to Door and unlocked the right-hand manacle.

 The people in the dinner jackets they had lined up with
 The people in the dinner jackets they had lined up with. Croup touched the mirror with one grimy hand. going up. Is it?" She looked around the office._  Richard did not believe in angels. there's one rat that won't be telling any more tales.  Mr." she said. to keep anyone from stealing them while she slept. Vandemar hawked a mouthful of phlegm from the back of his throat and spat it neatly onto the back of the handbill. he unscrewed the top of the bottle and dabbed the tiniest amount on his wrist. Vandemar's voice was a night wind blowing over a desert of bones. I mean. Then he and Mr. We were going to be married. "Mind the Gap. and a purple-white blossom of pain opened up in his shoulder. a sodden packet of cigarettes. in 1858. and suffered from complete dental breakdown. What about getting me back home?"  The marquis raised an eyebrow. a fiancee. sniffing the air. or silk scarves. and kept on dropping. I don't know.

 utterly hairless face. The angel walked to it. A couple of weeks ago. before it was even completed. We want to hurt you both.  "How do you know?"  "I know. I am the Angel Islington.  Again. enthusiastically." _You can say that again. displaying the thirty most interesting results of his depredations in glass cases. Croup.  _This aye night. The face swam in and out of focus. Croup. "I owe no man fealty. There was still an hour until dawn. and it pauses for a hundred years. . "Security arrangements. Still. blinking at the cold daylight. "Get down into the mud and look. The largest of them. and she was breaking stuff. after all.

 thumbed it open. All dead. " ." it pleaded. "ah. He wiped the last of Hunter's blood off her knife. or silk scarves. "Is this real? Not some kind of horrible joke? I mean. real or feigned." She let go of his sleeve."  Gary smiled. "Are you . "Was I really lucky? Or did you set me up?"  The marquis looked almost offended. although she knows that. gently.  Halvard. on otherwise sensible weekends. and vast. He looked up: a huge man." said Door. His passport. "I haven't got a circumlo . and the rest of the Sewer Folk. There was a short row of black buttons on the wall of the elevator." said Door. "Mistakes do happen.

" He looked at his fingertips. I'm not cheap. she probably won't even notice you. I think. anywhere . unmistakably. The bit with the trains. and. "Did you bring back her body?"  The abbot shook his head." said the marquis de Carabas. he ties himself around the middle and he pulls the end of him all out. Vandemar. hoarsely and honestly. somewhere behind the eyeballs."  Richard wondered if he should kiss her. "You'll laugh at me. and did not look back. Croup would kneel and find the nearest spot of blood. and one late office worker." said Mr. incongruously. talking to people who weren't there . Someone stepped out and stood swaying for one long terrible moment. "Have you ever got everything you ever wanted? And then realized it wasn't what you wanted at all?"  "Can't say that I have. he paused. .

 very fast. had flooded the room with radiance.  Door was chained up. "Do you like it?" she asked. Then he flexed his fingers. .  "Happens? In what way?" asked Door." said Richard. Croup shook his head: _not yet. hesitantly. you wish. It arrived at the platform. and depressed. and then she turned it in the lock. though."  She walked up a couple of steps. I was deeply saddened by his death. Croup clambered down from his plinth. when she got a moment: someone to go to galleries with on the weekends." The old man stood up and addressed the empty car." said the abbot. "We fixed it. Vandemar swallowed the contents of his mouth and wiped his lips on his sleeve. a slight note of desperation creeping into his voice. ascetic man. "Nah.

  _Auditioning?_ thought Richard. desperately. The crimson flame cast huge shadows on the tunnel walls." he said. waiting to have their teeth pulled or filled by a young man who seemed to be having altogether too good a time; a bent old man selling unlikely things that might have been hats and might have been modern art; something that looked very much like a portable shower facility; even a blacksmith's . "This just says it's got a picture of an angel on it. and rheumy. leaned forward. There was a large brass horn coming out of the side--the kind you could find on an antique gramophone. Her eyes opened. quietly. begun to turn black from the soot and the filth in the smoky London air and now.  "I did a bad thing. are we?" They walked through the empty museum corridors. and began to play an odd. motorized. to suck air back into his lungs. and Mr. I think. using a vivid blue rubber band that Richard had previously used to keep his electricity bills all in one place." she said. who held it up between finger and thumb. actually. and vanished into the sewers. He wondered how long the corpses had been there. Croup smiled like a snake with a crescent moon stuck in its mouth.

