~4.12~

The space underneath the subway platform was larger than most people would ever guess, standing above it. The ground was cut away quite a bit lower than the tracks, allowing a man of even John’s impressive stature to stand with his head unbowed. It had originally been intended for maintenance and storage, but it had never been used for anything but temporary habitation.

Nobody was in it now, and John stripped himself of his clothing, carefully folding the garments many times over and stuffing them into his briefcase. He was naked except for a loincloth now, a state he greatly preferred but could rarely afford to enjoy on the surface. The ordinary people, the herd animals of the city, rarely took any more notice of John than he did of them, but it was best for him not to do too much to attract their attention.

Down in the lightless passages beneath the ground, though… in the network of tunnels which included subways, storm drains, utility crawl spaces, forgotten sub-basements, natural caves, and even stranger locales… John could be himself. It was not his world, and he could never bring himself to live someplace where he could not feel the sun and the wind on his back, but it was nice to be able to strip away his disguise so completely.

There was a grate for drainage at the back of the hidden space, and despite its old and rusty appearance it lifted quite easily, as it was a major access point for those coming to or going from the domain of the One-Eyed King. There was some light slanting down beneath the platform, but once John dropped down into the gently sloping tunnel, he was well and truly in the Kingdom of the Blind.

He had not brought a light, but he did not need one, and did not intend to give his position away to the keen senses of the underground dwellers.

Their senses were keen, but his were keener still.