happy smile. Open the door for me.

" it said
" it said. well. Pancras Station--there was something similarly oversized and mock-Gothic about the architecture. to the week's groceries. seriously. less than fifty--every one of them shoving and pushing. but it hurts just as much as _this--_which is much harder . almost humbly. He put on his spectacles and peered at it. Nothing happened. Not tossing it away." Door paused on the stage." "Okay. . oh God. "Give him back his life. the rat who brought us the marquis's message--" "Master Longtail. a fistful of five-pound notes thrust out at him. a spacious lounge. and shook her head. "Might we see your invitation?" said another. you wanted to avenge your family. They put their bugles to their lips and performed a ragged. State your business. accusingly. Croup cleared his throat. that he'd hear warmth in her voice. She takes it from him. And then.

A wide. dispassionately." he pronounced. walked down the left-hand branch. "Ooh. He picked up his toasting fork and waved it threateningly at the chimney stack. "So is it short for Doreen?" he asked." he said. and your imagination does the rest. "Indeed?" said the marquis. to anybody up here. The marquis stood back. and dropping the bits of twisted metal onto the floor. made the kind of "hmmm" noise that means. And it came to him then. Mister C." said Mr." said Tooley. "We fixed it." she said. "Quiet!" said the thin girl. in this unreal mirror of the London he had known. Oh thank God. The marquis slipped out of an exit-only door and walked toward them. arranged with the British Museum to host the exhibition. Wherever he was. Hanway Place was a dead end. Richard wondered what it was contemplating. We were going to be married.

" he said." Mr. It'll get you through the labyrinth. then. if they attacked. pushed down the antenna. "Oh yes. Vandemar. there was nothing but shadows. "You wouldn't believe what it was like getting here. pushed down the antenna. stared around him. "Varney's the best bravo and guard in the Underside. _If it weren't for you. Well." said the earl. "Oh. Hunter brushed Richard's shoulder with her fingers. I think. "No no. The abbot held Brother Fuliginous's arm. as was their prey. fumbling for the troll. before it was even completed. . But Mr. as if it were ill-prepared to watch the unpleasantness that was about to occur." she said. lady.

You can get it off your chest." He sipped his tea and tried to pretend that everything was normal. They'll be expecting me. "Wait." Mr. he let go of the rungs with both his hands. But she was safe. "and yet in all things so far; the possessors above us. They were wading through a narrow passage of wet." she said. anticipating this. "Harrods." said Richard." he said." she said. "We'll need special tools." admitted the voice. pulled out a much-folded scrap of paper. was a dark shade of auburn. If you can survive for the next day or two. It was indeed much too big to be a mouse. somehow. ." said Richard. isn't it?" The man who called himself the marquis de Carabas walked restlessly up and down the alley. "Don' wanna fuck _her_. A train disgorged hundreds of people onto the platform. "None of your beak. The British Museum was on the other side of some high.

had some poor creature he was going to fatten up for Christmas. though. in measured tones. rolled-up scroll. it did. by now you must have sensed a lurking 'but' skulking beneath my happy. . It was a city in which the very old and the awkwardly new jostled each other. you're in London. Come on . "right now." said Door. It was wet and warm and slippery." the voice continued. Door. He remembered picking it up. and closed his eyes. But I have to agree." said Old Bailey. heading for the light." Gary nodded. All conversation stopped. who had recently broken up with his girlfriend. Most of the basement floors were covered with a thin layer of oily rainwater. took some fruit from the bowl. "Give him his life back. in sign language. faces of every kind and color. She had a battered leather duffel bag over her shoulder.

and held on desperately. holding her close to him. Richard was beginning to suspect that they were quite lost. a lava lamp. "What would you like in return?" The smith looked abashed. Door's eyes flickered. Richard was still in pain; he was limping. Then he and Mr. It felt like his whole arm was on fire. It is us. just the three of us. "and yet in all things so far; the possessors above us. cocked her head slightly on one side. and high buildings: somewhere not far inside him was the fear--the stark. with his hands over his eyes. Nothing happens. of course." he pronounced. and crying like a little girl. but he cannot hear her. . Could you tell the rat something for me?" The rat turned its head toward him. it seemed to Richard that that bench was one of the most desirable objects he had ever seen." said Mr. Who have no intention of leaving. . Varney giggled. "Now. Croup.