 "Bring me the Warrior's trousers. closed his eyes.  "The Bridge isn't very far now. and might have been regret. For a moment. who. been dragooned into his local amateur dramatic society.  She walked over to Varney." he replied."  Mr. "Wait. "That's it! Richard. to the marquis. in the untroubled tone of voice of one whose hangover had left him and who knew that. "Do we know each other?" The rat made no kind of response that Richard was able to perceive. "Richard Mayhew. he snored. into the marquis's face. like Blackfriars: instead it was a ghost-station. It'll be back. threw back his bullet head and howled like a wolf. and tugged and pulled hard at a metal grille set in the wall. "Nah. briefly.  Door began to walk up the next flight of steps. Mister Vandemar.

 Mister Croup. He was a bit of a connoisseur of skies.  _The elevator?_  Something clanked.  "We have lost the key. "that is a very fetching patch. perhaps one day you'd give it back to me. playing the pennywhistle." said the abbot. and I'll probably have to get a new telephone--"  "Temple and Arch.  "I know." he said. taking in everything. going about the business of their lives." said Hunter." said Richard. isn't it?"  "Is it?" asked Richard. and his eyes stung. He got to the Stockton building in ten minutes. Mr. Across the street. Humming high and humming low. all your family. picking his words with care."  Hunter had been watching this conversation. leaving behind Jessica. we'll have to call him the _late_ marquis de Carabas.

 and then he said. toy cars. it seemed to Richard that that bench was one of the most desirable objects he had ever seen. I AM 11. Hello?"  No. But I suppose you were going to refuse to tell me. And as for booking a table . Asked the question he had not dared to voice until this moment. But we can. A flung fifty-pence coin opened Lear's cheek. simply walked. proudly. Croup's head. His eyes were open wide and sightless. "I claim nothing. Please.  Richard could feel the train beginning to slow. several chairs. in its dream. a tiny municipality. "we're under Market Truce.  "No-no. He stopped laughing a moment later.  NIGHTINGALE LANE  said the old signs on the wall. somewhere beyond Greenwich. something's either there or it's not.

 and the cloudless sky was transmuting from royal blue to a deep violet. "Aha! But first you shall drink the nice cup of tea . He fumbled in his back pocket. "There's nothing that _feels_ like the Angelus. "Wait. "I must beg to differ. "When people say that on films. A hundred eyes turned. So imaginative. she pulled back. "Just teasing. and why she was living on the streets and--  "What's your name?" she asked. the phone did not ring . she began to haul herself to her feet. and Jessica came in. in the lead. blithe." said Richard. haloes. a cunning strategist. His laughter echoed down the tunnels. Beans." she said. cheerfully. Isn't it?"  She shook her head. whatever can have come over you.

 bloody girl. Need to be an opener to use it. in a low voice. Hunting. to Richard. Iliaster? Talk-talk-talk. Richard said. guiltily. The room was small. "You're certain he kept a journal?" he pressed." he said. I . She had nowhere to go. cold. And I am so rarely wrong. chittered."  "Give us time enough. . bounded by a high brick wall.  The Fop With No Name smirked outrageously. The expression on Jessica's face morphed from one of horror to one of charmed delight. a fiancee. and the women. and he took care to walk. Oh thank God. "You keep it.

 Vandemar. .  She began to shout. It was some kind of boar." he called. "Said to be quiet. "Hah. "Do I Hell." said Mr. the person he was talking to ignored him utterly.  "I didn't have anywhere to go. I can hide her until then."  "I'll take you wherever you want to go. like a tiny child deprived of a favorite toy. its flanks steaming. I'm a very busy man. Then she giggled again. by way of apology." said Richard. . that I owe you a favor. burning. yellow and black and brown. warily. and a friend to me. Of course.

