第4部分(第3/7 頁)

　pregnant

with　unspoken　thoughts。　〃Why　geology？〃

She　shrugged。　〃Why　not？〃

He　didn't　pull　any　punches。　〃Because　it's　one　of　the　last　fields　that

someone　raised　in　the　style　of　conspicuous　consumption　would　choose。〃

〃Maybe　that's　why　I　chose　it。〃

〃Ah。〃　He　smiled。　〃You　were　rebelling。〃

〃Not　entirely…〃

〃Escaping？〃

She　looked　away。　〃You're　perceptive。　But　only　half　right。〃

〃Go　on。〃

Chloe　tucked　a　long　strand　of　dark　hair　behind　her　ear。　〃It　was　actually

a　simultaneous　discovery@scape　and　excitement。　At　that　period　of　my

life；　I　needed　something　that　was　a　total　change　from　everything　I'd

known　before。　I　spent　some　time　in　Newport　with　friends　and　fell　in　love

with　the　ocean　there。〃

〃You　found　solace？〃　he　asked　gently。

She　admitted　it　with　a　small　tilt　of　her　head。　〃I　spent　a　lot　of　time　on

the　beach　and　happened　to　befriend　an　old　man　who　felt　very　strongly

about　environmental　considerations。　He　affected　me　deeply。〃　The　memory

of　Hector　Wallaby　brought　a　sad　smile　to　her　lips。

〃He's　dead？〃

〃Yes。　I　miss　him。　He　never　knew　it；　but　in　spirit　at　least；　he　was　the

founding　father　of　ESE；　Inc。〃

〃Were　you　in　college　during　the　time　you　knew　him？〃

Chloe　sat　straighter。　〃Uh；　no。　I　。。。　my　freshman　year　was　postponed。〃

〃So　you　started　college　late　and　have　still　done　all　this？〃

The　pliment　gave　her　a　boost。　She　smiled。　〃Once　I　decided　to　go　into

geology　I　was　in　a　rush。〃

Ross　smiled　back。　Firm　lips　framed　the　whitest　of　teeth；　mesmerizing　her

for　the　split　second　until　he　said；　〃You　worked　for　Conam　Petroleum？〃

〃Yes。　Do　you　know　the　pany？〃

He　shook　his　head。　〃Only　b