the _cuck-koo cuck-koo_ that a cuckoo might make. and a boil.

They went down some impressive
They went down some impressive. for the first time since his father died. Can I have some?" Anything she wanted. "Now we're getting greedy. "I really don't. A face. . spreading damp and decay through the building. broken glass and old syringes crunching beneath his square-toed black motorcycle boots. _"Where are my manners?"_ He motioned one of the elderly men-at-arms to him. You was with the marquis de Carabas." Hunter bit her lower lip. a young man named Clarence. And Richard stabbed with the spear. and now he made a dash into the crowd of pigeons." said Richard." She gulped air. staring at it." Mr. Croup. They freeze to death in the winter. not having fingers." And the girl pulled whatever she could find deep inside her soul. muttering.

squeezing him as tightly as she could. He was walking twice as fast as Mr. Did you tell them it was for Mister Stockton?" "Yes. her elfin face became beautiful. slightly frayed." Then she sighed." "You could call me a wolf. I don't know. It was not flattering. "Your brother?" asked Richard. The marquis de Carabas raised an eyebrow. having it around. Door-- keep away from it--" Islington caressed her cheek. . He told me to come here. bullying. and. physically attack it with his fists and feet. "We're not going to get the key back by lollygagging around here." said Jessica. It wasn't coming free. Although he had taken only a few steps from the well-lit bustle of Oxford Street. London touched the town of Southwark directly across the river; and it continued to grow. He slowly became aware that someone was talking to him.

" he asked. revealing an old door behind it. in the sputtering green light of their lanterns. "But it's for my fianc??'s boss. with a podium on it. she talked Richard along the plank. and he began to climb up some metal rungs set into the wall. " said Richard. It's going to be a bastard winter. and the relatives of Stolen Cadaver Number 25. He stated baldly that the rat--Master Longtail--had said nothing at all about returning Richard's things. . . which had been held on with something that looked to Richard like a vivid blue rubber band." said Richard. and he closed his mouth again. It sniffed at Door's hand. the Circle. in both hands. and she stopped again. "I did it. Mr. Vandemar were dangling out of the door." she told him.

The marquis prodded Richard gently with his square-toed black boot: "Right. loud enough that it could be heard easily over the noise of the train. Nothing of Atlantis remained but the water-bloated bodies of children." said Richard. who was not impressed. she knew. "What?" he said. Stockton was not half an hour late. He wondered how something like this could exist. wiped it. following five hundred years of fitful road-widening and unskillful compromises between the needs of traffic._ _And then the beast charges. He looked at Jessica's photograph for inspiration and found all the inspiration he could have needed in the shape of a yellow Post-it note stuck to her forehead. in the long run. The leather woman looked him up and looked him down. "you might even make it through a whole month. "I rather think I'd know if I'd been engaged to someone for eighteen months. once London Bridge had been built. "Hammersmith. on otherwise sensible weekends. then something would take over and he would find himself walking to the edge of a clifftop and stepping off into space. so the birds could get their beauty sleep. There were modern angels and classical angels. "The boss.

Richard was not able to place her accent. "I'll open your door. stretching from Aldgate in the east to Fleet Street and the law courts of the Old Bailey in the west. He could see the sign for it. And they weren't just people." muttered Mr. five hundred years ago: a mighty warrior. and stuck his fingers into his mouth. "Mind the Gap." he said. like talk to her. Door said. The reflections in the pool. for tonight. puts it back into her hand. as it walked. The others had followed over the next few months. but she now had a certain amount of freedom of movement. There _was_ an Orme Passage. to his surprise. inhume. as if only glimpsed infrequently. Richard got onto the train. one of several on the shelf.

"If you go. with a long pink tail. you can tell it to her yourself. its horns lowered." said the old man. His face was pushed into a slurry of coins. and said. walked ahead of her. Old age. "Your family can open doors." said Richard." said Mr. "Just protect the girl. and swayed back and forth._ _He sees its eyes." said the man. There was something in his pocket. I mean. nodding brusquely to various acquaintances as he did so. "It isn't. clearing his throat. Now. "Still. to try to hold her.

"Hello?" No sound came out of the receiver. then." The earl beckoned to Door. spread-eagled between two pillars beside the flint and silver door. _Father?_ she asks. The wolfhound growled in the back of its throat. quest for abandoned sandwiches and dropped potato chips. It's just a normal London pigeon. If we aren't going in. By this time she decided he should buy her an expensive French sandwich and some overpriced carbonated apple juice. Door. and Richard was blinking at the retinal afterimage of the light. "They just do. "It's a trap. But that's the best you could hope for. The wind caused by the opening of the door made the key swing back and forth. Let them end it all for him; he'd had enough. She took the bird from him." he said. there was a butcher lived down by the Fleet Ditch. "Jessica--Jess. have you?" "Forgotten?" He tried to remember what he could have forgotten. and he had no desire to phone her there." he finished lamely.

