produced a rather grubby and much-folded map of the local Underground system out from behind the bar, along with half a dozen cards from local taxi firms, a stuffed cat, and a dead beetle or two, and after a certain amount of argument and calculation (because the streets around Strangefellows aren't always there when you need them), we finally decided the nearest Underground station entrance had to be Cheyne Walk. Within walking distance from the bar, under normal circumstances, which these weren't, but still… it was reachable.

"I don't like this," said Ms. Fate. "It's a war zone out there."

We all stopped and listened to the chaos raging outside the bar. Even behind the shuttered windows and the locked doors, even behind Merlin's ancient defences, we could still hear screams and howls, the rage of fires and the rumble of collapsing buildings. Raw hatred ran loose in the streets, and it was hard to tell what sounds were human and which weren't, any more.

"So," I said, trying hard to sound confident, "who's coming with me?"

"I am," said Suzie Shooter. "But you knew that already."

"Yes," I said. "My love."

"I may puke," said Alex.

"I can't go with you," said Walker. "I have responsibilities, to my people. Many of them are still out there, fighting. Someone has to stay here, to organise the resistance. In case you don't come back. I will do my best to keep Lilith distracted while you make your run to Shadows Fall."

"I'll go with you, old thing," said Tommy Oblivion, throwing his notebook aside. "I feel fine again. Honest! And I owe you more than I can ever repay. I was so wrong about you."

"If you're going, then I'm going, too," his brother Larry said immediately. "You'll need someone to watch your back. You always do."

"You're not coming, and that's final!" snapped Tommy. "I don't care if you are dead, one of us has to survive this mess, to look after Mother."

Larry subsided, muttering under his breath. Razor Eddie drank the last of his designer water, tossed the bottle carelessly over his shoulder, and nodded to me.

"I'll go. I've always wanted to see Shadows Fall."

"I'm not going, and you can't make me!" said Alex Morrisey. "I've got a bar to run. And no, you can't have the Coltranes either. I need them, to protect the place."

Alex couldn't leave Strangefellows. The bar's geas held him there. We all knew that, but he had a reputation to keep up.

"I cannot go to Shadows Fall," said Merlin. "And no, I'm not going to tell you why. I'll just say… you'd think such a proud, ancient, and legendary town would have more of a sense of humour about… certain things. I'll stay here and keep Lilith's attention focused on me. I'm pretty sure I can set up a glamour, to fool her into thinking Taylor's still here with me. For a while, anyway…"

I looked at Julien Advent. "I really could use your help on this one, Julien…"

But he was already shaking his head. "I'm sorry, John. It's my responsibility to protect the Nightside, not risk my life on such a long shot. I'll help Walker run the resistance. I have contacts and associates and Beings who owe me favours that even he doesn't know about."

"I wouldn't put money on that," said Walker. "But thanks, Julien. I could use someone level-headed around here."

"Who's he looking at?" Alex said loudly. "I don't know what he's talking about. Like to see him run a dive like this. I can feel one of my funny turns coming on."

In his own way, he was trying to cheer us up. I looked at Cathy before she could say anything.

"No," I said, "you can't come with me. You'd have to kill or be killed out there, and I won't have that on my conscience."

She nodded jerkily. Her eyes were full of tears she refused to shed. "You come back safe," she said. "Or I'll never forgive you."

"I'll keep an eye on her," said Ms. Fate. "She's stronger than you know."

"You keep her safe," I said. "Or I'll come back from my death to haunt your Bat-cave."

"You probably would, too," said Ms. Fate. "I wish I could go with you, but I know my limitations. Good luck, Taylor."

And that left Dead Boy. He scowled, shook his head, and finally shrugged. "Oh hell, why not? I could use a little excitement. Where did I put that duct tape… ?"

"I could use my gift to transport you right to the station entrance," Tommy