bred. Broken wires trailed from the back of it.

" she said
" she said. _  Richard realized. apologized. threw back his bullet head and howled like a wolf. It blinked its pearl gray eyes. The room was dark. She wanted to stop."  Door kneed him. a cat skull. "You stupid bugger. . repeatedly. please. but Richard found himself placing one foot in front of the other. too." The rat-girl preened. like an aged cat stumbling on a mouse. its red eyes bright and peering through the darkness. The thin girl tugged at his elbow. with surprise. Who put it away? Who could have hidden it?_ But he is receding from her. and candles. It was not flattering. ." he said. twice.

 He made the statue of the Beast vanish inside his coat once more." There was a flutter of wings. it was getting very cold. .  "Not at all. and he winked at her. We've just got to get into the British Museum." They had reached a junction: a place where three tunnels came together. the Lady Door." he said as he leaned in closer to Richard.  "I do.  They were outside. then. and her jet black hair. accusingly."  And Jessica nodded. "I'm goin'. He was the chief of the Sewer Folk." she said.  There was a ripple in the water. and walk around at night. and chained the manacles securely to the pillars beside Richard. .  "Jess?" he said. Mister Vandemar. Croup sat down at the base of Mr.

 until he noticed that Jessica was about as English as it was possible for any one person to be. Since then it has been moored on the south bank of the Thames. we got to be sort of friends. Vandemar were coming out of the bakery. in the market. Vandemar showed them his teeth. they look nothing at all alike. I don't know. The chain snapped. . Hello. "Right. "Well . "What exactly is a bad penny anyway?" And then. in smaller letters:    DOWN STREET. as if unable to contain the rage inside. for a change. Just a little more time . crushed it between finger and thumb. So he said nothing.  But there was nobody there. then. grimoires. until. with Jessica's voice. and that made him bold.

 The British Museum was on the other side of some high. Vandemar stepped out from behind a pillar. Then. so you'd better--" The pigeon interrupted her with a rather impatient-sounding burble. dangling uselessly from a rusted hinge on the side of the gate. .  "Well. "That wasn't that bad. They cleaned out the cut--which was much less severe than Richard remembered it from the night before--and bandaged it up. glittering and darting through the ocean . This kind of grape. but she paid it no mind. and they were running down his cheeks. "Somewhere . if he had been shipwrecked on a rooftop instead of a desert island. "You are all very stupid people. "Mind the Gap. Underpants. and positioned it on the wall of the stairwell. Your Grace. and a well-hanged pair of dead. and put them away.  She shrugged. Finally. Vandemar were coming out of the bakery. Richard caught his breath.

 On the tray was a small glass. and show him back to his bed. and he has an easy smile. and. It was the candle flame. that he'd hear warmth in her voice.  "I do. "I'm not really here."  "Are you all right?" asked Gary. or take."  Richard wondered vaguely if this was one of Gary's jokes. why do I have to do all this. which grumbled and fidgeted in his grasp and pecked ineffectively at his fingers. who commenced to go through the pockets. Richard crossed the road and stared into the window of the Vintage Magazine Shop." de Carabas told the jester.  "Who the hell do you think it was?"  Mr. a fiancee.  A man scuttled toward them. She was looking paler than usual. "She's your bodyguard. "I want to know how to get my life back. but he could tell. "It's not rubbish. wondering how to make the guards let Richard go. "Help me.

_ thought Richard. holding his hand in hers. for emphasis. and the Sewer Folk began to ready themselves for the market." said Old Bailey. _One must always maintain parity."  "And we'll hurt you.  With each step they took the light of the candle became dimmer. while."  "There aren't. The wolfhound got up. It was diaphanous. .  "Where's the next Floating Market?" asked Door. . . He was not entirely sure what happened after that: only that the world swung out from under him." Then he turned to Old Bailey. comprehension dawning slowly: yes. . to Berwick Street.  Clarence was talking to someone on his portable phone." he said. "Thank you all. _Yes. "no time.

 clasping the plank. then _"Phew. aren't I?"  "Yes. . um."  A gentle smile. "I _was_ in a fi . you mean?" he asked. Got it?"  "But--"  "Most important of all: no buts. Well.  When dawn broke. at night. to Richard. He tossed the hammer in the air and caught it by the handle. All evidence that it had ever been there was vanishing: stalls were being taken apart. Or Stockton. left it; the ones who stayed wrapped cloths doused in carbolic around their faces and tried not to breathe through their noses. at the confluence of many of the churning foamy waters. "We're fine for champagne? Yes?" The head waiter pointed to the crate of champagne beneath the table. the man who had knocked Richard over on the bridge. Richard started away from them.  "Yes. on the top of his booth." he said. and this was going too far. real pain.

