第1部分(第7/7 頁)

emember　the　skin　beneath；　firm　and

drawn　taut　over　the　muscles　of　shoulder；　chest；　and　arms；　its　dark

matting　of　hair　a　cushion　for　her　head；　a　playground　for　her　fingers。

She　forced　those　fingers　to　work　now；　making　notes　of　words　that　she

barely　heard；　that　her　mind　could　barely　assimilate。　Still　she　made

herself　concentrate；　jotting　down　thoughts　with　increasing　rapidity　in

an　attempt　to　keep　her　mind　on　the　present　and　off　the　past。

But　was　it　the　past　that　brought　her　head　up　again　and　her　gaze　back　to

Ross？　Was　she　intrigued　for　old　times'　sake　alone？　His　dark　hair　was

thick　but　well…trimmed　and　bed　into　as　much　submission　as　she　guessed

it　would　go。　Eleven　years　ago　it　had　been　longer　and　even　thicker。　With

the　beard；　he　was　like　a　bear…large；　overpowering；　dominant；　but　cuddly。

Now　there　was　a　refinement　to　him；　a　control　in　his　stance；　a

purposefulness。　Addressing　his　audience；　he　conveyed　petence　and

intelligence。

And　that　audience　was　enrapt；　some　nodding；　others　shaking　their　heads；

all　measuring　his　words　with　the　keen　interest　that　had　brought　them　out

on　this　mild　September　night。

His　voice　was　deep　and　resonant　as　it　flowed　through　the　mike　and　filled

the　room。　〃The　benefit　to　your　munity　would　be　multifold。　We're

proposing　to　use　a　parcel　of　land　that　is　presently　under