第1部分(第3/7 頁)

thing　major　with　either？〃　he　asked。

〃No　on　both　counts。　But　I　didn't　clear　Little　pton　until　five；　and　by

that　time　the　rush…hour　traffic　was　horrid。　I　drove　as　fast　as　I　could。

I　hope　I　haven't　messed　things　up。〃

〃You　haven't。　The　meeting　was　called　for　seven　thirty。　You're　only　five

minutes　late。　It's　given　the　crowd　a　chance　to　settle　down。〃　He　guided

her　around　a　corner　with　a　light　hand　at　her　elbow　and　began　the　climb

as　soon　as　they　reached　a　staircase。

At　the　first　landing；　Chloe　asked；　〃How's　the　turnout？〃

He　grinned　sheepishly。　〃I　only　wish　we　did　half　as　well　at　political

rallies。　This　is　a　wele　change　from　apathy。　The　auditorium　is　packed。

There　must　be　several　hundred　people　in　there。〃

Chloe　was　surprised　and　decidedly　pleased。　〃Several　hundred？　Not　bad　for

a　county　meeting　in　New　Hampshire。〃　She　smiled；　lowering　her　voice

dramatically。　〃But　which　side　are　they　on？　Are　they　for　us　or　agin'　us？〃

Her　humor　drifted　unanswered　into　the　stale　schoolhouse　air　as　Howard

ushered　her　into　the　meeting　hall；　led　her　onto　the　stage；　and　ges　tured

her　into　a　seat。　He　took　one　by　her　side。　As　though　on　cue；　the　crowd

silenced　and　the　moderator　began。

〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；〃　he　said　in　a　voice　made　flat　by　its　broad　New

England　slant；　〃on　behalf　of　my　friends　and；　uh〃…he　cast　an　enpassing

glance　backward；　then　turned　a　cough　into　a　snicker；　bringing　chuckit's

from　the　audience@'adversaries　here　on　the　stage　with　me；　I　would　like

to　thank　you　for　ing　tonight。　It's　a　rare　pleasure　to　see　so　many　of

you　gathered　at　once。　We　realized　that　the　issue　of　the　Rye　Beach　Resort

and　Condominium　plex　would　stir