" corrected Lamia. Her voice was stentorian. The moment began to transmute." said the man. Take this particular Friday. "My dear young lady. if she lives . but then. London touched the town of Southwark directly across the river; and it continued to grow." She stopped. she looked at Richard. Only you. and said he did not care. and already she is forgetting. idly and conversationally. It was a disturbing giggle. "Why should it be bad luck?"  "Do you know who the rat-speakers are?"  "Of course." said Hunter. barefoot. and emptied." he said. Our last commission before this was the torturing to death of an entire monastery in sixteenth-century Tuscany. Her short hair was filthy. Richard was blinded by the sudden light. "Anyway. This other lady brought me the rest of the way here.

 She was standing just behind him. "Now. It wasn't Jessica. "Where's the market?" asked the marquis. who counted himself among the sartorially dyslexic. His mouth tasted like several small animals had been using it as a rest room. and then he was lying. But that's the best you could hope for. he assumed. and walked away from the man. Mr. Richard. staggered through the connecting door from the next compartment." said Richard. went into his bedroom. so that's where that went. On the answering machine. down on the tracks. or rather of how the Tower of Babel might have looked were it inside out. It was just like her mother's. "Are we in the British Museum?" he asked."  "So?" Mr. just leave it. .  The marquis gestured for Hunter to stop." he said.

  "In the old days. I don't actually know many people from this world. then?" The woman told him. he can feel only pain_ . Door looked at the writing on her scroll. The light had been glinting from a long bronze spear. nervously."  "The subject has never come up. whom even as we speak is wandering the streets of London unloved and uncared-for."  "But you have to. I said. "I'm going to go home. then?"  "I'm sorry. "is not happening." said Door. And as she fell beneath its monstrous weight." said the marquis.  What Richard had taken for a pile of rags unfolded. and said nothing. mirrored structure in the City of London.  Richard handed the man his card. Vandemar stopped the shopping cart. that was his name--stood beside him. blah blah blah. . "It was a nightmare.

" The door opened. And then. . "Stop that. Richard heard a baby begin to cry. of rot and the dark. neither happy nor sad. Vandemar. please. "I'm not really brave. as she fell against the wall. "It's a trap. revolt him."  "But--"  The rat squeaked again. "I'm Door. Please. He had the strange feeling that if he looked down at his fingers he would be able to see the wine glowing through them. When he makes a joke. "Now.  "If you're part of London Below. His heart was pounding and shuddering in his chest.  "Ah well. the Victorious. He had never known how brightly a single candle could burn." said Door. greasy hair.

  "Hammersmith."  "Don't exaggerate. Mister Mayhew. it was like I didn't exist anymore. once you get to know her. Richard. "Oh. But events run in packs .  The security guards were directing the museum's guests to a hallway that seemed to be functioning as some kind of holding area. where do all you taxi drivers live anyway? And why don't any of you live near me? The trick is to get in first. Door." said Richard flatly. "I slipped it back into your pocket at the last market.  He wondered how normal London--_his_ London--would look to an alien. She was dressed in a variety of clothes thrown over each other: odd clothes. and they stank. as if he were going to say something. though . somewhat unshaven gate-crasher." she said. at the main gate. "You wouldn't believe what it was like getting here. briefcase swinging. "I am currently too overjoyed. Mister Vandemar. slowly.

 my fine friend. down the long gangplank.  The Fop With No Name stumbled. ignored them. Joel Peter Witkin angels. I'd gone off exploring for a few days . and fled. But nobody did; and his bed was another life away. too deeply. _Anaesthesia will take him. "She's bleeding. "You traitorous bitch.  "This way. plummeting figure. the old wooden table.  Door blinked at her. they flickered into flame." said Richard. and he could hear water dripping. We can go from here to any room in the House. One night in December the beast runned away. . as clearly and as certainly as if he had been watching it on the big screen at the Odeon. "right now. a tiny flame flickered and flared.  Hunter thought about this for a moment.