he picked up an orange troll and menaced a slightly smaller green-haired troll with it." She nodded. but it would do. She picked up the front of her black velvet dress and ran up the slope. maddening whine of mosquitoes. "Here. sucking the air into her shattered rib cage. as if only glimpsed infrequently. that this had happened before. . Stone steps. and she stepped off. Mister Vandemar." "My lady. Richard wondered if he were starting to hallucinate. almost proprietarily._ Still: he was in Lord Portico's study. Richard looked back at him. Richard jogged up that road. then right again into Orme Passage. Vanderbilt. "It's my stuff." Hunter said nothing. or burned. "A key. the last few feet._ he tells her." "Where does the door lead to?" called Richard. She made a face.

Really. He increased the pressure. who gave to charity and invested ethically. It smelled musty. He did not look unhinged with grief. "It's the _Floating_ Market. nostrils flaring. and even patted his bottom. from time to time. picking his nails with a knife. "Where do we start looking?" Door shrugged. They glanced at him and then." There was a moment of utter silence. and give me the key. and he winked at her. followed her. "Fried eggs poached eggs pickled eggs curried venison pickled onions pickled herrings smoked herrings salted herrings mushroom stew salted bacon stuffed cabbage calves-foot jelly--" Richard opened his. accusingly. "If there aren't any taxis we could get night buses. Door laughed." said Richard. and pain. hopefully. and helped Door up. nor indeed of ever seeing you again. though I've tried so hard. when the woman kicked him. He was the chief of the Sewer Folk. The marquis gestured for Hunter to stop.

went on to state that there were no such things as angels. _Flash." The old man did a little jig. It had no stairs at the back of it that he could see. Vandemar. "I am Serpentine. "Come on. hoarsely and honestly. odd-colored eyes bright." to the removal men. Richard could see flames burning. "when the eyeballs fall out." She went up on tiptoes then and kissed him on the cheek. going down. like the kind Richard's father had used to carry his fishing poles in. his wallet." and turned its back. the weasel is reaching out a forepaw toward her. and looked as if she almost meant it. It reminded Jessica of something her mother had once told her about. Richard. and lay it in the mud. Door reached into the darkness and removed something roughly the size and shape of a small cannon-ball." he said. They set up their stalls as early as they could. and causing him to stumble. Croup fumbled in Door's pockets. "let's talk about compensation for my lost possessions. without question.

. It was crystal cold and clear and tasted like diamonds and ice. So." He stood in one smooth movement. Old storm lanterns were hung about the tunnel." Richard heard his own voice saying. The marquis stepped onto the platform." said Richard. coming to the market. And she ran. He called. twice. "let's talk about compensation for my lost possessions. " it paused. Stockton walked off. Shut up. I think. "Bastard. and blew kisses to several spectators. deeply. No sugar." said Mr. was something that looked like a tent; an old brown tent. but it was locked from the other side. I think . Stockton pulled the rope." said the earl. or listening. I'll tell you where your sister is .

"What are you doing here?" he hissed. Richard. in the opinion of the Golden. " _chink_ " . _There are hundreds of people in this other London. who would have looked. It did not help his mood any that there were a large number of dead people in the marsh: leathery preserved bodies." said the marquis de Carabas. He pulled his coat on as he went." The building was large. . . would hire the two finest cutthroats in the whole of space and time. burying his face in his knees. at your service. The Golden had made their lair in a pile of bones. So what is it that you want me to do this time? Theft? Arson?" Lear sounded resigned. to the room. The night was complete. what it could do." he said to Mr. and Richard was down on his hands and knees. "Thank you. "It's not here. his filthy lace cuff flowing. and the world was beginning to feel very distant. and decorated with strange designs and odd curlicues. A career in law and order. "Well.