 It's you. REWARD PAYED. Croup began to walk down the hall. too. cheerfully. cradling her in his arms."  "I won't. Vandemar. while you sleep. "Might we see your invitation?" said another. and through dung of various kinds. out of whatever he could find. and flayed. Her arm was cold. but I haven't forgotten. Rest in Peace. "we weren't in any real danger . "Temple and Arch. Where is Islington?"  Door shrugged. Old Bailey scratched his nose. And . the rat who brought us the marquis's message--"  "Master Longtail. Yes. Why doesn't he make up his mind?"  Mr. was whole again. "It's not something I think about much.

 for silence. the previous winter.  "You really claim to be an angel?" Richard asked. and he woke up the rest of the way. All evidence that it had ever been there was vanishing: stalls were being taken apart. not having fingers. "I'm afraid we don't have any redeeming features. "All right. staring in the way children stare. "There's nothing to be sorry about." said Door. "You can open your eyes now. perhaps. the London Wall."  The marquis reached his hand under his poncho blanket and produced the little obsidian statue he had taken from Door's father's study. to his enormous relief. to Berwick Street. When he tried to talk to Anaesthesia about the movements. the blade having first hit and penetrated the back of Mr."  The abbot sighed. "Door? Avenge us. His teeth ground the china to a fine powder. elfin face.  And Islington was sucked through the door." he said. Mister Croup.

 "So what's your point?" asked Door." said Richard. She just stared at her father's image. on top of some neatly folded jeans. Richard. and they slipped toward him almost silently. He hurried to keep up. "  "Do it. "Hello. and she began to back away. She needed de Carabas--she couldn't afford to drive him away-- but she had reached her limit. . They reached another door set in a wall. he looked around the bathroom for a towel. making Richard squint and stagger. with spidery black handwriting on it. "Where is she?" he asked. unless you do something stupid. hiccuping and sobbing."  "Oh . How are you?"  She smiled. Bye. made their home. then stretched his rouged lips wide. helpfully. and her hip.

 and the girl had been appropriately grateful. following the winding stone road downwards. She just stared at her father's image. You are.  He could feel the ice on his lips. Then he opened it and said. rubber tires. A smaller brown female chittered back. "Where are we?" Richard whispered. From somewhere he could hear the gentle splash of water: a fountain. unimpressed was his default state. managed to flag down the cab again before it made it into the main road and so got his briefcase back. a little more anxiously than he intended to. "Please?"  The man stared at him. Sometimes he thought he could see movement in far corners of the vaults. Not yet. until he was almost on the train--he had one arm inside--when the doors began to hiss closed." explained Old Bailey.  "We were looking for you. left into Hanway Place.  A handful of coins chinked onto Lear's coat. guileless: the smile of a man selling you a used Bible. is he. like the maddened growling of a thousand enraged beasts. aimed at her chest. threw back her head.

 We're fine. Hunter reached out her hand and pushed the end of the crossbow back down toward the floor. and to the rush of the water running past on its way to the pumping stations of East London. We're fine." he said. "  "Good. It did not seem very likely. The door hissed closed behind him. Mrs. Then she took a deep breath. which he was tossing down onto the flagstones in front of him. Hands. Old Bailey. At Door's touch. ."  "It was a pretty horrid part. as best he could. so bright as to be startling. and simply stared. then. And it's what I want. Doreen?"  She shook her head. "Look. as was her cellular phone. crudely tattooed."  Gary grimaced.

 padded down the length of the carriage. "Young man.  Anaesthesia blew out her candle. he would undress. Vandemar was trussing Door's arms. failing to meet."  "Lovely blood. "Sometimes they come back . and I'll come by day to your cavern. displaying the thirty most interesting results of his depredations in glass cases. and that scared Richard more than the simple fear of falling ever could. . It was wet and warm and slippery. without a word.  They walked over to it."  Mr. which he slammed. muddy Richard stared into the face of the clean.  He smiled." The marquis passed her a handkerchief. He was wearing jeans. . It is partly a maze. "Nothing to it. Could it be ready for Wednesday?"  "Of course. odd scientific instruments; there were maps on the walls.

 catlike. "I will walk by your side when you are in London Below._ thought Richard. barely turning her head. Adding. making all of his bruises complain violently. so they walked back through Trafalgar Square. was at an end. It'll be back. or scared enough. and a door opened in the side." The angel sipped its wine. had prepared him perfectly for a job in Securities. He had piled abandoned metal bunk beds in front of the only entrance."  It was her fault. There's London Above--that's where you lived--and then there's London Below--the Underside--inhabited by the people who fell through the cracks in the world. Jessica worked about halfway up a large crystalline. thickly cobwebbed. Good night. He jumped. Jessica tugged him into motion. with surprise." The angel sipped its wine. in the untroubled tone of voice of one whose hangover had left him and who knew that." she said." sobbed Lear.

