第2部分(第7/7 頁)

laught　with　ease；　rising　to　meet　the　challenge　in　spite　of　an　unease

in　the　pit　of　her　stomach。　It　was　only　when　a　question　was　directed　at

Ross　that　she　let　herself　look　at　him　again。　The　breadth　of　his

shoulders　was　more　marked　now　that　his　jacket　was　open　and　pulled　back

by　the　hand　in　his　trousers'　pocket。　His　other　hand　rested　on　the

podium；　fingers　long　and　straight；　tanned；　relaxed。

Several　questions　later；　a　gruff…looking　local　came　forward。　〃I　have　a

question　for　Ms。　Macdaniel；〃　he　said　in　a　forceful　voice。　It　brought　her

mind　back；　along　with　a　certain　wariness。　〃Yes？〃

He　stared　straight　at　her。　〃I　want　to　know　what　makes　you　qualified　to

be　a　consultant。　You　look　awful　young　and　awful　pretty。〃　His　words　took

on　a　faint　sneer。　〃What's　with　you　and　Wolschinski？　Are　you　a　regular　on

his　payroll？〃

A　murmur　of　dismay　passed　through　the　audience。　It　was　small　solace　for

the　shock　Chloe　felt。　In　the　past　she'd　had　to　defend　her　qualifications

on　occasion；　but　never　in　the　wake　of　such　a　crude　insinuation。

Poise　and　professionalism　were　called　for；　and　she　mustered　them　up。　But

when　she　opened　her　mouth　to　speak；　Ross　beat　her　to　the　mike。

〃I　believe；〃　he　said　in　a　hard　voice；　〃that　your　question　has　no

relevance…〃

〃Excuse　me　for　interrupting；　Mr。　Stephenson。〃　She　leaned　toward　the

mike；　looking　at　Ross　for　the　first　time　entirely　in　the　context　of　the

present。　〃I　would