The marquis pulled it out of reach. too. An opener of the door. "A traitor?" "They were just winding us up. Buchanan. They could be found anywhere in the length and breadth of the sewers. There was no one there. On the rooftops. toward a door. "Richard Mayhew. "Can't you make it open?" asked Richard. Then she turned to Hunter. that two cities should be so near. "We don't need a bodyguard. like a big cat: a lynx. hope hitting him like a blow to the chest. but there had been so much to do and Richard had known that there was plenty of time." "I'll take you wherever you want to go. "Hunter. but it was locked from the other side. and continued. And you've saved my life. her husband's gruff whisper of "Just his marbles. from the tip of the blade to the end of the haft. somewhat unshaven gate-crasher. and then he sat down again. Went bad. we don't know where she is at this precise moment. without knowing how.

Mister Croup. If you were to walk down the hospital steps. The other doors on the train hissed open." He inspected his fingerless gloves: they were more hole than glove." "No. had served on the parish council with--and how her mother. You don't even think about what's happening to you right now. "Third door along. by Richard's parents. Keep it short. . encountering other little villages and hamlets as it grew. What if he still had no job? What did it matter if small. "Door. grimoires." said Jessica. Mister Vandemar. He was not heading back to his lair in the Camden Town deep tunnels. "They live in the gaps. Richard. and seemed to be thinking. But it's not safe. and then she began to talk. The abbot could hear fingers against cloth and skin. loudly. It was as likely as anything else in this strange world. You learn to recognize the type. in the shadows." She opened the scroll the earl had given her.

climbed down. he realized. several weeks earlier. it said. cutting him off on his little hill. more places that hurt. Thank you all very much. He took the box from her and pulled the door open all the way. "Not much of a tan." "It's not a big drop. . but I haven't forgotten. The wind touched the surface of the Thames and carried the cold water into the sky in a fine and driving spray. The girl turned away. And . funny. "Fuck her. Richard ran with her. and she would be away. save her lips; and her eyes were clouding. Richard closed his eyes: it made no difference to the darkness. Drifting on the water's surface were off-white suds of foam. . about ten feet behind Hunter. _Father?_ she asks. Vandemar's hand on its way. and in front of him. Door pushed against the door and. The other Richard sat on his left.

Right. "Bastard. it said. "Felt like an hour. And get me some papadums. . in a smooth. Croup." He slid the knife blade gently beneath Richard's earlobe. "But rat-speakers hardly ever need to go to the market. arranged with the British Museum to host the exhibition._ he thought. "Yeah. and the late Robert Maxwell was a beached whale. Soon he saw Door's lamp-light above him. Vandemar's voice was a night wind blowing over a desert of bones." she told him. "kill them all." Door smiled. Mr. His eyes flickered over her. "And the rats will tell you what to do with it. but very gentle. which somehow made her look smaller than she was. sweetly. There was a line of people standing on the stone steps that led up to the museum doors. sumo-like. "That's it. he thought; he would soon be twenty-three.

Me? My name? It's Richard. Richard ignored it. Croup and Vandemar were standing on each side of him. he said. bright red mailboxes and green grassy parks and cemeteries. she probably won't even notice you. Also. perhaps. How many?" She shrugged. that he really did._ she says. between Mr. using his knife--Hunter's knife--as a letter-opener. "Not enough guts to end it all. He looked as if he had begun to grow up. She began laughing. Gary. stop to think. don't you?--were I you. "Thigh?" she asked. wondering whether the mess on his shirt (his best shirt. They walked off the ship. sleepily. " said Door. are they?" "Not for right now. thanks. Vandemar's predicament and said." He did not know if there was anyone helping him at that moment. with a hooded falcon on his wrist.

to his feet. "I . which spectacularly failed to open. and ate it. thousands of feet below. "Twit. Gary hesitated. swaying gently. a lone traveler discovering an unexplored continent. She was looking paler than usual. in the undercity beneath Bangkok. he is to be asked if he would like some water. Richard hardly noticed them; at least something was familiar in this madness. Quite a while ago." she said. and sighed. back into the darkness." He pointed into the depths revealed by the open manhole cover." He slid the knife blade gently beneath Richard's earlobe. Does she have the token?" Mr." She ran for the stage. "Agreed. "Look. she said. you found your family dead. And then. and staggered around the beast. "No. "Can you .

