‘I wrote a book called Neverwhere. It was a TV show first – you probably wouldn’t have seen it. The novel version is very different, because in between the two I’d been given the Sight. So the novel was a rather more authentic, if still metaphorical, story about there being a hidden London. Some of the folk who live here and know about these things picked up on that, and they started to come along to signings. And I’d sort of know, whenever I shook the hand of one of them?’ He had that American end-of-sentence question in his accent, Sefton noted. ‘They’d very kindly invite me along to their get-togethers, and, whenever I could, I went. They’re very set in their ways, but the odd thing is that London isn’t.’ He raised a finger and held it there as he seemed to want to completely explore a thought before he said it. ‘Have you been to any of the other cities of the Sight?’

Ross sounded slightly defensive. ‘No.’

‘We’ve been a bit busy,’ said Sefton.

‘Paris is quite something. Cork I didn’t really understand. Northampton is kind of … cute. Barnsley is delightful. New York is exactly what you’d expect.’

‘Right,’ said Sefton, hoping that he sounded as if he knew what New York was expected to be.

‘Listen, you’ve heard of Jerusalem Syndrome?’ Gaiman looked away as he continued, as if realizing there was the potential of rudeness here if he assumed knowledge they didn’t have. ‘When people go to Jerusalem, and within days, hours sometimes, they become convinced that they’re not just a very naughty boy but are actually the Messiah? Well, I think that’s sort of what the Sight is. That written large. Jerusalem, as far as I know, isn’t a city of the Sight, though it has, as everywhere does, a handful of features only the Sighted can see, and no, I don’t know why some cities are like this and others aren’t. The Sight gives other cities the same superpowers over the human psyche that Jerusalem has. Both effects are about the buildings, about what the shape of individual cities does to the natural human heart. I don’t mean just the buildings – that’s only one of many layers. You’ve seen people make gestures now, use their voices? That’s that layer. But if you place the buildings right…’ He quickly moved the places of the cups and teapot on the table. ‘That’s another way to work with it.’ He pointed out of the window. ‘I met you here so I could show you this. We’re at Seven Dials, the conjunction of seven roads. When you look at the pillar in the middle, using the Sight, what do you feel?’