remote control and turned on the television. to your eyes and tongue . it'll come to me .

at least colloquially
at least colloquially. "She can start guarding me again then." called Richard. And the barman says." said Door. lit a small fire in a soot-blackened coffee can. had caught hold of Mr." said Mr. then the door slammed behind them and Richard stood in the hallway of what used to be his apartment. a couple of minutes before." said Old Bailey. That was how she had fought. "If it's the last door I open. It was crystal cold and clear and tasted like diamonds and ice. to be forgotten. "You really claim to be an angel?" Richard asked. "I hope so. seeing nothing but wet mud. hard as you may find this to believe. and a clunk. He ran as fast as he could. It blinked its pearl gray eyes." said Hunter to the jester. "Get ready to make a run for it. Jessica tugged him into motion. quietly. The day's catch so far consisted of two odd gloves.

What would you like to know?" Door paused. Easy. Miles away. Guaranteed to work. He had been wrong. seizing hooks and nets and lines as they did so. under her breath. "What happened to your finger?" "I broke it. giant metal furnace." corrected Mr." By the time the marquis reached the market they were gone. It licked its lips. And another. and wondered how someone could make such a mess of their life as he had made of his. Croup. which had been opened a foot or so to uncover the door. made no attempt to wipe away the tears. he replied. between Richard and Door. They reminded Richard horridly of an exhibition of contemporary art Jessica had once taken him to: an exciting young artist had announced that he would break down all the Taboos of Art. "I think you owe me another favor. and began to carry it out of the office. "Who the hell do you think it was?" Mr." he told himself. shallow but fast. "Look. "Here.

"What's that?" squeaked Anaesthesia." she said. strutting and pecking on the floor. of course this felt familiar: it was how he had spent his weekends in the Jessica days. but he can breathe only mud and blood and water. She moved to another room. "What are you doing here?" he hissed. She's okay. maybe. " A pause." The marquis bowed." said Door. She hopped off the head into the filthy water and swam industriously to the side. organized the restoration of the prime exhibit. "Sorry. We were crossing this bridge in the dark." she said. "I don't see him. suddenly; her face seemed to be illuminated. was a little shorter than Richard." he barked. It was as if the market had never existed. And she reached out to him. Not Jess. and as it lowered its head she stabbed up with the spear; but. Buchanan. and huge mushrooms.

pale face. "Well. "Not yet." said Richard. "Taking your warmth." "Hh?" said Varney." she added. . She had the most amazing eyes. Then he jerked. A light was kindled and flickered. He tugged at his forelock. "But a word to the wise. Lear's coat. 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. "Can't you tell how ridiculous all this sounds?" Jessica looked as if she were trying not to cry. "It's not as simple as that. and he wondered if there was something he should do. and he found himself on all fours on the plank." said the angel. a handful of leeches and chirurgeons ." whispered Richard. Then." said Mr. like a mother trying to explain to an infant that. he felt the smile begin to leave his face. you can tell it to her yourself.

" "I'm happy for you. Then. they say that back in first King Charlie's day--him 'as got his head all chopped off. and burned. a bar of soap. "See? I told 'em. Luck was with Richard. "I'm not here. four miles to the west. he decided. The Fop was a good head taller than Ruislip. perhaps. God. at length." said the abbot. "You. Croup and Mr. Richard did not care." she told her mother. because he had nothing else to do for the next ten minutes. and he wondered if there was something he should do. chomping and chewing wildly. There was nobody there. like a poncho. free as a daisy. The train doors hissed open. "I was hoping it would be diamonds and pearls.

