think maybe you got some kind of blow on the head.

 Instead
 Instead."  She looked grave. and that it wasn't _she_ who had spent the whole day standing in the rain (which was. "Shoes. shrinking as it tumbled into the blinding gulf beyond. . Then he turned on Richard. hard. was starting to wonder whether he had cut the right cord or not. First he let his mind go as blank as he could." she said."  Richard said nothing. He tried to stop his face from grimacing. often as not. "A bit shaky. Vandemar was saying. as if it were posing for a Christmas card. Nothing to worry about.

 and nastier." he whispered. She was wearing a green silk dress. There was triumph in her eyes. And then and there.  "That. "I don't know .  _Flash. "Choc'lits. Mr. side by side." he said quietly. in triumph.  The marquis stared at Richard. . Far away--rooms and rooms away--people were singing. Vandemar._  _He throws his spear.

 well.  "Who knocks?" he said." said Richard. And tonight was a market night. Richard looked around the alley for something to sit on. two-part telephone." The girl stared up at the old man. dwindling to a dull ache in his shoulder and his side and his knee. more to it than that. and Richard slid out of her head. Once more it caressed the key. and bent down to slide the folded note into the woman's hand. The system of baronies and fiefdoms is both divisive and foolish."  "But--" He stopped talking. He looked her up and down. with relish. he was at least learning to play the game. All was empty.

 "You may as well tell him. and so did the rest. Close your eyes." she said. that time in the past.  The old roof-man covered the body with a cloth."  He was not sure what he ought to say. going back up the wooden stairs. "Croup and Vandemar. Eventually Mr. She was smiling at him; it was the smile that did it." he told the rat. People to do. "And the quick way is . "How's your head?" asked Hunter. "Think of him. Try not to let anyone follow you." he told her.

 "So you are. which looked as if the man had placed them there himself to persuade passersby that everyone was doing it. his filthy lace cuff flowing."  The marquis grinned once more. Hunter was pleased. .  "Thanks. The knife flew through the air and thudded into the damp plaster wall blade-first. that was the restaurant. he would not even put up a fight."  The old Richard. He stopped at the top of the spiral staircase and drew a deep breath. Richard crossed the road and stared into the window of the Vintage Magazine Shop. loud enough that it could be heard easily over the noise of the train." He reached across the desk. "When people say that on films. in the manner of small boys. .

"  "That's right. stared away from his beloved Sky. . "I am your bodyguard in London Below. just to keep moving. and. and depressed. looking around as if they were themselves unsure what they were doing there. We'll have all of this rubbish cleaned out of here tomorrow. and there were dark semicircles beneath her eyes. People got off and other people got on. who took off down the corridor without a backward glance. It is dark. . curiously. He could have carried the body. and red cloth wrapped like a diaper around his middle. exploring: gliding through his mind.

 "She was my. looted and found and rescued and donated over hundreds of years. . . He made the statue of the Beast vanish inside his coat once more. "Funny man. Vandemar tugged at his left hand. She was wearing a green silk dress. like a mother trying to explain to an infant that. and each successive door was proving harder to open. lying on his back beneath Ruislip. she shook her head. "Is this some kind of joke?" she asked.  _"You have to follow the directions written on here." Some of the people standing around looked shocked. "We're going to the British Museum. It was not a welcoming "morning. "you might be interested in this.

"  "What. "Stop! Watch out!"  Door turned. I can't get it to open. Croup. and. There they would sit. and chipper exterior. What would you like to know?"  Door paused. "Live long enough. It was filled with brooms. someone. He crouched. pulling him back to a standing position. into his mouth . "So where did you send them?" And then Richard heard a girl's voice talking. See?" said Door. too._ y'see.

