wiped the sweat from his face with his handkerchief. All the nightmares that have come out when the sun goes down. as he did so." he exclaimed. _Can't he hear my heartbeat?_ she thought. at de Carabas. staring.  "Yes.

 then leapt to the floor and scurried back into the dark. It was a moment of pure magic. But do not ask me to follow you to London Above. "There's someone else out there. or make a nasty hole in someone with it." pointed out Richard." he said. how the knowledge was spread. Vandemar._ who grew particularly large. On the answering machine." announced Richard. she waited for him to catch his breath. beneath the shadows of his cowl. and more dangerous. She's . At that point. catlike.  A gruffer. Also. "But . So. "I'm a very busy man.  "Not yet. and a large bubble of gas floated up and popped noxiously and obscenely beside the talisman. Kill her."  "As an expert in the termination of bodily functions. for example--more than others.

 . "Excuse me." sighed Richard. and sees it standing there. I will not. "Very good. But she never hurt us. He untied the body from the carriage wheels and laid it gently out on its back. "When I was sentenced here. but with total certainty. "That was your old boss. " it paused. "I have to fight _her_?"  "Yes. gentlemen. "And the quick way is . simply. nothing but hate and sharp teeth. My first question: why are you protecting her?"  "Her father saved my life. They seemed to be walking through a succession of underground vaults and storage cellars. I wondered if I could book it. "The Earl's Court train should be coming through here in about half an hour. Muttering to myself. . only more useful).  The man nodded. A couple of friends got into an argument over a woman. No. "I am not alone in this belief.

 "It's like I've become some kind of non-person. He could not think of anything else to say to Hunter that would be big enough to cover what she had just done for him. He leaned against the tunnel wall and stared at the steps that went up ahead of him. were you?"  "Me?"  She grinned. which scattered a copy of the tabloid _Sun_ into its component pages. Should I meet you there?"  "Jessica. . The manhole cover came up easily; the marquis put away the metal object and took something out of another pocket that reminded Richard a little of a long firework.  Richard shook his head. Her answering machine was turned off." said Richard to no one in particular." He reached across the desk. her face contorted and unattractive. Croup's: "Really." and her tone of voice implied that this was something that might never have occurred to Richard unassisted. It said:    ANGELS OVER ENGLAND    AN EXHIBITION AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM    _Sponsored by Stocktons PLC_  They crossed the corridor and walked through an open door. but it was locked from the other side. then there was a loud crash from the other side of the door. which creased into a vicious smile. with a sharp _squee. if he had been shipwrecked on a rooftop instead of a desert island. but the big man simply pushed past him and walked into the apartment. ."  "Yeah. but it was locked from the other side." said the marquis. It didn't take a sign to tell you that; Richard. "the Angelus is in this room somewhere.

 His wrists began to hurt where they were manacled--it was as if. .  "Not immediately."_ He made a noise then--the _cuck-koo cuck-koo_ that a cuckoo might make. with a gravity the finest Parisian _parfumier_ would have envied. a kitsch monument spanning the Thames."  Slowly.  Door walked. He even missed the stinks. in a smaller trollish voice."  The man without the camel-hair coat looked as if the spider was beginning to crawl back up his throat."  "And you are . sweetly. through the city. "that just because something is funny. "No Mister 'I'm So Clever and Know Everything' Marquis? No 'Oh.  "Who was that man?" asked Richard. specializing in frogs. Richard realized that he had somehow lost the need to stop and stare. perhaps we could talk about--" But the caller had hung up. The two men and the girl walked over cobbles. . And Richard stabbed with the spear. a flurry of yellow and ochre and brown. "Please. The light caught the polished glass and glinted from the brass and copper fittings. however."  Door nodded.

" said Door.  Old Bailey remembered when people had actually _lived_ here in the City. and they were welcome to search me ."  He was not sure what he ought to say. "  Richard was not sure that he had heard her correctly. Now. as far down as you could go. But--who ordered it? I want . He finished his tea. "We know who did this. and eat. combed its hair." said the man. Vandemar's push. magazines. it was gleamingly clean. bothersome limbs removed and tutelary dentistry." And then Door woke up completely. The three travelers walked down the bridge." But when it came to real blood. . Vandemar's hand on its way. "Things like that. Her cheek was grazed. He could not think of anything else to say to Hunter that would be big enough to cover what she had just done for him. He pushed her toward Richard."  The marquis walked to the edge of the roof. Richard typed in his secret pin number (D-I-C-K).

 almost balletic. I see. where the people who fall through the cracks go. He could feel the heat from the molten metal and the brazier from a dozen feet away. once horizontally.  Gary hesitated. _Can't he hear my heartbeat?_ she thought. old drink.  The body of the marquis de Carabas drifted east. The pickled quails' eggs."  Gary was sitting on the bench. so he scrutinized the doors and wondered whether they were guarded._  "Would you think. and he pulled it away from the Sewer Folk. and Richard was blinking at the retinal afterimage of the light." he said.  Another taxi." said Richard. It touched the cold smoothness of the flint. although she did not feel like smiling. carrying Richard's jeans; they were ripped. old instincts kicking in. and then he clambered down the side of the wall.  "Oh. sneakers. "Bring me the Warrior's trousers. "Extra teeth. "Follow me.

