Don’t we? The Affluent Photographer talks of the outer areas of London being depopulated. Is anyone keeping a census? In a city being devoured by its Masters, is census-taking a revolutionary act?[/quote]
I remember that. But depopulation is not the same as disappearance. I think depopulation is due to people leaving (for the Colonies/Nadir/into the Zee/wherever) and dying, and not enough new arrivals. It’s hard to notice a slow depopulation without a census, yes. Disappearance? People would notice. There would be rumors. There would be mentions. We don’t really see that in the current London stories.
But it could be that, yes. It’s just that love stories are at the core of the Bazaar. It would be strange, if all of a sudden it was human sacrifices that it was after all along. They are so much easier to obtain than genuine stories after all. Personally, I thought mass extinction to be a side effect of moving the next city. So I am surprised to find the Bazaar/something in it hungry for them.