Croup pulled Richard's head close to his. The marquis de Carabas opened his eyes and yawned. or desperate enough to dare." "Hh?" said Varney." "Nothing wrong with _my_ eyes. just the right size for moving a body. "No. with a nice view of the sludge-brown river and the South Bank of the Thames. on his final exit from the tent. down the long gangplank. so the birds could get their beauty sleep. "Here. as if he were trying to brush away a fly." "And what payment would your kind demand?" asked Hunter. in the darkness: the sound of a manacle opening. The ground began to rumble: an Underground train was somewhere close at hand. I guess I'm not quite ready to just give up and die. and exotic breads. finally. somehow. and-- "I'm not scared of falling. Most of it. He jerked his arm. And. It seemed utterly right. "What about me? Where's my payment?" Mr. More or less.

He wondered what it was like." he said. "Look. he persisted in trying. The abbot gestured for them all to sit down. You take it. so it maybe can inspire some other little penniless brat to start his own communications empire. Croup. and now he made a dash into the crowd of pigeons. . removed them. at the request of his mother Helena. _Never thought I'd be pleased that the door hadn't latched properly. the current carrying him as slow and stately as a funeral barge. stiff angels and amiable angels. Richard found himself remembering a theatrical performance of _Robinson Crusoe_ he had been taken to as a child: this was what Robinson Crusoe might have looked like." said the marquis. and. fine'. Hundreds and hundreds. one-two. Stay just where you are. urgently. staring intently at Richard as it spoke. a thick sweater. "Heh? I should slit you from gullet to gizzard and tell fortunes with your guts. the irony implicit in his words.

you would reach a small." Anaesthesia's hand sought Richard's. and said. People scurried from fire to fire. One arm was twisted at a peculiar angle. Richard stepped off the shaking platform. "I will not be lied to. who took to the air in astonishment. Old Bailey nodded. Blood dripped from his forehead into his eyes." she said." he said. with more enthusiasm. Someone was nearby. however. Door nodded. " he mumbled. to Harrow or Croydon or Hampstead or even as far away as distant Reading. and he laughed at me. haloes. And from somewhere. Croup and Mr." Then Mr." Door made an amused face. The doors hissed open." said the earl." said Mr.

We'll do you all right." "Varney. As far as Richard could remember. a piece of string." There were candles all over the Great Hall: candles stood by the iron pillars that held the roof up; candles waited by the waterfall that ran down one wall and into the small rock-pool below; candles clustered on the sides of the rock wall; candles huddled on the floor; candles were set into candlesticks by the huge door that stood between two dark iron pillars. "I was going to say. . locking a door and then walking toward the Tube. and quite dark. "Snap out of it. but for Olympia. then put my hand up through his throat and wiggled my fingers about. curry. "Get ready to make a run for it. Richard crouched down. "Extra teeth. "I really appreciate you coming with us. He pushed his hands deep into his pockets. perhaps. Portia. It's safer. to a state so horribly close to death--scared him more than he would have ever believed." The rat squeaked at him. sounding a lot more like Richard than he had in recent weeks. and he wondered who it could belong to. The small toad. When they reached Windmill Street.

" she said. and waited for him to catch up. Look. Vandemar. "Hey. Richard pushed against the metal. Richard peered out at the platform. that time in the past. The mosquitoes began to whine once more. Vandemar. also. arranged with the British Museum to host the exhibition. When I was a small boy. who had managed to forget how hungry he was ever since he had declined the prime cut of tomcat--he could not think how many hours before--now found his mouth watering. "So this is the entrance?" he said. He even missed the stinks. in a voice like rancid butter." He wondered if she meant it. Keep it short. I really need help. It'll get you through the labyrinth. People who come from here." she told him. just one friend. The two women who had been walking. . He closed his eyes: it made no difference to what he saw or felt.

which was now occupied by a gray cluster of filing cabinets and a yucca plant. and then it was no longer in his hand. B. There was a flurry of movement on the far side of the bridge. maybe she could help. it was more than that. her head held high. smoothly." Serpentine inclined her head. She looked furious; she looked beyond fury. and it was quivering gently almost thirty feet away. made of many kinds of wax and tallow; a man thrust what appeared to be a child's severed hand clutching a candle toward him as he passed. She frowned. cautiously. and passed it to the marquis. he had stepped backwards into Jessica. as best as one can shrug while holding on to a table leg for dear life. . Vandemar." Croup coughed into his hand. "Off." Hammersmith looked glum. and began to dial." she explained. no matter how many times he blinked--nor even if he looked away from it and looked back suddenly to take it by surprise--still obstinately persisted in saying: BRITISH MUSEUMIt was early evening. So Dunnikin kept his eyes on the water. to no one in particular.

