第38部分(第3/7 頁)

changing　out　of　her

suit　and　into　jeans；　and　putting　the　whole　matter　behind　her　at　last。

〃Today　we　go　to　the　lawyer's　office。　The　lawyer　representing　the

airline；　that　is。　It　seems　that　Southeast　American　Air　has　counter…filed

a　suit；　one　against　the　manufacturer　of　the　aircraft　itself。〃　He　waited

for　her　nod；　just　as　Jeff　would　have　done。　Then　he　went　on。　〃The　latest

investigation　points　to　a　weakness　in　the　design　of　the　craft　as　the

cause　of　the　accident；　rather　than　pilot　error　or　substandard

maintenance　procedures。　Southeast　American　Air　has　a　fine　reputation　on

those　scores。〃

Anne　didn't　understand。　〃Then　isn't　this　the　end　between　the　airline　and

me？　Why　do　I　need　to　do　anything　more？〃

Theodore　Boulton　took　her　cold　hand。　〃They　need　a　deposition　from　you；　a

statement　of　what　you　suffered　and　will　suffer　in　the　future　because　of

the　accident。　The　lawyer　asks　questions　and　you　answer　under　oath。　You

see；〃　he　explained；　〃in　order　to　arrange　a　settlement；　there　has　to　be

some　assessment　of　damages；　of　losses。　Not　only　will　our　lawyer；　the

airline's　lawyer；　and　its　president　be　there；　but　there　will　be　similar

representation　by　the　airplane　manufacturer。〃

She　sighed。　What　he　described　sounded　less　threatening　than　a　court

hearing。　Still；　the　prospect　of　a　question…and…answer　session　was　less

than　pleasant。　〃What　will　I　be　asked？〃

He　gave　a　negligent　shrug。　〃They'll　want　to　know　about　you　and　Jeff。　How

old　you　were　when　you　met　him。　How　long　you　were　married。　Where　he

worked。　How　much　money　he　earned。〃

〃But　aren't　those　things　matters　of　record；　already？〃

〃Yes；　but　a　deposition　is　a　sworn