第13部分(第7/7 頁)

　was　going　to　be　very　serious　and

obscure；　but　it　was　better　than　shouting　goofy　songs　and　doing　the

Hokey…Pokey　with　fat；　red…faced　Ralph　Bottoms　III。　Vanessa’s　tryout

had　started　an　hour　ago；　on　a　bench　in　Madison　Square　Park；　but

maybe　it　was　still　going　on。　Once　again；　Serena　found　herself

running　for　a　cab；　headed　downtown。

“This　is　how　I　want　you　to　do　it；”　Vanessa　told　Marjorie　Jaffe；　a

sophomore　at　Constance　and　the　only　girl　who　had　shown　up　to　try

out　for　the　role　of　Natasha　in　Vanessa’s　film。　Marjorie　had　curly　red

hair　and　freckles；　a　little　pug　nose；　and　no　neck。　She　chewed　gum

incessantly；　and　she　was　pletely；　nightmarishly；　wrong　for　the

part。

The　sun　was　setting；　and　Madison　Square　Park　was　basked　in　a

pretty　pink　glow。　The　air　had　the　distinct　smell　of　New　York　in

autumn；　a　mixture　of　smoking　fireplaces；　dried　leaves；　steaming　hot

dogs；　dog　pee；　and　bus　exhaust。

Daniel　was　lying　on　his　back　on　the　park　bench　the　way　Vanessa

had　told　him　to；　a　wounded　soldier；　with　his　limbs　sprawled　out

pathetically。　Wounded　in　war　and　in　love；　he　was　tragically　pale　and

thin　and　rumpled…looking。　A　little　glass　crack　pipe　lay　on　his　chest。

Lucky　Vanessa　had　found　it　o