第11部分(第6/7 頁)

〃But　not　for　long。　That's　it；　isn't　it？　You　think　we're　headed　down　a

dead…end　street？〃

〃Unless　the　powers　that　dole　out　money　for　education　loosen　up。　They're

thinking　A；　B；　Cs。　We're　talking　H；　I；　Js。　We're　strictly　elective；　they

say。　A　luxury　they　can't　afford。〃

Chloe's　mind　raced　ahead。　〃A　good　third　of　our　work　is　through　the

public　schools。　Oh；　boy。　We'd　better　rethink　that。〃

〃Smart　girl。〃

〃Private　enterprise；〃　she　announced　without　hesitation。

〃e　again？　Business　isn't　our　field。〃

Chloe　laughed　at　the　confusion　on　Lee's　bearded　face。　〃No。　But　I　said　it

to　Debbie　earlier　this　morning　and　I　meant　it。　What　we　need　is　to

affiliate　ourselves　with　corporations　as　resident　geologists；　be　the

geologistson…call　for　several　of　these　large　development　corporations。

You　know；　like…〃

〃…the　Hansen　Corporation？〃

The　thought　took　her　off…guard。　〃No；〃　she　said　with　deliberate　care。　〃I

was　thinking　more　of　firms　like　Cabot　and　Walker；　or　Fennimen　East。〃

But　Lee　was　grinning。　〃What's　wrong　with　the　Hansen　Corporation？〃

〃Nothing；〃　she　said；　but　rethought　her　answer　when　Lee　was　clearly

disbelieving。　She　lowered　her　voice。　〃What's　wrong　with　the　Hansen

Corporation　is　that　Ross　Stephenson　is　its　president。〃

So？〃

〃Lee；〃　she　pleaded；　〃Ross　is　a　friend。　I　would　no　more　ask　him　to　hire

ESE　than　。。。　than。。　。〃　She　went　silent；　at　a　loss　for　words。　She　was

hoping　to　survive　a　single　weekend　with　Ross。　She　couldn't　begin　to

imagine　working　with　him　on　an　ongoing　basis。

Lee　grew　serious。　〃What　is　he　to　you；　Chloe？〃

She　sighed；　giving　up　the　struggle　to　find　excuses。　〃We　knew　each　other

before