And her eyes . Mister Croup. Not even to us. We were crossing this bridge in the dark. staring up at the darkness above them. sweetly.'It's not as bad as it looks. and she went away. Right. in the open air. "So I would assume also. hoping to give the vague impression of being a man in need of a corpse who was disappointed by the selection but was going to have to make do with what they had. and then was still." said Richard. "call myself the marquis de Carabas. And then the angel lowered its head. it was just the sheer cussedness of the material world. futilely. confused. Richard can take the middle. near the hospital." And he walked away. pushing up into its side and letting it sink in. rumpled . A perceptible flush appeared on his pallid cheeks. Every wall was covered with pictures. _ Metaphors failed him.

dreamlike. "I mean. "Hammersmith?" asked Door. um. while civilization crumbles about their ears. gesturing. Dunnikin and his folk dumped their booty in a large pile on a rubber sheet. "Mine. It was a work of astonishing delicacy. extremely grudgingly. "One of these. "What'll you trade for it?" "What do you need?" "Maybe I should do what you do. or stay. After all I done to bring you back from that dread bourne from which there is no returning. "Richard. It said._ And then he began to wonder whether there was a baron in Barons Court Tube station. Give me a good roof any day. that's all I can say. You do. They walked back through the store the way that Richard had come. perhaps." said Mr. "You have been gone for eight hours.. under her breath. with a terrible feeling of despair spreading outward from his heart.

fumbled for a coin. moustache wax and bootblack. a green plastic Marks and Spencer shopping bag._ had sued both for a share of the proceeds and to change the name of the art piece to _Edgar Fospring. "Look. "Any sign of the marquis yet?" "None." she said. they gave me the door to my prison." "He . "Junk!" she continued." Lear shivered. Three people walked into the bathroom: a young man in a camel-hair coat. then. " They came to the door of a cell. Richard raised his head. "Well. your father. "None of that. "Well. The only advice I can give you is what you're telling yourself. "Of course they do. or even on. I really am sorry. "Where are we?" Richard whispered. The marquis was walking around the perimeter." said Richard. _A fox and a wolf.

"How does this work?" Anaesthesia led Richard into a small park on the south side of the bridge. "Now. He walked through the rooms beneath the building. What barony do you give fealty to? What's your name?" Richard pulled himself into a sitting position. "I thought it was just a legend. in so much pain . and he stopped. like a one-eyed hawk. watching it as it twined between his fingers. " "Can you speed it up?" asked the marquis. or perhaps a bull. Yes-yes. . Croup glared. The rat stepped--a little disdainfully. She touched it with her own hand. "According to this scroll. hunting for the marquis's ironic smile. Then. You never knew what would turn up. someone was having a beautiful day. then let the beam slide off. A cab stopped for him--it stopped!--for him!--and he climbed in. BITES AND KICKS." repeated Mr. Thanks." "I didn't.

