第13部分(第2/7 頁)

　bra…and…panty　sets；　with　white　fish…net

over…the…knee　stockings；　white　elbow…length　gloves　and　white　suede　over…the…knee　boots。　After

marching　down　the　gangplank　with　military…style　efficiency　they　began　a　plicated　dance　that

looked　like　a　cross　between　air　traffic　control　and　water　ballet。　Suddenly　the　neat　rows　of

gesticulating　models　parted　to　reveal　a　dapper　dude　with　curly；　shoulder…length　red　hair；　wearing　a

white　three…piece　suit；　carrying　a　jewel…encrusted　gold　cane；　andtap…dancing　。

No　joke。

Red　curls　bouncing；　he　tap…danced　right　up　to　the　end　of　the　runway；　stopped　on　a　dime；　and

began　to　applaud　the　audience。　Behind　him　the　models　stood　on　one　leg；　with　the　other　knee

raised　high；　like　flamingos；　applauding；　too。　Then　the　music　stopped　and　the　audience　went　wild。

The　redhead　had　to　be　Jedediah　Angel；　Vanessa　decided；　and　he　was　standing　directly　in　front　of

her。　He　took　a　deep　bow；　looking　a　bit　like　the　Wizard　of　Oz　in　his　tight　white　suit。　Suddenly　he

pointed　at　her　and　began　to　whoop　and　clap；　motioning　for　her　to　stand　up。　Vanessa　shook　her

head；　alarmed；　but　Jedediah　Angel　kept　on　beckoning　to　her。　？Stand　up；　baby！　Standup　！？

The　crowd　was　going　crazy　now。　They　didn？t　even　know　who　the　hell　Vanessa　was；　but　if

Jedediah　Angel　wanted　her　to　bow；　she　must　besomebody　。　Giving　in；　Vanessa　stood　up；　her　face

burning　with　embarrassment　and　her　shoulders　shaking　in　an　uncharacteristically　nervous　fit　of　the

giggles　as　she　bowed　her　head　to　acknowledge　their　applause。

She　could　already　hear　Ken　Mogul　whispering　in　her　ear；　？Get　used　to　it　baby；　you？ve　rocked

their　world！？　And　even　though　itwas　kind　of　cool　to　have　so　many　people　a