suits. He glances at his hand. . And the Floating Market. something else.

minutely examining the engraved invitations that each of the well-shaven men in dinner jackets and the fragrant women in evening dresses needed to present
minutely examining the engraved invitations that each of the well-shaven men in dinner jackets and the fragrant women in evening dresses needed to present. And there was the place by the window. and they went in. He reached down. I have business to attend to. It was driving Jessica to distraction. So you'll find out. ?" he said." The boy reached one hand back and forward again." said the chairman of the Arts Council. Since then it has been moored on the south bank of the Thames. magazines." she said." He let go of Richard's hand._ boss? "Mister Stockton is on his way." it said." He was lying. Richard trailed along behind her. Croup picked up the earpiece. the noise and the mess and the stinks and the songs from the alley across the way (then known." she said. "You wait in here. "Excuse me. caviar puffs.

"We found a lot of your stuff. "Yes. who gave to charity and invested ethically. and then he succumbed to her kiss entirely. I shall induce him to unburden himself to me. the thing I got . The platform was dark again. and a pallid complexion; as Richard opened the door. Vandemar. symmetry. His eyes burned white in an extremely dark face. so close he could feel its warmth. conceivably. . The abbot was coming down the passage toward him. and said he did not care. and they stank. There was an oval mirror hanging on one of the doors. It's where. deep in its throat. they would spend the morning in bed. _ At the end of the labyrinth was a sheer granite cliff." "So?" Mr. Just a little more time .

unimpressed. to explain. He's an angel. Her days are numbered." she said. and handed it to the girl. obediently. her mouth full. There was something deeply tribal about the people. Her voice said." said Richard. "I have . "Hello?" called Richard. The angel took the top off the crystal and poured an inch of the liquid inside it into a wine glass. that he had absolutely no idea." The marquis de Carabas looked up at him. bowed perfunctorily. "Aha! But first you shall drink the nice cup of tea . Positively astounding. He was hungry. normal life. Richard recognized them: Dagvard and Halvard." And then Door woke up completely. now you've got the key.

Her fingers explored the surface of the box. repeated over and over. "Let us hope that you don't have to use it. his coat was ripped. "You . drained of blood from many cuts." "That doesn't bother me. of lands and cities de Carabas had never heard of; a desk. . Now. Richard could hear breathing. The world smells of spice and dried mango. He edged it off the hook and pulled it up toward the top of the tunnel arch . And you've been wonderful. three hundred years before." said Richard. and Mr. He scratched his nose. resting it against the wall. But I wasn't lying." said Richard. Hello?" No. before hurrying forward. Richard followed the leather woman up some steps.

Yes. vividly colored. "My sides are splitting. Ordeal. Something in the quality of the darkness beyond his closed eyelids changed. You're welcome to come with us. His voice was soothing." She stopped. My name is Richard Mayhew. "She knows I don't come cheap." she whispered. Door stood at the top of the steps. where she would be safe." And she led him up onto the little stage. . I hope? Fine man." he said. Somewhere inside him something was screaming; but whatever it was. A wide. "What would you like in return?" The smith looked abashed. It did this reverently. "Her friends are my friends. he replied. He pointed at the marquis and shouted.

is there?" The warm wind began to blow. And he orders a drink. The world went dark." Richard did not doubt it. I hope it's not going to be bad luck for you or anything. "Circumlocution. which the Romans had encountered. Vandemar were dangling out of the door. "A restorative for the gentleman. Croup. It seemed utterly right._ _He was deep in the sewers. through London. . Vandemar tipped over the cart. leaving behind Jessica. and then we'd be late ." continued Door. Including the Lady Door's. "Anyway. "I'll take my payment from him. too. and Mr." "And you never will again.

A herald raised his bugle to his lips and played a tuneless blast." "See what?" He was standing on an empty. "How are you?" She went down into a crouch. They went up a gangplank. "Jessica?" "You're right. examined his palm. "It sounds better in rat." whispered Hunter." said Door. all right. "Let me go! She stole my paintbrush. He did not mind. with teeth that looked like an accident in a graveyard. but it hurts just as much as _this--_which is much harder . long time ago. Door stepped forward once more. Richard picked up his bag. _If it weren't for you. and painted with red and white and gold leaf. we're . fastidiously. " He paused." "You're leaving?" She nodded. Lord Rat-speaker waved his glass dagger admonishingly at Richard.

Nobody ever came to the Sewer Folk's stall immediately: but toward the end of the market they would come. Your guide was ._ she thought. "Good-bye. "Spit!" he said to Vandemar. Richard picked one up. Hello. just as a pool of mercury encounters and incorporates smaller beads of mercury. record companies. He looked at his ripped sleeve and his grazed hand and his torn trousers. rather obviously. realizing it was true as he said it. "Sorry?" said Richard. . and utter darkness. . odd. Keep it short. It hurt his finger. After that you have to go the long way down. And Islington was sucked through the door. Door looked at the writing on her scroll. It made Richard feel as if he were thirteen years old again." he said.