 Richard watched him through the wire mesh. united both by the Market Truce and by a mutual desire to pitch their own stalls as far as possible from the Sewer Folk's stall." muttered Mr. . We get three answers too.  "I do." said the marquis.  "Down. our chief executive and chairman of the board. picked a slice of raw carrot from Old Bailey's stew. Then. "You killed the Beast. She stared at him as he came in. on the open area of floor beneath Harrods' fish sculpture." It held up its glass. older version of the girl. The girl stared out at the rather ordinary view from Richard's window. caught her in the upper arm.  "How are you. Vandemar ignored Richard and Hunter entirely. he could just proceed dreamlike. Trees. "Only for tonight. and even now the sidewalks were packed with shoppers and tourists. . I'll meet you at the next market.

 of course; but then it could have bled on him. licked it. Mister Vandemar. ."  "And what payment would your kind demand?" asked Hunter." said Mr._  _He was deep in the sewers. darling. Hammersmith dipped the rose into a bucket of cold water beside the anvil: it hissed and steamed. Vandemar  "From Heaven?" called Richard. He knows it is there. Vandemar. "One of those." Clarence kept saying to the guards." he called out to the night and the City. perhaps the blade was too sharp to hurt."  The marquis nodded. The man had his hand inside the woman's sweater and was moving it around enthusiastically. A hint of a smile played at the corner of Hunter's perfect lips. Someone was well over seven feet tall. who had announced their intention of turning the hospital into an unparalleled block of unique luxury-living accommodations.  _He was a small child. It was as if he could not entirely trust himself. gently puzzled.  "You've been sold out. .

 He sat there. and he stepped out of frame. "No. Lear moved his hand away. reasonably. then you must be very careful as you get off the train. "Isn't that odd?"  "Everything's odd. entranced and amazed. "We have no intention of violating their market truce. Vandemar walked over. Then.  Then he heard distant voices. Richard found Jessica's parents deeply intimidating. I mean. loudly."  The starlings made polite noises. intent upon examining her nails. But she stopped. puzzled and amused. Croup. "You. he unscrewed the top of the bottle and dabbed the tiniest amount on his wrist. 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. and it charged once more. going up. more to it than that.

 It did not seem very likely.  "Thanks."  "I thought that they hadn't spoken to each other for." he explained.  "Yes?" she said. It was as if he could not entirely trust himself. talking to himself. astonished. went off into the distant dark. . one of them mooning. having it around.  Sylvia came into his office one Friday afternoon. My name is Richard Mayhew. The whole thing was rather larger than a wide-screen television. "I've never crossed the bridge before." For a moment he thought she was about to hit him. It touched the table. Richard sat down on the pavement. impossible to get rid of. For a moment. summoning Brother Fuliginous. Her wasp-waisted majordomo. more reluctantly. Vandemar's voice was saying. with the black dress and the foxglove eyes.

 _  Richard realized. Her foxglove eyes flashed. between her spasms of laughter."  Richard hesitated. Then he fumbled in an inner pocket. George. tawny hair. ." Mr. not to mention the wandering lumps of congealed toothpaste on the bathroom sink: no. obsequiously. ." called the marquis. "Now we're getting greedy. "No. but it was open. "Well.  "Right." said Gary. Then he raised his hand and snapped it. _"London Transport would like to apologize for the delay. She said. this was. -"It must be wonderful to have so much warmth." said Hunter. And I don't know where she is.

 was real. He wasn't sure if it was a coat. then he let his gaze wander over the surface of the marsh. "We'd better get a move on. "One of those. at Ma Maison Italiano. as loudly as she possibly could. as sedate.  Melanie looked at Richard. in Jessica's brass bed with the crisp white linen sheets (for Jessica's parents had told her that down comforters were decadent)--in the darkness.  "Richard!" said Door. its approach heralded by a gust of warm wind. She was spent. stepped into the elevator. of course."  Gary was sitting on the bench. "It is an honor finally to meet you and your companion. "Oh yes. He caught a black taxi. three times. ." said Richard. warily. The two friars began to walk down the corridor. should use the elevator. Then he rapped.

 stumbling only a little from time to time." she said. inlaid with ivory and mother-of-pearl. _Into the Valley of Death. . . We should butcher the bitch. "Before Hunter agreed to work for you. and began. . "No." And then she laughed. holding on for dear life.  "Well. to the cellars beneath the hospital.  The little gray man blinked shortsightedly at Richard as Richard grabbed him. What'll I get?"  "I don't have any money. and musk.  And Islington woke." A ratcheting whirr came from deep in the guts of the machine." said Door. then shrugged. reddish purple bruise appeared on his cheek. I'm . ." And then.

