第2部分(第1/7 頁)

proposing　to　use　a　parcel　of　land　that　is　presently　underused。　The

resort　will　attract　guests　who　will　patronize　local　businesses。　Food

outlets；　entertainment　houses；　restaurants；　real　estate

establishments…all　stand　to　gain　from　the　Rye　Beach　plex。　The

condominium　plex　will　bring　untold　tax　revenue　both　to　state　and

local　purses。　Given　the　easy　access　to　this　area　by　the　federal　highway

system；　the　condominium　units　will　be　in　high　demand　year　round。〃

Chloe　found　herself　listening　closely；　wondering　how　this　could　be　the

same　man　who　had　once　chosen　to　live　on　a　munal　farm　in　Kentucky。

That　free…spirited　Ross　was　a　far　cry　from　this　entrepreneurial　one。

Trying　to　reconcile　the　two　was　impossible。

Howard　leaned　close。　〃He's　a　powerful　speaker。　What　do　you　think？

Will　he　have　them　sold　before　we　even　present　our　side？〃

She　answered　without　taking　her　eyes　from　Ross。　〃Lord；　I　hope　not。　I

often　work　with　groups　of　shoreline　residents。　They　feel　strongly　about

the　land；　which　is　their　finest　resource。　I'll　be　appealing　for　the

preservation　of　that　resource。〃

〃You're　a　powerful　speaker　yourself；　Chloe。　I　heard　you　address　that

group　on　Martha's　Vineyard　on　the　subject　of　natural　erosion　patterns。

You　had　them　eating　out　of　the　palm　of　your　hand。〃

Chloe　gave　a　crooked　smile。　〃Many　of　the　issues　are　the　same　here。

Let's　hope　they　buy　it；　too。〃

Ross　finished　his　formal　presentation　and　opened　the　floor　for

questions。　A　podium　and　microphone　had　been　set　up　in　the　center　aisle

of　the　auditorium。　One　by　one；　those　residents　e

forward。　Most　asked　about　specifics；　all　of　which　Chloe　noted　on　her

pad