第2部分(第6/7 頁)

ts　that　had

less　to　do　with　scientific　matters；　than　practical　ones。　They　wanted　to

know　things　like　how　increased　tax　revenues　would　be　used　to　benefit

local　residents；　and　who　would　pay　for　the　added　police　and　fire

coverage　that　would　be　necessary；　given　the　proportions　of　the　Rye　Beach

proposal。

It　was　closer　to　ten…forty　before　Howard　was　allowed　to　leave　the

microphone。　To　Chloe；　with　a　frantic　look　at　the　time；　he　said；　〃Thanks

again；　Chloe。　Think　you　can　cover　for　me　here　a　few　minutes　longer？〃

〃Sure　thing；　if　I　can　ansy　field　is　geology；　not

politics。〃

〃Don't　underestimate　yourself。　Why　not　change　your　mind　and　spend　the

night？　There　are　a　number　of　nice　inns　close　by。　It'll　be　a　long　drive

back　to　Rhode　Island　alone。〃

She　was　touched　by　his　worry；　but　confident。　〃I'll　be　fine。　Driving

relaxes　me。　I　have　plenty　of　unwinding　to　do。〃　A　movement　in　the　corner

of　her　eye　reminded　her　of　the　source　of　her　tension。　She　ignored　the

tall　figure　who　approached　for　all　she　was　worth。　〃Go　on　now；　Senator。

You'll　be　late。〃

Howard's　expression　was　wry。　〃I　already　am。　Take　care。〃　He　shot　a　glance

at　Ross。　〃Let　me　know　what　happens。〃

Chloe　found　no　humor　in　his　double　meaning；　particularly　with　Ross

suddenly　at　her　side。　〃I　think　they'd　like　to　ask　us　a　few　more

questions；〃　he　said　and　she　suddenly　wished　Howard　had　stayed；　if　only

to　serve　as　a　buffer。　She　was　on　her　own　now。

With　a　forced　smile；　she　stood。　〃Fine；〃　was　all　she　was　able　to　murmur

as　she　walked　to　the　podium。

Luck the　audience　came　quickly；

reimmersing　her　into　the　world　of　coastal　geology。　She　parried　the

ons