RANSVESTIA

mouth and nudged Arthur. The "big star" was clearly zonked out of his mind. I don't know what drug he was using but it left his pupils dilated as he stared incoherently at some inner vision. I turned away in disgust. I'd pulled out my press identification and could see that the Countess had recognized it right away. She was trying to organize him, but I'd get nothing out of him that night. I left Ray making up lies why I'd pulled out of our "interview" and headed for the exit.

I saw the legs first on the stairs. Slim legs on high heels, open to show off her painted toes. Her midi-dress was fashionably old- fashioned as she pouted at me from very bright red lips when my eyes reached her face. Her red hair was just like in the photograph, a heavy curled fringe with the side hair swept back behind her ears to show off the butterfly earrings. Straight on, I could see the face was wider, with high cheekbones that set off her attractive smile, than in the photographs. Again, her beautiful, small nose, so feminine, raised doubts in my mind.

"Guten tag, Romy," I said and she was both surprised and amused. There were two other feminine apparitions behind her on the stairs, both blonde, and eagerly sizing up the men in the place, including

me.

"I don't know you," she said firmly in English. Her voice was as female as any I'd heard, not a trace of masculine throatiness. I couldn't see a sign of Adam's apple, either, at her neck, and somehow I was disappointed.

I took out my credential again. "Al Evans," I shouted, as the next record began to blare. The two blondes, I still didn't know if they were men or women, were swept away onto the dance floor, but I shepherded Romy towards the bar. She accepted the drink readily enough while examining my identification minutely.

She sipped daintily on the daquiri which everyone drank, while handing the press card back to me. "You should talk to Arthur," she yelled, not giving away a trace of masculinity, even at volume. "That's a story for you."

I shook my head and made a sign to show that Bellamy's brains were scrambled. She looked longingly at the dance floor. So, I did what was necessary.