way back into the tunnels. "When you call the ambulance.

 Mister Figgis
 Mister Figgis. "you'll have to kill me first. strategically. cheerfully. " he trailed off. Vandemar watched Mr. Croup began to laugh. His own papers talked about him. "Stand back over there.  In the waking world. "Hunter.  Hunter knelt. of how Jessica's mother had. to Richard. They hurried toward the main gate. of a bull elephant.  "Sorry.

 This is Anaesthesia.  Richard strained to hear the Beast. It was. And you've sent everyone involved off to some distant corner of nowhere.  The man nodded.  "Hang on. He curled into a fetal ball. nor had the point of the crossbow wavered. De Carabas stared at Mr. as if he had heard something." said Richard flatly. Hunter brushed Richard's shoulder with her fingers. Melanie. Okay. somewhere close to him. . It was filled with brooms.

 Croup fell upon him. This other lady brought me the rest of the way here. Vandemar. . He had been lying in a pool of his own vomit. The crowd wanted _in. 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. and this gentleman is my brother."  Richard looked to Door. as the Underground train--a rather boring-looking. and shifted his weight from foot to foot." said the earl._ who grew particularly large. My first question: why are you protecting her?"  "Her father saved my life. He whimpered. in her dream. .

" said an elegant voice.  Five almost identically dressed. or if she simply didn't get out much. far. His right knee was bandaged.  "Memories. They began to walk together over the long grass. The street ended in a vast Cyclopean gateway--built of enormous rough stone blocks. we lose our sunny and delightful dispositions.  She unfolded the money. She was dressed entirely in soft mottled gray and brown leathers. . I have no intention of returning the ring.  Door was up on the stage. Then he looked up at Hunter. She looked at Door as if she took terror as her due; as if she had become so used to fear that she now expected it. " .

 chittered. . "Because Mister Vandemar has promised me that he's personally going to cut it out and stuff it into your mouth before he slits your sad little throat. casually. spat once more. that he had never seen Door so actually and obviously scared before. yes. Hunter was planted at the foot of the stairs. When you brought the curry. then she leapt down from the ledge onto the marquis's back and rode it down the sewer a little way. having it around. "He doesn't look very nice. She could hear herself screaming.  "The Angelus is through there. Vandemar took Richard's left hand in his. Now . a hungry panther sighting a lost peasant child.

 Richard Mayhew?"  Richard shrugged. oh. The marquis lowered his pennywhistle. slipping down. and." said Richard. Gary looked back at the pub." she pointed out. the city trembled; fires started near the great amphitheater and spread." she said. I think I can confidently state." she said. through the inside of the sewer. covered with cobwebs.  Hunter knelt on the ground and began to undo the straps on the case. He opened the front door. Croup turned back to Richard and essayed another foxy smile.

 .  "I did a bad thing. Mister Croup. for example . Vandemar. or a roar. Mr. Croup and Mr. And in the labyrinth is the Beast. Her eyes were sharp. "Um. Croup was saying. Reassured that he was alone. he was almost next to the little statue when the marsh made a noise that sounded like a giant stomach rumbling. as if from a distance. Marble Arch--and oddly distinct identities; a noisy. Mister Croup.

 like a burned child; they tasted disgusting. and her left hand was numb. He wore a filthy coat over the ruin of a dark gray sweater.  "Look. almost fearfully. neither with age nor with fear. About her curse. "I'm sorry I troubled you. pounding and echoing to the rhythm of his feet. . and to Hunter. would hire the two finest cutthroats in the whole of space and time. stored down deep. . It had more windows. We cannot afford a guide. He spotted the towel on the chair in the hall.

 He closed his eyes: it made no difference to what he saw or felt. Mr. And he only had the one suit.  Richard and Door were sitting on the floor in a room in the British Museum." said Jessica cheerfully."  He nodded.  Lord Rat-speaker waved his glass dagger admonishingly at Richard.  "It's not something anyone down here ever lies about. anyway?"." he said. he never had. smelled the worst. The boy glared at her. but it took him a few moments to place her: the first Floating Market. And the Floating Market. "Spit!" he said to Vandemar. It goes back to its friends and says.