the Upworlder. the carriage was deserted. "Yes. reluctantly. sir. The train doors hissed open. imperiously. up a vertiginous series of ladders and steps. and it was Richard who looked away. He forced himself to breathe slowly. yes. "This train we're looking for will let us on. twice vertically. . There was silence. And then he said. "as a canary. politely. "Okay. after a moment's hesitation. but . ." said Richard. "I .

or something else altogether. to eat. much mended. beneath the shadows of his cowl. "A bit shaky. "Why?" The marquis's eyes had not left Hunter. On the other hand. circling him. That's what we look for. but no one lived in the City now. There was a scratch. They said nothing for some time." he said. cheerfully. but his coat-sleeve was trapped. and was still wearing everything she'd taken. "Charmed." said Door. ." "Nothing wrong with _my_ eyes. or a little less." "Very well. I should ask for another favor. "They call me Old Bailey.

"It's me little flag. "And time is of the essence. and my mirth is positively uncontainable. and coughed weakly. bald man. a tiny. in the darkness and the cold. "Didn't. Vandemar looked around at Croup." said the marquis. The acoustics had altered as well: they were in a bigger room. almost regretfully. on his last birthday. creakily. and the world seemed suddenly utterly unreal. Or this engagement is at an end as of now. . "Thank you." She glared at him. "Richard. and howled like a wolf. "You've been asleep for ages. She looked up as they entered. It reminded him of Hell--or rather.

"_ There was a moment of silence. He took off his metal helmet. Richard decided. My clothes . "how many things with angels on them are there here?"It was early evening. "You won't get it back traveling with us. She began to shout." said Hunter. At the market. _something_ happened to you. absorbing all of them. . maddening whine of mosquitoes. Dagvard held his helmet below the opening to catch them. The doors were open. in a vain attempt at injecting a little personality into his working world. the Victorious. and that he was starving. "They told me it was my punishment for Atlantis." said Hunter. smoothly. and spat." Hunter told him. a real angel.

and commenced to stare hard at Varney. thudding in his ears. "And sparkling mineral water?" Another nod." and. Fine. remember. He was unable to even guess how many people there were at the night market." He folded his arms. "Miss Whiskers?" Door shrugged." he said. and it paused for a hundred years. worked out as well as you did. "Might we see your invitation?" said another. So Mr. "You see. Then he studiously ignored her._ and it was changing him. he realized. solemnly. "Another? I'm not made of hilarity. Boring again. Is that not so." he said." it said.

" he said. "Best way to scare crows. The marquis de Carabas went down on one knee to the girl and lowered his head. the big white buggers? They're down there. and the fight was not as unequal as one might have imagined. A uniformed policeman beside him surveyed the guests implacably. He told Richard that if he. A handful of coins chinked onto Lear's coat. 45s. and he was on his way. "Hanging around her swanlike neck." he said. No more questions. Home. displaying the thirty most interesting results of his depredations in glass cases. Embarrassed. _Giants built that gate. and then she said. but just as urgently. then he pushed the haft of the bronze spear into the surface of the marsh and stood the flare up into the mud beside it. People got off and other people got on." "He ." said Mr. and her ribs.

. He tried to send her mental messages. and a small yellow rubber duck. she curtseyed. It had more windows. he felt the smile begin to leave his face. He." she said. Croup to Door--and. The earl clambered to his feet when he saw them. please take this to my daughter. yes. There was silence." said Mr." "And you can use it to find out who killed my family?" asked Door. Everything guaranteed properly lost. physically. . She saw something glinting in the lamplight ahead of them._ The platform was deserted and dark again." '"Cos I know you." he said. hurting you . A warm wind blew through the tunnel: a train was coming.

" she said."Mr. the carriage was deserted. He was content to let it heal. carry the offending substances out to sea." he said. "There's been no one since Hunter who'd even have a chance. "Come on. "Look. he still saw a dark and empty carriage. She had either gone back to sleep or. Stockton. peering through the dim light. Vandemar. as if he were going to say something. "Who?" "Your mystery man. everything _younger_ than the world he knew. Richard's head was filled with the clink of glasses. "So who was he?" asked Clarence. though. "What? I . Figured you'd know what to do with him. Mr. He put his centipede back into its empty marmalade jar.

Then she took a deep breath. Now the sun had gone down. . Kill her. He looked puzzled for a moment. Richard tried to remember how he usually found things. Croup. Two thousand years before. Across the rooftop. and he said. The rat squeaked an order. on the floor of the tunnel. Of the dark shape there was no sign." being played more or less competently." "There was a rat-speaker girl named Anaesthesia. You've got no friends--" "I've got you. and a wide-mouthed glass lemonade bottle. at the side of the curtain. At the bottom of the steps was a door. "You weren't in a fight. it seems that Little Miss Door has announced that she shall be hiring a bodyguard. We have to find out who did this. Stone steps. "You could have warned me.

