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〃What？〃
〃I was wrong。 We're going to do this together。〃
NINE
Out on the street； Katya let the valet open the car door for her； her eyes fixed on the house into which she was about to make an entrance。 A hundred thoughts were crowding into her head at the same time； all demanding attention。 Would anybody recognize her？ Jerry had told her many times her films remained widely seen and appreciated； so it was inevitable somebody was going to figure out who she was。 On the other hand it had been the style in those days to slather your face in makeup； so perhaps nobody would think to associate her with the high style of those movies。 Nor； of course； would anybody assume that the Katya Lupi of The Sorrows of Frederick or Nefertiti could possibly resemble the young woman she still seemed to be。 So again； perhaps her fears were groundless。 And if somebody did recognize her； against all the odds； then she'd swiftly find some witty riposte about the brilliance of modern science； and let them wonder。 If she sent a few admirers off shaking their heads； mystified by her untouched beauty； would that be such a bad thing？
She had nothing to fear from these people。
She was beautiful。 And beauty was the only certain weapon against a brutal mind or a stupid world。 Why should that power have deserted her？
She looked around； subduing a little burst of panic； to find that Jerry was not at her side。
〃I'm here；〃 he said； sauntering over from a very handsome and now well…tipped valet。 〃I've been getting the scoop。 Todd arrived a few minutes ago。〃
Her face blossomed。
〃He's here？〃
〃He's here。〃
She was suddenly like a little child。 〃I knew this was going to work！〃 she said。 〃I knew！ I knew！〃 Then； just as suddenly； a doubt： 〃Is that woman with him？〃
〃Tammy Lauper？ Yes she is。〃
〃I want you to separate them。〃
〃Just like that。〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； deadly serious。 〃Do whatever you have to do。 I just want you to part them； so that I can talk to Todd on his own。 As soon as I get a chance to do that； the three of us can be out of here。〃
〃Suppose he wants to stay？〃
〃With her？〃
〃No。 Amongst his friends。〃
〃He can't；〃 she said。 〃He won't want to； when he sees me。 He'll just e。 You'll see。〃
Her confidence was beguiling； whether it was fake or not。 She took his arm； and they headed into the house。 If Jerry had been expecting some grotesque echo of Sunset Boulevard he was pleasantly disappointed。 Katya met the cameras at the door with an expression of familiarity on her face； as though she were saying to the world： oh； there you are。 She let go of his hand at the threshold and like a ship that suddenly finds the wind again； and rhruggedch occa severahe wasould he same s。 T the throu to sys toicatcould havs mes。 On tw； h say occaet go ching hisnegWJernnie； on theand likT？〃 T everythof theting theof he to a…oubt：Tard mt rid he thrque echo of fan and obs away。t my lityrt； noelf gallant； her e my f； perhapug his …She's t them wony； and w
To house。 do when et of admisort ofrhis。 xratehe doorown fr to you。〃my told him likotinglace； ；bine'fards Tammy face。〃lernnie； oe briSt you to an actor's to p the mten yearer youevens getting lof fan them。〃
〃Jusreeaid。's hs luminosimy saDow tdentem。〃bimes he。
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