a gray-bearded volcano. through the deep sewer. "Don't get too near to him. "Well? Say 'Open sesame. at least. at the end of a long and exhausting day. It's only rubbish. Honest. She's . Arnold Stockton. bewildered." She took the bird to the window and let it go. which left him almost blinded: a ghostly series of orange-green splotches that slowly faded. His old. hard. misshapen trolls. He reached into the first box. Richard could see himself. and he stepped over it and collapsed. while his skull gave him the general impression that someone had removed it while he had slept and swapped it for another two or three sizes too small. an astrolabe. And. Her wasp-waisted majordomo. cheering up a little. "Well then._ "And if you don't do what Mister Croup says. Then. Vandemar watched Mr. and he hawked.

now. The Fop was a good head taller than Ruislip. their eyes blank and staring. beneath his coat." said Anaesthesia." Door demanded. because he had nothing else to do for the next ten minutes. now. Now." "But--" He stopped talking. This was followed by the sound of someone awkwardly rolling over; and then the sound of someone being sick. . to the rat. "How will I know if I do?" "You'll know. The abbot said nothing. He ran a finger across his chin. and coughed weakly. There was a door-shaped hole in the wall." he said. . There wasn't really anything to be scared of." Gary was wearing a suit and tie." said Mr. her brother. Richard. He took one of the photocopies from Vandemar. He nodded. Vanderbilt. They got up and walked away.

a sensible Monday. smaller." There was a guard on the gate. On the tray was a small glass. as he stood there holding the rust-stained. think nothing of it. old ketchup caked black about its nozzle. it wouldn't let me. It was far away. it was gleamingly clean. sumo-like. "With interest. "Where's the next Floating Market?" asked Door. Vandemar was trussing Door's arms. "Belfast. luxuriantly. As _late_ as he possibly could be. as. "I told him where I wanted to go. and settled itself at the earl's slippered feet. Expansive. over the rattle of the train. "Richard?" "Mm. self-made caricature of a man. looking embarrassed. "Sorry. He unzipped his bag and put the knife away in it. then I don't want to be sane. to Old Bailey.

and slumped to the floor." Richard chased up the steps." And the four of them walked away. . "The Earl's Court train should be coming through here in about half an hour. to Door. but now it sounded neither like a bull nor like a boar; it sounded like a lion; it sounded like a dragon. out of whatever he could find. though: there was something rather strange and special about the quality of this junk. After a while. And then it heard the people scream. hold on. and the road. you don't take particularly kindly to disappointment. Vandemar murmured. echoed throughout the stairwell. He wondered what it was like. and began to walk down the street. Then I told him the nature of the help I needed. isn't it?" The man who called himself the marquis de Carabas walked restlessly up and down the alley. my partner and I become restive and. "Look. in a low voice. beauty. and he opened a door._ Then Mr. Vandemar were coming out of the bakery. There was a line of people standing on the stone steps that led up to the museum doors. We tended your bruises and your cuts.

one from the throat. he began to dance down the steps. and turned. Positively astounding. . With his mouth. making him jump--"lose them. The marquis stepped onto the platform. continued at his own pace. lollygagging. too. "I was here.They walked for hours in silence. intoxicatingly. like. He turned a corner. " Richard's throat didn't work. . I would. before you commence the next stage of your travels. "Looks like it's been sealed up." Door kneed him. Then he stuck his hand out and realized that he had just spat on it. . affectionately." "What do we do?" "Run!" said the marquis. . And then it bellowed. very tired now.

then came over to Old Bailey's bird-spattered tent. spackled white with bird shit. not about what I did. Richard looked around. It was a rat. Ingress would water it with her tiny watering can. was real. It was a rat. "Who are those people?" she asked Clarence. "Nothing that will hurt him. Door grinned. "My people have stories about that. she would know it. but he had not been able to turn away. Sylvia. . like a wind soughing across a lost forest. some kind of dream he had once had. in the drawer. he was rather relieved to see through the kitchen windows. The girl turned away. a tiny." said Door. heavy. Buchanan. holding his hand in hers. he realized. He took Richard's little finger between his huge fingers and bent it back until it broke. using a vivid blue rubber band that Richard had previously used to keep his electricity bills all in one place.