"Whatchyouwant?" she asked Richard." she said to Richard. Hunter. which had. "There's a traitor in your nest. "Look. Richard shook his head. Mister Croup. sat on the carpeted floor of his new apartment. as Mr. It was no joke. We're going to be late. He walked over to the window and sipped his tea. Richard caught his breath. violently." said Richard. the Lady Door." it pleaded. the hunter and the hunted._ he tells her. It'll be back. then put my hand up through his throat and wiggled my fingers about. the earl sat down. .

briefly. Its mother was begging. breathless and sweating. or sat in corners. so bright as to be startling. the oldest of the Seven Sisters. dented and scraped. haggled. The marquis was walking around the perimeter. for silence." Door stepped forward. "You're afraid. "You wouldn't believe what it was like getting here. "I suppose. . " . and. while civilization crumbles about their ears. miracle of miracles. The expression on Jessica's face morphed from one of horror to one of charmed delight. She throws the padlock down onto the floor and begins to cry. "The earl's agreed to help us. after all this." said the other Richard.

as she moved in to finish what she had begun. from its fabric cover. " He trailed off." The marquis sniffed. "You go." he said. It made Richard feel as if he were thirteen years old again. "Be right down. said something that sounded like "Forth-ril bjugly mobble wug. He said it again. and it had been roughly carved out of black obsidian. At the moment. and then squeezed it. "Come on. she talked Richard along the plank. Ruislip. But she stopped. and a heavy dread settled in the pit of his stomach. Richard picked it up. The marquis spared him a glance. Croup smiled like a snake with a crescent moon stuck in its mouth. from time to time. . "Opened too many doors today.

His mouth opened. a district filled with antique shops and places to eat." she said. which was extremely pale indeed. until it reached her blood-blackened lips. "Look. "Bid them farewell. but very pure." The old man still wore his feathered coat." Gary looked at his watch. one after another. "Pipe your beady eyes on this. There wasn't really anything to be scared of. Mr." Anaesthesia looked relieved. "Someone's left a towel on this chair. Passersby stared at him with revulsion. Vandemar shook his left hand and flexed the fingers. leaving Richard standing. He stated baldly that the rat--Master Longtail--had said nothing at all about returning Richard's things. "it's Jessica. He looked at his ripped sleeve and his grazed hand and his torn trousers. "A complete joke. She danced much better than Richard did.

Mr. to the library. Yeah?" He turned and looked at Richard. and the padlock opens. the person he was talking to ignored him utterly." she said brightly. "Jessica. Hang on. Mr. an angel. one by one. and--and throw in the magic can-opener and the amazing whistling corkscrew. "Look. "Here. delightedly." said Richard. "Stop that. 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. alone in the throng. 'No. One day I got home from school. but now he spoke intently into Richard's ear." Mr. and he walked out of the office.

dark road. The overall impression given by the area was that a decade before (perhaps out of boredom. somewhere in her heart." said Richard. They moved in scurries: moments of stillness. " She pulled air into her lungs with an effort. and they both believed it to be true. "I don't know . in so much pain . He gave me the freedom of the Underside. "Are you ready to take it back? It fair gives me the creepy shivers. and a formal silver dinner-service on that." He pressed the button. large cars were drawing up. arterial blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. "Can they see us?" he asked." "Door and the others. are we?" They walked through the empty museum corridors. She was trapped beneath the Beast. Bit awkward. She's yours." said Gary. They say I'm the best since Hunter's day. He watched the Velvet pull Richard to her for the first kiss.

. The marquis picked Lamia up. Richard ran after him. She had put on the brown leather jacket she had been wearing when he had found her. ." Door took one look at Richard. No ticket appeared. rubbed her forehead. English-speaking passenger--on London's inner-city traffic problems. "Warn them. Everyone was there except . and she pauses beside a wall of ruined masonry." he said. I was sort of getting to know Anaesthesia. It seemed utterly right. "Have you thought about seeing somebody?" "See somebody? Look. worried that he'd catch his feet in something. . "Croup and. "There. Croup hesitated. covering his mouth with a dark hand. " said Richard. and to stay bowed.

he really does mean it. they would send me an opener. continued at his own pace. of brick and stone and time. He swallowed. nonetheless. "Yes. down the escalator. I'm wandering around with a girl called Door. An inkwell; a chess-piece; a bone die; a gold pocket-watch; several quill-feathers and . as best he could. And I wish there was something I could do to pay you back. "I wondered whether you were as dead as Croup and Vandemar claimed you were. gesturing elegantly. then put my hand up through his throat and wiggled my fingers about. and brought it down on the egg. and. with dignity. like a man smelling something odd or unpleasant. It crawled along the old ivory tusk. I rather miss it. Croup and Mr."_ He made a noise then--the _cuck-koo cuck-koo_ that a cuckoo might make. and a boil.