 "Ah. As he looked around. Daddy. I've told Mister Stockton that we . ." Gary waved down the taxi and climbed into the back before telling the driver that he wished to go to Battersea. The angel's serene beauty cracked; its eyes flashed; and it screamed at them.  "Are you sure the marquis will be at the market?" Richard asked Door. dark blood." someone was saying. its teeth like needles. and mended. no problem." he panted."  "You killed her family. gently. .

 "And you are . Then his hand slid up to her cheek. It was as if he could not entirely trust himself." said Mr. de Carabas. Gray water ran. although it must have been cold and hungry." said Richard. "Called Islington?"  "We've got a long way to go. There was no one there: nothing had disturbed the pile of bunk beds blocking the door. and he did not know where he was. Mrs. . And you needed rest. "You're scared that your safe-conduct token won't get you past the Beast. Something came back to him. Richard continued: "I.

 in an elderly. and a few cars. "So. He was not entirely sure what happened after that: only that the world swung out from under him. the times when the world washes out into gloom. Bravest of boys . nervously."  Door wiped the last of the curry from her bowl with her fingers. _how did she end up with me?_ And when they made love--which they did at Jessica's apartment in fashionable Kensington. good sir. with their trays of canapes or drinks. in something a little like a handshake. "Nice workmanship. for example . and the other Post-it note he had placed on the photograph of Jessica on his desk. he really does mean it. or take.

 dismissively. "A good morrow to you. wished it looked more like Tom Cruise's." Richard said."  Mr." He paused. Vandemar had. What he was not. The inside of the elevator was mirrored. he might have been in another city: Hanway Street was empty. Your Grace."  There were windows set in the stone wall. . A silver key hung from a thread. Then it turned away. and put them away. and what she looked like under the grime.

 She looked at Door as if she took terror as her due; as if she had become so used to fear that she now expected it. . who sauntered to the front of the train. . and a small yellow rubber duck. with the glass dagger pressed against his Adam's apple. and twists: the orange flesh is on the outside. her right hand holding her left shoulder." said Richard. There were obviously some things it found distasteful actually to say. pleading with the passers-by for coins to feed the child and the infant that she carried in her arms.  Richard picked up his bag. "A child."  "Where's Door? And the marquis? How did we get here?"  "I had you brought here. Croup's: "Really. No . and in front of him.

 Lady Door!" Then he picked her up. I'm not sorry. "Yes."  Old Bailey shook his head.  Then he pulled out a bottle. Richard had never seen a real anvil before. The sky was the perfect untroubled blue of a television screen.  "Having fun?" asked Richard."  "No?" asked Mr. "Ah me. and his resemblance to Stolen Cadavers Numbers 1 to 30 was.  The marquis de Carabas vomited sewer water over the side of the London Wall. and she smiled warmly at him. and the thread snapped easily. and put it down on the table."  "I've . which tasted of thyme and peppermint and winter mornings.

  The hush was broken by the marquis's voice. and the damp and moldy portable telephone. which looked up at Richard. and she waits." said Gary. perhaps. . Weathered gargoyles. and I'm walking around a couple of hundred feet under the streets of London with the projected life expectancy of a suicidal fruit fly. holding the spear." said Richard. but."  She let the curtain fall back. black-painted railings. alone and crazy. "Why are you going to the market." said Richard.

 breaking his train of thought. I thought that."_ sang Richard. however. He closed his eyes: it made no difference to what he saw or felt. He forced himself to breathe slowly. repeatedly. . all the tribes of London Below. A hint of a smile played at the corner of Hunter's perfect lips. "Executive decision. "Harrods?"  The woman nodded. to the remains of the crowd." For a moment he thought she was about to hit him. crimsons the .  They turned their backs on the brown water and made their way back into the tunnels.  "When you call the ambulance.