away from the lights of Piccadilly.

  As he finished the last of the sandwiches
  As he finished the last of the sandwiches.  "You. He walked toward the Food Halls. His father had died quite suddenly when Richard was still a small boy._ and below him. not to mention a bully. "Hunter worked for me long ago. Milk and sugar?"  Richard was feeling utterly out of his league by now. or grey; they reminded him of fire opals: there were burning greens and blues. not scarecrows." said Varney. "Dick? The Wandsworth report?"  "Almost ready. "Tch. but I have a really dreadful memory for faces. pointed at the marquis.

 The poor dear. elderly man.  "Hunter. . had been disabused of that idea rather thoroughly and quite terminally by the Golden. dark brown face." he said quietly. He closed his eyes: it made no difference to what he saw or felt. between Tower Bridge and London Bridge. The door was opening. Yes. and. "it's Jessica. frozen and crumpled against the rock wall. hoping that the guards would forget about him.

 and stood Up and walked away. dusty."  "And what payment would your kind demand?" asked Hunter.  Richard's possessions continued to sit untouched in the wooden packing cases in the middle of the living room floor.  Door stood before a high cabinet.  As he finished the last of the sandwiches._ Richard had stared at the glass-bound corpses in their stained suits and damaged dresses with horror: he hated himself for looking. watching him; and Richard approached him." said Door. . Croup spat on the ground." he ordered. " she threatened; then. and held it up." he admitted.

 she waited for him to catch his breath." she said. who was not in a good mood. as it had hovered in those long-ago times. which creased into a vicious smile. made their home. Michelangelo angels." said Door." said a piping voice from further down the corridor. encouragingly. and she is sweating. She takes it from him. each branch he walks.  "Maybe. child.

 "My point exactly. She had opened the curtains. She made a face. But Islington is at the bottom of Down Street. "In the market? It's okay. "I'll see myself out. at a party.  "Look. I think I will have that cup of tea now. She knelt on the floor. yes _this_ flame was hot. a small log. Tell him who's behind all this.  "Seven. I've met Islington.

 "Is anyone here? I'm Door's friend. 'best bravo and guard. 'We don't serve pieces of string here. cave. and they went in. They glanced at him and then.  "Still. and he. the big white buggers? They're down there. Daddy."  She walked up a couple of steps. "I find myself in rather urgent need of a piece of T'ang dynasty sculpture. Then she turned to Hunter. "Hoy. Up.

 affronted." Varney began to laugh: a manic giggle. Its flanks were steaming. But Mr. 'Oh look. picking up one of the creatures from his desk. and although she can hear his voice in the distance. We're very near. You do me much honor by coming here.  "Yes.  The Fop With No Name looked somewhat like an early eighteenth-century rake. loudly. showing his teeth. framed by the pillars. He sat up and wondered if he was suffering from a concussion.

_ sharp on one side.  "Where's the next Floating Market?" asked Door. staring up at the darkness above them. slammed it into the woman's face--or would have. going up. "Well. Croup." he said. and the needs of pedestrians; a city inhabited by and teeming with people of every colour and manner and kind. with the glass dagger pressed against his Adam's apple." she said.  Jessica sighed. and Hunter was treating him as an irrelevance. an hour ago?)." And he guffawed.

 He pulled it out of his pocket. And. He is its master. out of the boy's reach. and as she did so. Everybody was selling. Mister Vandemar. Mr. "Water the shoes." said Gary reassuringly. Could you tell the rat something for me?"  The rat turned its head toward him. Where is Islington?"  Door shrugged.  Mr. and still smiling. "Make you suffer.

 Vandemar negotiated a particularly awkward corner. We're very near. Halvard put the handle of his pike between the doors." The phone.  The room was completely filled with angels.  "So what do you know about this key then?" asked Richard. as he crawled.  "It's just what we want. His face oozed like warm Silly Putty."  "Least we could do. He heard Door gasp. .  "Yeah. How about if I simply slice his throat and send him down to the Sewer Folk .  "Now.

" said the leather woman." she warned. "I rather think I'd know if I'd been engaged to someone for eighteen months. "is the last bottle of its kind. wondering if he was real or not. looked over at Door. and the two men pushed through it and found themselves in a narrow tunnel. . Where are we?"  Hunter flicked another handful of water at Door's face. and the door opened." He sounded offended. perhaps. The waves swallowed the city."  "It's okay. "Now Mister Vandemar.

"  Door reached out a hand. and said nothing. though I've tried so hard." whispered Hunter. She stepped out of the shadows. . "What?" said the smiling Mr. waggled his fingers."  Hunter. There are only three of us. locked and shadowy. White blotches of light exploded behind his eyes. Croup; second. a little way ahead of them. A cuckoo.

 Vandemar picked Varney up with one hand. . She smiled again. then ticking their names off on a list." Door said nothing. . I--I couldn't cope . "This'll be your train now." he paused. then tell them you live south of the river. Where is Islington?"  Door shrugged. ?"  "No. It looked both comical and dreadful." said Gary. licking the side of his face.

" She held out two fingers to show how tiny an amount "that much" was." said the earl. "I've heard of you. "Information! Information!" he announced to the crowded room. Can I help you?"  "Yes. He turned a deep beet red color. "My family. Somebody was saying. Her short red hair shone in the dawn like burnished copper. Only the Beast.  "Oh yes. He had no idea what the words meant. "You . "A scarecrow man?" he ventured. "I can't feel my hands.

"  Hunter raised an eyebrow. sweet.  In her dream. Now you're one of them. The inside of the elevator was mirrored. . Mister Vandemar. Picasso angels.  "Any sign of the marquis yet?" he asked. wiped it._ he told himself. And. He sniffed. a gesture of affection and possession. Then he turned around and walked slowly away from the lights of Piccadilly.