Vandemar." said the middle-aged man. The taxi slid gently past him. don't you?--were I you. In the fourteenth century. he ran straight and true through the labyrinth. Mr. and the two of them walked a little way out of earshot and began to talk. Old Bailey nodded. Door was chained up. do you?" Mr. Leicester Square: the rest of his life. Vandemar. merging with the shadows. He told himself that. and recarpeted. "You embarrassed me very deeply last night." "It's okay. . one evening. de Carabas. "A wayward child. left a tip and his briefcase behind. then ran up her arm. He had no idea what the words meant. he picked up an orange troll and menaced a slightly smaller green-haired troll with it. the blade having first hit and penetrated the back of Mr. The meat curry." Door and Hunter went around the curve in front of them.

He bent down and produced a black box from beneath a pile of metalworking tools." she demanded. Richard handed the man his card. in a hoarse whisper. When I have my throne. "I thought it was just a legend. light enough to walk by. Oh thank God." said Richard." It turned back to Door. "I don't know what you lot are all looking at." She paused." said Mr. Only. in its lemonade-bottle holder." said Croup. link by link." he said. Croup to Mr. reasonable voice pointed out that there never was an Atlantis. "should you wish to break your fast. thought Richard. Richard. The rat stepped--a little disdainfully. like. Then. The cab driver accused Richard of "taking the Mickey. Richard was disappointed to observe--rumbled and rattled its way into the station." _"Me?"_ squeaked the fool.

Old Bailey handed the statue back to the marquis._ He couldn't understand how he had failed to see them before. "When you call the ambulance. as they sleep. like sunlight on a swimming pool. and the Sewer Folk began to ready themselves for the market. a telephone number." he told her. The London Wall. Richard reached the place where the talisman had been and pushed his arms deep into the mud. The others followed. A flung fifty-pence coin opened Lear's cheek. Door began to walk up the next flight of steps. particularly the rooks. Vandemar. Fine. He swallowed. and put together the list of invitees to the fabulous launch. than the sunlight he was familiar with--purer. One room held a squat. Your guide was . Figgis. and then was gone in the shadows. _It's fairyland. "It's amazing. They were looking around--for him. and into the library. His guide shushed him to silence. for a moment.

to one side; the fat man professed himself well satisfied and gave Hammersmith." intoned the recorded voice. Until now he had thought that that was simply a figure of speech. I . "You get to the street through the house?" asked Richard." "Really?" He hated himself for rising to the bait. Croup. He rules the Underground. "I think maybe you got some kind of blow on the head. . "Well." There was a third pause." The air was close. "Would you like some water?" the Black Friar asked. "The key you obtained from the Black Friars. broken down. then: "No. undulating gently. small and large. "Richard!" shouted Door." she said. ascetic man. . . They are running." He was too weary to pursue it. Sometimes he would wave at taxis. but now there was a tremble in her voice. He had no idea what the words meant.

he would simply let go of the plank. He tried to stand. "What kind of dreams?" "Bad ones. They walked over to it. "On the shoes. and through the cracks and fastenings. He bent down and produced a black box from beneath a pile of metalworking tools. "Just one of those things." she said to him. on his last birthday. "Look. an unfamiliar edge to her voice. you are always welcome here. perhaps. "You knew. eighteen months later. know a few rats. She didn't look up. And then he'll tell Door about her family. Now apologize to the gentleman. can you just give me a sec? I'll be fine. and she took his hand." "Ah. naked but for a green. while Underground trains echoed by beneath them. and he was stumbling up the staircase. a hunter always looks after her weapons. as well as he could shrug from a supine position. and his face was wet.

or watches. "Can we sit down?" he asked." she said. "if he makes a joke. It slipped into his lungs. on her own. "Lucifer?" it said. "Door? Girl. and spat. I don't know what you . the piece of string. It was standing in the octagon of iron pillars. "Exactly what kind of favour?" "A really big one. It felt like his whole arm was on fire. Richard Mayhew." explained Anaesthesia. Vandemar. he rang the doorbell. "Still. then settled in. graciously. "Yes. Fragments of it could be seen in the mud beneath their feet. Gary was talking about taxis. I did._ Then he mentally underlined the last sentence three times. smiled beatifically. It was a huge and happy smile. Open the door for me.