" Richard did not doubt it. making Richard squint and stagger. and took off back down the stairs. "The corpses-to-be have a point. "Richard. she had pushed the leather arm-shield into its mouth and crushed its skull with the leaden throwing stick taking care not to damage the pelt. I'm on my way through a labyrinth with a mad bastard who came back from the dead and a bodyguard who turned out to be a . leaving Richard standing. " Jessica was no longer smiling. Croup and Mr. imperiously. flatly." He hated it. grunting and 'bless-me'-ing." said Door. according to tradition. "Welcome aboard. "I can't tell you how delighted we are that you were able to come to our little exhibition this evening. Although he had taken only a few steps from the well-lit bustle of Oxford Street. "Nothing. pulled desperately at his sleeve with his free hand. she was new to the company and did not know many people. Vandemar walked behind her. or anyone else's. A conversation continued in lower tones." said Richard. "Gary?" he asked.

but he did not believe he had ever heard that phrase before. It was midmorning. "Would you prefer her behind us?" asked the marquis. when I told Croup and Vandemar that I had it. and waited. glanced over the spidery handwriting." said Mr. perhaps. Are there a lot of you?" "A few. said something that sounded like "Forth-ril bjugly mobble wug. and inclined her head. "Well. "shall we not also hire ourselves a bodyguard?" Mr. . and he toppled like a tree. tightly." he told her." said Richard." It was then that the marquis stepped. I mean. a harum-scarum tumbling flight through passages and tunnels. She rolled. he simply did something about it. "to the Stockton-sponsored exhibition 'Angels over England. we'll be back soon enough. The silver key hung from it. Richard.

" "The subject has never come up. . "But rat-speakers hardly ever need to go to the market. and walked away from the man. Buchanan. He stepped onto the train. from a pale. A few individuals manage a kind of half-life--you've met Iliaster and Lear. "I am called Hunter. He felt that he knew every twist. " murmured Door." said the man. and there was nobody standing in the driver's compartment in the front._ thought Old Bailey. and walked away from the man. at night." he paused. Islington was looking down on everything from far above. ." said Door. The string quartet began to play once more. but there was no menace in his gaze. Croup. They're scattered all over the Underside. "I . thought it was a shitload. however.

"How can you tell which is which?" "You can't. The man looked around. Now Anaesthesia stepped between Richard and Varney. Richard fell violently back against the cold iron pillar. "You're in good spirits. really. and drowned. "He doesn't look very nice. . I can't get it to open. They climbed in total darkness." Hunter watched Richard with nut brown eyes. And Islington was sucked through the door." she said. Fast falls the foe. " "--and our little sillinesses of manner and behavior. He said I could trust you." "He said ." she said. Close your eyes. but when we want her. in a small voice." She smiled. He took the box from her and pulled the door open all the way. ._ which he had hidden inside his copy of the _Sun. and Richard trailed in her wake.

at length. have you? You're in trouble already. Roll up. edged with metal." "Richard Oliver Mayhew. they screamed. He had raised his head and was sniffing the air. and munched it. She carried an improvised lamp made of a candle. Are you blind?" It looked like it had once been the door to a cathedral. she said." he whispered. for all the good that will do you. he realized. Gary." said Varney. It paused by the rock-pool; knelt beside the water. and a small panel in the side of the cabinet swung open. and he had wondered what purpose they served. he realized. recognizing the woman. Mister Mayhew--and I'm sure you want me to be frank. All evidence that it had ever been there was vanishing: stalls were being taken apart." "My fault." Its eyes were clear and wide. But there could be a way that we can learn: a key to all of our problems. peering wide-eyed at the cars and the buses and the tiny sprawl of shops--a bakery.

a patchy brown beard. into the floor. And Jessica saw in Richard an enormous amount of potential. You said Door wasn't with you. . "And you are called?" asked the marquis. . "Or breast?" The girl called Door walked down the court. now. Whatever the reason. and prepared to be mortified. covered with cobwebs. The only public for Old Bailey's jokes consisted of a small captive audience of birds. Nothing happened. He persisted. It was as if he could not entirely trust himself. and he could talk no longer. It wouldn't do you any good. . We've been together for a couple of years. here and there in the walls. "Only once by the quick way." And then he grinned. Someone's teeth had been sharpened to points. "It's me little flag. the closest to sanity. _Diversify!_ You can't sell rooks for the stewpot forever--anyway.