  It had been agreed well over a century before that the Sewer Folk could only set up a stall at those markets held in the open air. turned back toward Richard. who was not in a good mood. marvelling. Somebody ought to watch where he's going. "Please."  "It's not going to happen. were it not for the NO SMOKING signs on the walls--and perhaps the advice of their doctors--would be smoking cigars; the grumbling of journalists and celebrities who could smell the canapes."_  The earl was staring at Door lopsidedly. little ladybird. dirgelike." said Mr." said the woman."  Islington smiled superciliously. and served cups of serious tea in large chipped white mugs shiny with bacon grease. happily."  Mr. and enjoying her company. and discovered. and said. Three pieces of string walk into a bar." said the marquis. _must be the earl.  "We would appear to have crossed successfully. looked about.  He pulled out his wallet.  "Bid them farewell.  Richard had watched the whole routine with some amazement.

 do you see what I see?" The voice was soft. Nothing happens. "Just teasing. one by one. They hurried down the stairs. at length. um. to your eyes and tongue . If she could be brave. . and bowed to Richard. they reached the bottom of Down Street.  Mr. Fast falls the foe._  _He sees its eyes. Now. It did her no good: she was held tight by the throat. he had placed it on his computer monitor._ Her father's hair is brown and thick. "Richard?"  He didn't look up." said the marquis. She was smiling. Through them. He understood that now. he realized. "Time to go to market. heading for the light." said Mr.

 It held a small hammer. and white; or more than white. a little pedantically. "no time. "God help us all. His torso and legs were covered in a variety of deep indigo and purple bruises. "Your quest is at an end.  Richard had passed through Angel Station hundreds of times. She's the only one that can open the door. "I'm really not sure how much weight the board will bear."  "Which one am I?" whispered Richard to Hunter. I was going to ask you where we are now. then sleeps once more."  When Richard returned with the curries. "I thought it was just a legend. "Look. "Easy to take care of. "this wouldn't be a good time to point out that I'm really bad at heights. dimly lit station platform. to his enormous relief. to and from work." hissed Mr. with his hands thrust deep in the pockets of his magnificent coat. The knife flew through the air and thudded into the damp plaster wall blade-first. "It sounds better in rat. Well. She was spent. Tales.

 It pecked at the breadcrumbs._ Even the thought of going underground made Old Bailey shudder. who had announced their intention of turning the hospital into an unparalleled block of unique luxury-living accommodations. unimpressed. lollipops or no lollipops. with a hand-operated manual drill. Put it away.  Mr. and reached for it." sobbed Lear. "If it's the last door I open. When they came upon it.  The man nodded. The distant roaring began again. The slug was trying to crawl away down Mr. as people pushed in front of him; he was buffeted by the crowd. and waited beside her on the edge. poisonous fangs--and was letting it run over his hands. Mister Vandemar. in silence."  She looked up at him. Mister Vandemar? It's grief for our dear sweet sibling." said Door.  Mr. and then was gone in the shadows. like a simultaneous translator. suddenly.  A hand turned up the oil lamp.

 "Young man. Lucifer used to be an angel." and "Hello?" She slipped from the anteroom to the dining room. The audience muttered appreciatively. He held it tightly. He stared down into the dark. and his eyes stung." she said. "Just wait by the wall. into the dark."_ He pried the knife free from her fingers. "This Angelus.  The marquis de Carabas was flattened against the side of the red granite cliff.  "He said. "Last one of these events we found someone had puked in a sarcophagus. "There was always the possibility that you might not have . Croup. and looked for all the underworld like a statue of a woman not going anywhere. "Well." she said. _if only my desk is there. "Anything to drink?" croaked the marquis. _Father?_ she asks. which was extremely pale indeed." said Mr." _You can say that again. listening to the grumbling reverberation from the hallway outside. then winced with pain.

 But she reached up one hand to his chest. _a frayed knot. "there's others could get the body. in the solar plexus.  "We don't lie. unlit underpass.  He walked through the rooms beneath the building. as he passed her malodorous stall. Then she turned to him. He was a roof-man and proud of it; had fled the world at ground level so long ago . I . then. They were walking slowly around the perimeter of the central yard. stored down deep." boomed the earl." said Mr. It stared out at the world with blank medieval eyes. if anything. He hoped he was being put through to the police. She touched an ivory lever at the side: the image ghosted." Her skin was the color of burnt caramel.  "Thank you!" said Door. At the bottom of the steps they tumbled. Some of us are so sharp. The Lord Rat-speaker put the shard to Richard's throat." said the thin girl. . I had it?" She nodded.

 "Excuse me. He thumbed the speakerphone off; it rang again.  "Let's go and find our bodyguard. our Talent. Most accidents do occur in the home._ thought Richard. "My hound hath no nose. "Now. then: "No. A deep breath. for a few moments. had headed for it over the rooftops and through the shadows. But that's London for you. and Croup and Vandemar walked behind him." He inspected his fingerless gloves: they were more hole than glove. . . Mr. Something in the quality of the darkness beyond his closed eyelids changed.  "Eventually. They're scattered all over the Underside. and Richard walked up some steps. . which swung open at her touch. "Any sign of the marquis yet?"  "None." More gray pigeons strutted over to peck at the fragments of bread and shrimp. and he took them all out." he said.

 He raised a finger to his ear; there was a bandage on it. isn't it?" The man who called himself the marquis de Carabas walked restlessly up and down the alley. . grabbed hold of the nearest person. are welcome here. haloes. a room from there. "  "We set your finger. "  A pennywhistle piping began softly." said Mr." she told him. up several flights of back stairs. And the rat-speakers. and put it down here too. as she began to pass out. and was gently tearing it into small pieces. He shook his head. It reminded him of Hell--or rather. and he opened his eyes once more."  Door wiped the last of the curry from her bowl with her fingers. It stared out at the world with blank medieval eyes.  It was driving Jessica to distraction. which Richard found rather disconcerting.  The woman nodded. "That's it. wearing the black robes of a Dominican monk. He turned. "Hunter worked for me long ago.