第2部分(第3/7 頁)

d　willowy；　dark　haired　and　light　plected；　she　was　the　image　of

grace。　Her　dress　was　of　a　soft　and　simple　white　eyelet　fabric；　lined

through　the　bodice　and　skirt；　the　sleeves　hanging　free　and　loose　to　her

elbows。　A　wide　sash　of　contrasting　aqua　enhanced　both　the　slimness　of

her　waist　and　the　porcelain　of　her　skin。

Her　voice　was　steady　and　well…modulated。　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Hart；　for　your

kind　introduction。　Let　me　say　how　pleased　I　was　to　have　been　approached

by　your　representatives　last　spring。　Not　only　do　I　have　a　professional

interest　in　your　coastline；　but　I　have　an　emotional　involvement　with　the

entire　New　England　coast；　since　it's　my　home　of　choice。　In　keeping　with

this；　let　me　begin　by　saying　that　I　am　not　opposed　to　the　Rye　Beach

Resort　and　Condominium　plex　per　se。　What　Mr。　Stephenson　has　outlined

for　you　sounds　like　a　project　that　could　benefit　this　area。　But　I

question　the　ecological　wisdom　of　the　plan　as　it　stands。　The　thought　of

a　beachfront　condominium　may　appeal　to　the　romantic　in　us　all；　but　this

plan　isn't　environmentally　wise。〃

As　she　proceeded　to　explain　the　core　results　of　her　tests；　she　was

oblivious　to　all　else　but　her　work。　The　most　powerful　tool　she　had　was

genuine　concern。　〃In　terms　of　storm　surge　alone；　the　Hansen　proposal　is

risky；〃　she　argued；　pointing　to　the　carefully　calculated　figures　now

projected　on　a　slide　screen。　〃Once　every　six　or　seven　years　you　folks

get　a　storm　strong　enough　to　do　significant　damage　to　structures　built

so　close　to　the　beach。　If　the　entire　plex　were　to　be　moved　back　an

additional　two　hundred　feet；　the　risk　would　be　lessened。〃

Again　she　explained　her　theory