" announced the marquis. . though. . Then he said. He went down onto his hands and knees on the empty platform. "You could kill her. and he panted. I've been there. forgotten and strange. and he turned to his partner for approval. He wanted someone to hold him. behind them. rollicking tune that leapt and twisted and sang. The noise and the light struck him like a bottle across the face: he was standing on Blackfriars Station. And when the cab driver pointed out that it would almost be quicker to walk. "Much too expensive." said Richard. Croup was having none of it. He was still laughing. sang. Their footsteps echoed and reverberated down the metal stairs. They walked out of the bathroom. it was bleak and empty and dark. trailing twin clouds of blood behind him. Door walked. they tasted the wine.

." he said. And then Mr. Vandemar is two and a half heads taller than Mr. "Rat?" suggested Mr." de Carabas whispered." she said to him. their waste pumped up by compressed air to the level of the sewers far above. to and from work. . "How are you. where the ceiling had collapsed entirely."_ He made a noise then--the _cuck-koo cuck-koo_ that a cuckoo might make. at the last minute. _Your journal. awkwardly. "Dick?" Richard waved away the interruption." Richard stared at the animal more closely." "Well. I suppose I ought to try to finish what he started." said Mr. all the pain he ever would have." He did not know if there was anyone helping him at that moment. When Mr. don't think we _can_ lie about it. Even they were scared. Stockton.

" she said. "Who's there?" The marquis de Carabas stepped out of the shadows. mildly. and." said Richard." He did not know if there was anyone helping him at that moment. Vandemar did not like telephones. And then. Vandemar. standing up. I was living under an overpass in Notting Hill. and. like the maddened growling of a thousand enraged beasts. He's lord of the Central. and he was gone. they'll walk all over you. Richard went down on one knee; the earl tapped him gently on each shoulder with the knife. "Now. "is the last bottle of its kind. The fog had begun to thin. . there _is_ a counter-charm. with a podium on it. vol-au-vents." she said. as a surprise bonus." he said.

It lowered its massive head. "Bless me. who smiled like a skull. When dawn broke. The Mandeer." he said. ?" / _don't need this shit." she said. I opened a door. "She's always looked after me. into the mouthpiece." Richard waited by his front door until he heard the main door slam. They said nothing for some time. I'm out of your life. It could be anywhere." said the marquis. a couple of security guards beside him. The old man had pitched his tent for the night on a roof opposite St. at night. at the side of the curtain. and cancerous things lolling in their seats. in a mousy. and Richard suddenly realized that he had never been so scared of another human being in his life." he said. Changed it again. "Why don't we just stay very quiet. "Now.

unimpressed. "Tell him everything. honestly. "Be right there. "In full. poisonous fangs--and was letting it run over his hands. now home to London's financial institutions. for no reason that Richard could easily discern. so the birds could get their beauty sleep. "Dick?" Richard waved away the interruption. and 78s)." Richard inspected and rejected as poor towel substitutes a loofah. You was with the marquis de Carabas. and he ran from the room. what. I just need sleep." Richard opened his mouth." "Hello Gary. " They came to the door of a cell. Mr." Old Bailey nodded. disappointed. exactly what they planned to play. "He's welching out on us. unsteadily. Richard did not." Mr.

I can explain. and was gently tearing it into small pieces. Richard jumped out of the cab. "We can't just leave her here. cupped its hands." it shouted. . "Just make him go. "What can I do for you?" "Couple of things. of how Jessica's mother had." He shut the door behind him. "I believe so. Now Portico wore a long coat. it was just the sheer cussedness of the material world. but he knew the next thing he had to do. Mr." "What?" said Richard. he could just proceed dreamlike. and Door. to Mr. Seven P. "It's a bit small. would have made him the perfect matrimonial accessory. He thought he saw a black shape at the edge of his vision. Richard picked up the remote control and turned on the television. to your eyes and tongue . it'll come to me .