第25部分(第1/7 頁)

？He？s　in　here　somewhere；？　Jade　Empire　explained；　clearly　disinterested。　？You？ve　got　an

appointment；　right？？

？I　think　so。？

？Well；　just　hang　out。　He？ll　show　up　sooner　or　later。　Good　luck　with　whatever　it　is。？　She　shrugged

and　kicked　off　her　beaded　yellow　Chinese　slippers　and　shuffled　away　into　the　depths　of　the　loft；

disappearing　behind　the　bookcase。

Vanessa　turned　to　the　wall　behind　her；　which　was　covered　from　floor　to　ceiling　with　framed

photographs　of　all　different　sizes。　She　recognized　some　of　them？they　were　Ken　Mogul？s　own

work。　Before　meeting　him；　Vanessa　had　worshipped　the　filmmaker；　and　she　knew　everything　he？d

ever　done。　His　favorite　place　in　the　world　was　Capri；　in　Italy；　and　before　turning　to　filmmaking；

Mogul　had　been　a　renowned　photographer。　Mixed　in　with　his　art　photos　of　half…nude　models

lolling　around　on　litter…strewn　subway　platforms　were　snapshots　of　Ken　crammed　into　nightclub

booths　beside　famous　faces　like　Madonna；　Angelina　Jolie　and　Brad　Pitt；　and　David　Bowie。

？Like　what　you　see？？　came　a　gravelly　voice　from　behind　her。

Vanessa　turned　to　see　the　taut；　stubbly　face　of　Ken　Mogul　himself。　He　had　the　unnerving　habit　of

seeming　not　to　blink；　and　he　fixed　his　slightly　bloodshot　bulging　blue　eyes　on　her　with　a　crazed

smile。　He　wore　a　plaid　flannel　vest　and　old　Levi？s　chopped　off　at　the　knees。

？Here？s　the　deal。？　He　went　on　without　waiting　for　her　response。　He　wheeled　around　and　Vanessa

had　no　choice　but　to　follow　him　past　the　massive　bookshelf　and　into　an　enormous　office　with　a

garage…door…size　window。　？Here。　Sit。？　He　poured　Vanessa　a　tall　glass　of　what　looked　like　chilled

mint　tea　from　a　green　glass　pitcher　and　pointe