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THE OLD JAGO

&039;There are people in this world of whom even vampires are afraid,&039; he said as they walked up Brick Lane

&039;That, I know,&039; she adue to grow back When ready, he would coain

&039;I&039;m familiar with all the devils in all the hells, Genevieve,&039; Charles said &039;This is just a e&039;

She did not knohat he was talking about

He led her into one of the narrow, unpleasant-s streets that constituted the worst slu the occasional brick to the cobbles Evil-looking new-borns congregated at every corner

&039;Charles,&039; she said &039;This is the Old Jago&039;

He allowed that it was

She wondered if he had gone mad Dressed as they were - which was to say, not in rags - they were practically parading with a sandwich board littered behind broken s Rat-whiskered children sat on doorsteps, waiting to fight for the leavings of larger predators The further they penetrated into the rookery, the thicker the gathering croere She was rele Places, she told herself, were not evil: they hat people hed and Genevieve ju on his cane as if taking the air at Ha creatures lurked in courtyards Hate cao here the worst cases ended up, new-borns shape-shifted beyond any resemblance to humanity, criminals so vile other criminals would not tolerate their society A Christian Crusade flag, the cross dyed in what probably was not blood, hung froo&039;s mission was hereabouts, where few policeyman&039;s real name

&039;What do we seek?&039; Genevieve asked, under her breath

&039;A Chinaain

&039;No,&039; he reassured, &039;not that Chinaine any Chinaman will serve&039;

A burly new-born, bare-chested under his braces, detached himself fro down on Charles He ss His ar seen Charles save the day with Liz Stride, Genevieve thought he could best the va if a dozen of the rough&039;s friends joined in At least a dozen were scattered about, picking their teeth with gri like a Mayfair ass, &039;direct ood fellow The viler, the better, if you catchshone in Charles&039;s hand A coin It disappeared into the rough&039;s fist, and then hisin two and spat the halves out They hardly had ti over the to exert his neon va which Genevieve was increasingly uncorunted and turned away Charles had passed a test The rough nodded towards an archway and slouched off

The arch led to an enclosed square, and was covered with a greasy grey blanket on a string The makeshift curtain ept aside by a slender hand and a cloud of scented sloorms of opium pipes lit up wizened faces A war in his eyes, tottered out, his pay burned away in dreao with his sea-boots

&039;Just the thing,&039; Charles said

&039;What are we doing?&039; she asked hi a web to attract a spider&039;s attention&039;

&039;Wonderful&039;

A young Chinese, new-born and delicate, ehs all deferred to her, which said much She wore blue pyjamas and trod upon filthy cobbles with silk slippers Her skin shone like fine porcelain A tightly-bound rope of glossy black hair hung to her knees Charles bowed to her, and she responded, arard of the Diogenes Club sends his regards to your irl said nothing Genevieve iined so else to interest them

&039;I wish it known that this woman, Genevieve Dieudonne, is under ainst her lest the bond of friendship between your irl considered a ave one sharp nod She bowed once h the thin blanket, Genevieve still saw the wavering red dots of the pipes

&039;That should do it, I think,&039; Charles said

Genevieve shook her head She did not quite understand what had passed between Charles and the oriental new-born

&039;I have friends in strange places,&039; he admitted

They were alone Even the children had disappeared By invoking this &039;Lord of Strange Deaths&039;, Charles had cleared the street

&039;So Charles, I am under your protection?&039;