"_ _Richard was sure he had heard the name before." said Richard. Lamia edged her way to the front of the Velvets. and opened his eyes on nothing--nothing but darkness. Vandemar were dangling out of the door. took some fruit from the bowl. The marquis swept up the coins and the bones." stammered Richard. a bar of soap. Door-- keep away from it--" Islington caressed her cheek." said Jessica." The girl's face was crusted with dirt. He reached into the first box. Mr." he told the rat." said Richard." agreed Richard. roughly a thousand years later. The fog had begun to thin. curling a white forefinger. I happen to think. Richard got onto the train. "Just. Richard had taken the Tube to Tottenham Court Road and was now walking west down Oxford Street.

" whispered the marquis to Door. Richard collected the containers with the curry._ she says. She unfolded the money." he told her. "Alive-ish." asked Mr. Even the smell of piss here was the same as it had been in Pepys's time. He dropped his briefcase on his chair. Door stepped forward once more. " fulminated the earl. Don't look back. . . and a flare so bright it hurt. death is so final. "So who was he?" asked Clarence. Mister Croup. Someone stumbled into him. It licked its lips." "You can rely on me. stepping fastidiously around the heaps of moldering rubbish. It tasted utterly natural. Parliament was forced to recess early in 1858.

Richard stepped off the shaking platform. Or. then lay down and went to sleep.' " Mr. When they arrived at a crossroads. he replied. "I've just changed. Then. smiled. Old Bailey remembered when people had actually _lived_ here in the City. and he sneered at the world through rotten teeth. Door had no idea where any of the rooms of her house were."_ _Ingress had her own little watering can. "I don't think it could. He wondered what was on the other side of the door--the surface of a star. truly. and in front of him. He darted a hand into. and swayed back and forth. her dark eyes flashing. Not really. awkwardly. of course this felt familiar: it was how he had spent his weekends in the Jessica days. Then he dashed into the bedroom.

no . but of what he could not say." Richard looked around." "Safe. "Oh yes. It fills the space of the sewer: massive head down. . "No hard feelings. It didn't take a sign to tell you that; Richard. like a wind soughing across a lost forest." said Richard. And you agree to give me at least an hour's head start. circling him. Your Grace. can you just give me a sec? I'll be fine. was engaged in telling all his limbs to clutch the plank rigidly. So what is it that you want me to do this time? Theft? Arson?" Lear sounded resigned. Dunnikin was overcome by a presentiment of wealth and prosperity. "We're going to the British Museum. He was in his office. You're twenty-six. but Richard found himself placing one foot in front of the other. that journey. filled with Richard's stuff.

"This wine." Richard said nothing. The rats had found me. and it's all crazy. . "Why don't we just stay very quiet. And when the cab driver pointed out that it would almost be quicker to walk. and then she said. The marquis de Carabas was flattened against the side of the red granite cliff. "It must have died three hundred years ago. have some canapes . Vandemar chewed. down an old iron staircase. It was crystal cold and clear and tasted like diamonds and ice. too delighted. "Close the door. Door walked in the middle. too. and it hit Richard's face like a slap. You might have to make a statement or something. It washed itself. Paul's." Mr. sick.

. "Excuse me. and a huge variety of cleaning fluids." The train was coming into a station. " she trailed off. frustrated. Vandemar. its wings and hair on fire. was whole again. Huge waves were rising and crashing over the city; the night sky was rent with forks of white lightning from horizon to horizon; the rain fell in sheets. was the crowbar he had used in the fight with the dwarf. "You visited Earl's Court today. actually. He stood in front of Varney." Maybe he hadn't heard her properly. as he said it. Richard walked over to her. He pulled out his wallet. turning a stark. and the cloudless sky was transmuting from royal blue to a deep violet. from the tip of the blade to the end of the haft." Mr. He landed on his hands and feet in soft. however.

Jessica turned to the string quartet and asked them. A cuckoo. who had died of apoplexy and been buried with his handkerchief in his pocket." "I'm happy for you. at length. She walked over to Varney. Richard recognized the man as the Lord Rat-speaker. "Whew. in the gloaming. Croup." Varney. he asked." The marquis addressed her directly. ostentatiously examining the dead cocker spaniel. I would imagine. not having fingers._ thought Richard. Door tipped her head on one side and looked at him gravely." said the angel. I'd like to welcome all of you to the British Museum. very loudly. "He is. "It's great." it said.

The body beneath the face. but instead the smell quickly dissipated as he approached the floor of the sewer. I live here." Her skin was the color of burnt caramel. he assumed." Mr. feeling. beside the great black door. "No. curiously. Somebody was saying. He introduced himself as the previous tenant. The glaucous eyes gazed out at nothing at all. "They had lost my reservation. The kind that craps on Lord Nelson." she said._ who grew particularly large. lowered them into the clear water. She calls to him. White seagulls wheeled and called in the sky above them. now ." Old Bailey leaned over. loveless. I really appreciate everything you've done.

He felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. They went through the Egyptian rooms. "George and Adele Buchanan. Never a two of them alike. and he was discovering. The audience stared. "I did a bad thing. "Well." she said. "understand this: there are two Londons. Richard ran to catch up. which had the effect of making him look slightly helpless. hard. " _chink_ " . She half-pushed the rod back into the box. "I hope so. then rolled it back up. feeling. as much as any life makes sense. The security guards were directing the museum's guests to a hallway that seemed to be functioning as some kind of holding area. They put their bugles to their lips and performed a ragged. Croup sighed. and they did not look back. No.

Someone's teeth had been sharpened to points. Hunter moved about: sometimes she was behind them. with a fierce squeal from the rusted hinges. through the dark." he pointed out. On the bridge. kidnap her. "There." Old Bailey grinned. and he began to chuckle.They walked for hours in silence. 'We don't serve pieces of string here. Diversify. everything you hear. "How does this work?" Anaesthesia led Richard into a small park on the south side of the bridge. On weekends when they did not go to art galleries or to museums. child. "In full. It shattered with a satisfying crash. Richard sat on the platform for twenty minutes. Islington smiled at him. He wondered what kind of station this was: it seemed neither abandoned. The abbot could hear fingers against cloth and skin. He wants to know if he's met you afore.

in the furs of his robe. and then all set off together. "It's just a feather. and. and that it is almost beyond the human capacity for belief to accept how much museum cafeterias will brazenly charge for a slice of cake and a cup of tea. When Richard tried to talk to her. It was a work of astonishing delicacy. "You can search me. There was a lot of blood. "She's yours now. Somebody ought to watch where he's going. and he continued paring his nails._ Richard had stared at the glass-bound corpses in their stained suits and damaged dresses with horror: he hated himself for looking._ And then she thought. you figure they won't notice you're back?" sneered the marquis. joining them back together. lit by a sputtering gas-jet. when you're talking to Mister Stockton." said Richard. and her psychotic grand vizier. Mr. and had left them there on the ground to rot. where the blood stung like sweat. and even Door.

"Yes." "You don't have any choice. "Aha! But first you shall drink the nice cup of tea . "It's between one and a lot. "Any sign of the marquis yet?" he asked. "Knightsbridge. my fine friend. peering through the dim light." called the marquis. Mr. "Well. . "What about _plain_ mineral water? Bubbles aren't everybody's cup of tea. ornamented around the rim with what appeared to Richard to be sapphires. become more centered. his arm resting on the shoulder of a jester in shabby motley. Door turned to the gentleman behind them in the line. Gary put his hand into his pocket and produced a small plastic troll. and licked them. The table was piled high with evil-smelling foodstuffs. It sounded like a string quartet. picked a slice of raw carrot from Old Bailey's stew. "Door? Avenge us." he said to Richard.

and this gentleman is my brother. "on this fine and beautiful day. don't you?" Richard nodded. dear lady. and raised its head. Melanie. through the abandoned shower rooms." The friar poured some water from a battered metal jug into a battered metal cup and passed it to Richard. took some fruit from the bowl. . . and the fight was not as unequal as one might have imagined. He hurried to keep up. "This is his real domain. Color and light broke over Richard like a wave hitting the shore. whatever can have come over you. now only ten feet away. Very. "You know. He tried talking to a pretty fairhaired girl. Vandemar's chin. "It's like playing 'Spot the Pigeon' in Trafalgar Square. loaded onto people's backs. Well.

de Carabas. Stand behind me here. There is a loud click. "The key you obtained from the Black Friars." Gary sat a few desks down from Richard. "What do you do?" he asked. The door was built of polished black flint set into a silver base that had tarnished. "Time to go back. where it sat." he said. obviously . Thirsty. "Have no fear. Richard sighed. "I wondered. heading for the tiny figure of Mr. Richard walked over to her. 'Behave. like a child. killing you. "it's _The Masque of the Red Death_ all over again. increasingly less likely." said the marquis. like a ghastly Guy Fawkes.

Ross had no other resemblance to a canary." she said. tongues pierced. and Richard slid out of her head. flashlights. " and the boot rammed into Richard's side like a cannonball. "Shit. Mr." said Jessica. . though. watching him; and Richard approached him. Is that not so? With our pretty clothes. and shaking his head dolorously at each of them. It was like all his dreams. and 78s). wheezing laugh. Underpants."_ said Hunter." Hunter looked ill at ease. too. aren't you?" Croup glared at her. We've certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons now." "Get off the bloody phone.

several bottles of shampoo. "Just make him go. "Hello. " . "Hss. clutching a long strip of black material. She giggled. He was shaven-headed." she said." Richard hesitated; and then. "What. The marquis and Door walked together. He felt it go down and prepared himself to try to keep it from coming back up again. And even then. Crows and blackbirds and even occasional seagulls. At the gap. He wondered. "Stand clear of the doors. like one of the Black Friars' habits. They wore black suits. He glances at his hand. . And the Floating Market. something else.