 This system had more or less worked for many years. you are!" in a voice that hovered on the edge of tears. breathless."  "Take it."  A loud bang came from the gramophone horn. looking around as if they were themselves unsure what they were doing there.  "Pity. quickly. and almost instantly the ground floor of Harrods looked as usual. nervously. "Circumlocution."  Slowly. satisfied. and then he had slipped away. good old Portico . Mr. and her left hand was numb." he whispered. going up. was gone. "right now. Thank God. looking unfriendly. Don't do it. . It was as if it were dreaming with its eyes wide open.

 who was beautiful. distributing a few words of praise here. Door was chained up beside the door made of black flint and tarnished silver. as he always did. He put it on. the sun had recently set.  "I'm Door. an' I had to go and stay with my aunt. and a small panel in the side of the cabinet swung open. Croup examined the figurine minutely. Let's hope there are still a few taxis about.  HAVE A FATAL ACCIDENT TODAY. though. which he did not speak. He stood in front of Varney.  The marquis stepped between Richard and Door." she said. "I'll complain to the council.  "Belfast. he was. looking at Richard disdainfully. "You're dead. Vandemar's push." said Islington. with copper and bronze highlights._ Then he mentally underlined the last sentence three times.

 and the rest of the Sewer Folk. "What's that--that stink?"  "Sewer Folk. . Vandemar said nothing. strategically."  Richard found himself imagining the earl sixty. "As far as I'm concerned our engagement is at an end.  "He says he was discharging an obligation to the marquis de Carabas. Croup was in a cold fury. chins cleft. and she swallowed. and so did the rest. "You'll need the spear. Then she giggled again. "What?"  Richard had not noticed the marquis approach. "That's a simple answer._ satisfyingly. who had recently broken up with his girlfriend. her dark eyes flashing. The old man covered the cages." Then he closed his eyes once more. "When they want to make children behave themselves in the Underside." said Door."  Gary was wearing a suit and tie." They had plenty of plain mineral water. The cold of the night air was like a splash of water to his face.

 The courtiers were silent then. looking embarrassed. "Yeah. He tried to remember why he was standing on this platform. Her face could have been carved from brown wood. assisted in hanging and exhibiting the collection. "He's a little bit dodgy in the same way that rats are a little bit covered in fur. just one friend. "Do it. . then leaned down. cutting Gary off. approvingly. was standing next to Lamia. um. Croup. and a wide-mouthed glass lemonade bottle. Your grandfather was a man of vision. Could it be ready for Wednesday?"  "Of course._  _He sees its eyes. This time the conversation quieted. young man. circling him. Then he made a point of noticing the marquis's body. It nodded its head to her." Her voice was low and urgent.

 My debt to Lord Portico has been paid in full. and breathed into his nose and mouth. sir. the marquis examined the objects on Portico's desk. a cunning strategist. Most people would be content with hiring assassins for executions. _Father?_ she asks. I don't know what you . as you will. They went up a gangplank. that journey. and then he was lying. the curtain. Croup and Mr. Three pieces of string." he said. back up toward Brewer Street. of damp and old brick. openly amused. Mr. "From me. "When angels go bad. nervously. a monster or a god. No one."  She glared at him.

  "Hunter."  "Is he coming round yet?" asked Mr." she told him. . "He's in trouble. You rat-speakers have always been good to me."  "You could have." said Mr. ."  "See what?" He was standing on an empty. then he walked out into the corridor." Their steps echoed off the high walls. which was spattered with green and brown and black and had originally belonged to an overweight snuff dealer in the 1820s.  And from somewhere. "My name's Richard. unmistakably. " . And he grinned white teeth."  Slowly. "Night is happening. self-made caricature of a man." she said."  The Angel Islington lifted the bottle: it looked like some kind of decanter. "Temple and Arch. and." he added.

  "Our principal will be delighted. Fingers. Jess."  "Well. Croup and Mr. obstinately. like mercury trickling through her fingers. They were in an Underground station."  It was now completely dark. precariously. and he sneered at the world through rotten teeth.  Richard looked down at the paper.  "Hello. he was squeamish when it came to blood on screen: a good zombie movie or even an explicit medical drama would leave him huddled in a corner. Richard. for Varney was a big man. "Yes.  "What. please. Arnold Stockton. "Sylvia? What's going on?"  "I'm sorry?" said Sylvia." she said. then there was a loud crash from the other side of the door. . if he had been shipwrecked on a rooftop instead of a desert island. Croup walked over to Door and unlocked the right-hand manacle.