"'Ere, where're we goin'?" he said, stopping suddenly and looking around,
alarmed. "This ain't the way! Where the 'ell'd you bring us to, old man?"
"/ would appreciate it if you could refrain from calling me 'old man,'" said
Merlin. "There's no reason for us to continue staying in that hovel you've
been
living in. It's filthy, cramped, and rat-infested. It's not a fit place for a
human being to live."
"An' you think this is?" said Billy, looking up at the dark, foreboding,
tower
of black glass looming over them like some gargantuan, obsidian tombstone.
"If
you mink I'm goin' in mere, you're out of your bloomin' mind! There ain't
nothin' but freakin' screamers in that place! They'll tear me bleedin' 'eart
out
and 'ave it cooked for supper!"
"They will do no such thing," said Merlin. "Now come along."
Billy involuntarily took three steps forward before he could make himself
stop.
One foot lifted up to take another step, but with a determined effort Billy
planted it back down.
"I ain't goin' in there," he said obstinately.
"Now, Billy, don't be difficult."
"I ain't gettin' meself killed for the likes o'you," said Billy. "'Ey, if I
get
it, you get it, too, y'know."
"Nobody's going to 'get it,' all right?" said Merlin. "In fact, you've
already
been in there before."
"I 'ave? Go on, I 'ave not! When?"
"When you were sleeping," Merlin said, patiently. "I have... or perhaps I
should
say we have been here before. We have living quarters on the top floor."
Billy frowned. "We do?"
"We do. The people in there know us and won't bother us. Now come along, it's
getting chilly out here."
Billy sighed. "I don't know about this...."
"Trust me," Merlin said. "You have nothing to fear. I will protect you."
Billy swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and allowed Merlin to guide his
steps
into the building.
There were no front doors. They'd been smashed off long ago. The entrance led
into a dark courtyard lobby with a large fountain in the center. There was no
water in the fountain. Instead a small refuse fire was burning in the