第6部分(第1/7 頁)

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

relentless；　his　gaze　intense。　He　put　his　hands　on　the　table。　〃When　was

the　last　time　you　saw　a　flower　child？　Hmm？　They've　vanished。　Disbanded。

Lost　the　war。〃　The　pause　he　took　was　for　a　deep　breath。　〃Well；　I　haven't

lost。　I'm　working　from　within　to　change　things。　Did　that　ever　occur　to

you；　Chloe？　You've　been　so　quick　to　label　me　first　one　way；　then　the

other。　Did　it　ever　occur　to　you　that　your　impression　wasn't　even　skin

deep；　that　there's　a　me　under　it　all？〃

It　was　a　while　before　Chloe　was　able　to　speak。　She　certainly　didn't　know

Ross。　This　speech　presented　a　new　side　of　him。　And　he　was　right。

〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said。　〃It　was　wrong　of　me　to　do　that。　I'm　not　always

that　way。〃　She　tried　a　smile　in　apology。　To　her　relief；　it　seemed　to

work。　His　features　relaxed。

〃Only　with　me；　eh？〃　He　inhaled　deeply　and　stood　tall；　holding　his　breath

for　a　minute　while　his　head　fell　back；　then　releasing　it　as　his　eyes　met

hers。

She　felt　suitably　contrite　and　suddenly　drained。　〃You　have　a　knack　for

bringing　out　my　extremes。　I　guess　I'm　just　tired。　It's　late。〃　A　glance

at　the　bold　face　of　Ross's　watch　told　her　exactly　how　late。　〃Oh；　Lord！

It's　two　in　the　morning！〃　She　caught　her　breath；　looked　at　the　ceiling；

and　whispered；　〃Do　you　think　we've　woken　anyone　up？〃

Ross's　chiding　was　gentle。　〃No　need　to　whisper　now。　If　our　yelling

didn't　wake　'em；　nothing　will。〃　He　took　the　two　empty　coffee　cups　and

brought　them　to　the　sink。

Chloe　wiped　off　the　table。　〃If　it　hadn't　been　for　that　battery；　I'd　have

been　back　home　in　bed　by　now。〃

〃Instead；〃　he　teased；　〃w