 "I don't understand. widdershins'?"_  _"Widdershins means counterclockwise." corrected Mr. Hundreds and hundreds.  The Beast charged. I rather miss it. Croup. faster and faster. I'm approachable. Vandemar.  In her dream.  It was very beautiful. spittle on its perfect lips." she told him. A thousand? Two thousand? Five thousand?  One stall was piled high with bottles._ Even the thought of going underground made Old Bailey shudder. Under the hammer blows it changed from a shapeless blob of orange metal into a perfect black rose. Then he sent Brother Fuliginous and Brother Tenebrae (who had been pushing the marquis's wheelchair) out of the room.

 as if it were hunting for the correct word. Camden and Islington in the north. " . There was a loud rattling in the corridor. hoping for the glint of flame on obsidian. Then she stepped out of the doorway and walked toward them. and let it take him where it wanted to go. in the sputtering green light of their lanterns. the floor stopped completely. which. the blade having first hit and penetrated the back of Mr._ Door began to talk. They grumbled. Richard found the speed at which it was being dismantled. with a sign on it. Vandemar nodded. "Breadcrumbs. It ran its finger lightly along the walls.

 somehow." said a woman. and lowered his face to the figurine. putting them in mugs. . and they did not look back.  "It's not here."  "How did you know that?"  "People tell me things.  "It's him."  "Don't exaggerate. followed by the sound of chains falling against a metal pillar. Jessica pursed her lips. . and licked them. These red-brick cathedrals beneath their feet.  Far above them.  She hopped off the head into the filthy water and swam industriously to the side. curry.

 To end it all. Croup."  And then she laughed; it was a strange sort of laugh. her mother had. are welcome here." he said." Her voice was low and urgent. Please. "Hello. who was not in a good mood. much worse. and he was. They always scream."  "And the key?" The angel's gentle voice seemed to come from all around them. It sounded like a string quartet. Nobody knew what the Sewer Folk used for fuel. He was a roof-man and proud of it; had fled the world at ground level so long ago . all.

 it sounds more likely than your magical London underneath." For a moment he thought she was about to hit him. Mr. for watching soccer on the television on the weekends. agitatedly. "You may go. until. "More imaginary 'friends? We all used to laugh at you round the office for those trolls. Fine. .  "Yes. "Mm. Quickly. and Richard doubled up. There was a loud rattling in the corridor.  She wondered. leaning over. puzzled.

  She walked over to Varney. there: the morning-star: a spiked wooden ball. Tell Mister Stockton I'm really sorry." he said. beauty. Mr.  _He saw a figure falling toward him through the night. Croup. large cars were drawing up. Or. Then he looked up at Hunter. put it into her right hand." said Clarence. It all seemed so normal. Mister uh. His head brushed the roof of the carriage. Your Grace. a golden-furred rat with copper-colored eyes.

"  De Carabas grinned to himself."  He opened his eyes. and did not look back. on the heavy chains that bound them to the black iron pillars." said the earl. I'm you. It glinted in the firelight. _Not yet. Perhaps there was nothing she could trust herself to say. just hold on a sec. Croup. then slept._ he thought. subtracting.  "Not you. . Not yet. "It is of no matter.

 "To a rat?"  Door said nothing. Richard got onto the train. and I'd come down to this room round the back and look up at this angel. but never with any real hope that they would stop. . perhaps out of frustration. and they went down a poorly lit spiral staircase. It'll be fine. "is the best guard and bravo in the Underside. Richard had taken the Tube to Tottenham Court Road and was now walking west down Oxford Street. and then he sat down again. four miles to the west. they were killed by Croup and Vandemar. "A wayward child. sensible Richard Mayhew-- was telling him how ridiculous he was being: that he should just have called the police. There were footsteps on the platform. vol-au-vents. A small.

 locking a door and then walking toward the Tube. His mouth opened. and waited beside her on the edge. if he ever again entered my domain I would have him gutted and dried . "Things like that.  Richard's heart was pounding in his chest so hard that. Mister Vandemar?"  "Not kindly at all. He was a crazy homeless person. the bargain hunters. five hundred years ago. "So what's your point?" asked Door. And it got meaner." Mr. Then she half-smiled. from the mainland. The voice at the other end of the phone was unfamiliar. quite simply a disgrace. exposing his throat again.

" said Richard." he added. "The place you visited is Islington's citadel." she said. Richard wondered if they were as embarrassed as he was. "Who's there?"  The marquis de Carabas stepped out of the shadows. what kind of horses would live beneath the ground? There was a device painted on the wall: the letter _S_ (or was it a snake? Richard could not tell) circled by seven stars. when you had a chance?"  Before Mr. "A bit shaky. She nodded. " . looted and found and rescued and donated over hundreds of years. each petal perfect and distinct. we are merely private citizens. Trees. It was far away. It was definitely the girl in his bathroom. "I think maybe you got some kind of blow on the head.