 now. Fingers. The man-without-a-camel-hair-coat had. Mr. and then he looked at her. Vandemar's hand on its way. In Harvey Nichols's men's fashion department she would pick out for him the kinds of clothes she thought that he should wear--and he wore them. . "I've never crossed the bridge before. expecting the driver at least to open the door enough for him to free his sleeve. He climbed to his feet. through the labyrinth. She tasted blood in her mouth and spat scarlet on the mud. he snored. "Hello boys. "How are you?" She went down into a crouch." he said."  The air was close. with a sharp _squee. that had taken her to him. "Excuse me. But yes. obsequiously. Her eyes were open." she said. almost imperceptibly.

 Hunter's hand was on his arm. toward the food stalls. "I assume that the labyrinth and the Beast are there to discourage visitors. and it had a pronounced tendency to pull to the left. "He's our boss. "There's a traitor in your nest. Portico turned his head to look offscreen. you say?"  Lamia smiled with plum-colored lips. "Not bad at all._ thought Richard. Door said." she said. as if she were committing it to memory. so they walked back through Trafalgar Square. and Richard always said thank you. it charged at him. She was looking paler than usual." he said. If you can survive for the next day or two." said Mr. laugh." said Richard. Could it be ready for Wednesday?"  "Of course.  "Don't hurt me. and flickered in the thin air. No matter how many times he did it.

 "Enough!"  The woman looked up. . But I mostly just want to understand what happened. unimpressed was his default state. Grass grew up through the springs.  "Leave us alone." said Mr. somebody with a camera isn't about to leap out from behind a screen or something and tell me I'm on _Candid Camera_?"  "I sincerely hope not. as if it were caressing her. sire. . And then he said. Richard. They were not blue. They were on the roof of an old building. "It _is_ British Museum Station. there was a small flurry of activity in Clarence's corner of the room. stroking the side of his face. elfin face frowning. clutching his bag. not so very long ago. "Miss Whiskers says that if there's anything you've got to say to her. "That's a simple answer. The jester opened his mouth. Croup and Mr.  After a while.

 twisting it as he did so with implements Richard assumed. somewhere far above them. "Are you ready?"  He nodded. He pointed to a place on the platform. It hit him. and what happened next. Richard caught his breath. "Spoil your day. "I'm going to go home. Peepers and tarriwags.  The feather-wrapped roundness of Old Bailey stepped out of the gloom. Its face was pale and wise. And then he yawned hugely. Father and Uncle. "we cannot claim that felicity. Richard squeezed her hand. or silk scarves. then he would stand at the window. "The MD wants a meeting in his office in twenty minutes to discuss the Wandsworth report. He picked it up and passed it to Mr."  There was a moment of utter silence." said Door. "Frankly. "My lady. her brother. "I can hear music.

 at de Carabas. Richard Mayhew. and then she relented. Have you anything to bind it with?"  Old Bailey fumbled in his pockets and pulled out a grubby length of cloth. It smelled like drains at the top of the sewer--a dead. "Many secrets find their way down to me. "You visited Earl's Court today. "I will not stand for it. then. On the board up there. coldly. Croup.   . "Do you believe him?"  They turned back down the stairs. "Come on. wondering whether the mess on his shirt (his best shirt. You do have bandages. The people in the dinner jackets they had lined up with. He thrust a photocopied sheet into Richard's hands."  Mr. thought Richard.  "But . some water. and his knees buckled. but it was also covered with shoes--kicking the coins. "What did the little girl say.

 "and her companions.  "You. And I've sort of got to like having you around. . "Bring me the Warrior's trousers. There was a brass plate on it. Richard noticed Old Bailey. the candles. as clearly and as certainly as if he had been watching it on the big screen at the Odeon.  "He was. it said.  "I hope so. being played a dozen different ways on a score of different instruments. "Your Grace. Islington was looking down on everything from far above. He zipped the bag up. and drank. and he had woven it into the fabric of the House Without Doors." said Richard. . "Well. Mr. and although she can hear his voice in the distance. Tis not a man. born and bred. Broken wires trailed from the back of it.