第18部分(第5/7 頁)

eeks；　by　which　time　the　tanker

would　have　reached　its　proposed　burn　site　and　started　to　work。　Three

weeks　would　take　her　into　the　second　week　in　November。　After　a　week　in

Mobile；　Thanksgiving　would　be　at　hand。

Thanksgiving。　She　felt　a　soft；　distant　shudder。　Should　she　go　home？

Alabama　was　in　the　vicinity　of　Louisiana。　Mobile　was　a　hop；　skip；　and

jump　from　New　Orleans。　She　hadn't　seen　her　parents　in　a　long　time。　She

missed　them　a　lot。　Same　with　her　brothers。　One　of　them　might　be　there；

too。

But　there　would　be　memories　of　another　Thanksgiving；　not　only　in　Chloe's

mind　but　in　those　of　her　parents　and　brothers。　Could　she　face　those？　In

eleven　years　she　had　never　made　it　home　for　Thanksgiving。　They　must　have

guessed　why。　No　doubt　they　were　relieved。　Looking　at　Chloe　was　seeing

Crystal；　too。　She　hated　to　impose　that　on　a　family　Thanksgiving。

The　phone　rang　again。　〃Chloe？　Howard　Wolschinski　here。　I　just　got　a　call

from　Stephenson。　He's　ready　to　talk。〃　He　paused。　Chloe　didn't　know　what

to　say。　〃Are　you　still　there？〃　he　asked。

〃I'm　here；　Howard。〃　She　sighed；　resigned。　She　should　have　known。　〃That's

good　news；〃　she　said　with　forced　enthusiasm。　〃Has　he　given　on　all　of　our

points？〃

〃He　hasn't　given　on　anything　yet。　But　he　says　that　he　hears　what　you're

saying　and　is　willing　to　have　you　work　with　his　people　to　revise　the

plans。〃

〃That's　fine。　My　studies　and　findings　are　all　clearly　outlined　in　the

report　I　did　for　you。　I'll　have　one　of　my　assistants　give　him　a　call。〃

〃He　wants　you。〃

〃Did　he　say　that？〃

〃Loud　and　clear。　His　exact　words　were；　〃If　it　were　anyone　else；　I'd　have

doubts。　But　Chloe