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Three
Therewasascratch,andthenoiseofamatchflaringintolife:themantouchedthematchtothewickofanoldrailwayman’slamp,whichcaught,castingslightlylesslightthanthematchhad,andtheywalkedtogetherthroughadarkplace.
Itsmelledmusty,ofdampandoldbrick,ofrotandthedark."Wherearewe?"Richardwhispered.Hisguideshushedhimtosilence.Theyreachedanotherdoorsetinawall.Themanrappedonitrhythmically.Therewasapause,andthenthedoorswungopen.
Foramoment,Richardwasblindedbythesuddenlight.Hewasstandinginahuge,vaultedroom,anundergroundhall,filledwithfirelightandsmoke.Smallfiresburnedaroundtheroom.Shadowypeoplestoodbytheflames,roastingsmallanimalsonspits.Peoplescurriedfromfiretofire.ItremindedhimofHell—orrather,thewaythathehadthoughtofHell,asaschoolboy.Thesmokeirritatedhislungs,andhecoughed.Ahundredeyesturned,then,andstaredathim:ahundredeyes,unblinkingandunfriendly.
Amanscuttledtowardthem.Hehadlonghair,apatchybrownbeard,andhisraggedclothesweretrimmedwithfur—orange-and-white-and-blackfur,likethecoatofacalicocat.HewouldhavebeentallerthanRichard,buthewalkedwithapronouncedstoop,hishandsheldupathischest,fingerspressedtogether."What?Whatisit?Whatisthis?"heaskedRichard’sguide."Who’veyoubroughtus,Iliaster?Talk-talk-talk."
"He’sfromtheUpside,"saidtheguide.(Iliaster?thoughtRichard.)"WasaskingabouttheLadyDoor.AndtheFloatingMarket.Broughthimtoyou,LordRat-speaker.Figuredyou’dknowwhattodowithhim."Therewerenowmorethanadozenofthefur-trimmedpeoplestandingaroundthem,womenandmen,andevenafewchildren.
