第5部分(第7/7 頁)

She　felt　oddly　betrayed。　〃That's　really　pathetic；〃　she　said；　recalling

the　tall；　handsomely　bearded　man　in　jeans；　boots；　and　a　simple　peasant

shirt。　〃I'd　have　thought　that；　with　what　you　stood　for　at　one　time；　you

might　have　minimized　crass　capitalism。　You　have　sold　out；　which　just

goes　to　show　how　terribly　wrong　one　person　can　be　in　the　judging　of

another；　or　how　necive。〃

Ross　had　risen。　His　eyes　were　too　dark　to　distinguish　anger　from　hurt。

〃You　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。　You　didn't　know　me　then；　and

you　certainly　don't　know　me　now。　When　I　returned　from　Africa　that　last

time　with　my　grungy　denims；　my　dashiki；　and　my　beard〃…his　eyes

narrowed…〃it　took　me　all　of　a　week　to　shuck　them。　And　do　you　know　why？〃

He　went　on　only　when　she　shook　her　head。　〃Because　I　saw　that　there　was

more　narrow…mindedness；　more　prejudice；　ing　from　the　mouths　of　the

hippie　generation　than　anywhere　else。　Because　of　my　appearance；　I　was

assumed　to　be　one　of　them；　until　they　discovered　that　I　didn't　always

think　the　way　they　did；　that　I　had　a　mind　of　my　own。　The　true　sign　of　a

liberal；　Chloe；　is　accepting　people　for　their　differences；　respecting

their　right　to　be　different。　Those　others；　the　ones　who　prided

themselves　on　being　nonconformists；　declared　all…out　war　on　the

establishment。　And　what　happened？〃

Without　waiting　for　her　response　he　went　on；　his　voice　low　but

relentless；　his　gaze　intense。　He　put　his　hands　on　the　t