第3部分(第1/7 頁)

〃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　like　to　respond　to　the　gentleman。〃　Her　expression

brooked　no　argument。　She　was　determined。　Ross　straightened　and　backed

off；　seeming　bemused。

She　looked　back　at　the　man　in　the　audience。　〃First　things　first；　Mr。…〃

〃…Younger；〃　he　supplied；　dropping　the　r　at　the　end　of　his　name　in　true

New　England　form。　〃…Mr。　Younger。　I　have　a　bachelor　of　science　in　geology

from　Williams　College　in　Williamstown；　Massachusetts；　and　a　master's　in

geology　from　Boston　College。　I　spent　three　years　working　for　Conarn

Petroleum；　performing　geological　studies　on　oil　deposits　in　the　Gulf　of

Mexico。　I　was　then　able　to　co…found　Earth　Science　Education；　Inc。；　the

consulting　firm　that　was　contacted　by　Senator　Wolschinski　to　study　the

pros　and　cons　of　the　Rye　Beach　Resort　and　Condominium　plex。〃　Holding

the　man's　gaze　steadily；　she　pushed　on。　〃I　have　control　over　neither　my

age　nor　my　looks。　And　I　never　worked　for　Senator　Wolschinski　prior　to

the　day　he　retained　my　services　for　this　project。〃　She　tipped　up　her

chin　a　hair。　〃Have　you　any　other　questions？〃

Again　a　collective　murmur　went　through　the　crowd。　Just　as　the　man

shrugged　and　stepped　back；　Chloe　saw　the　hand　on　the　podium　lift。　Ross

pressed　his　chin　with　his　thumb；　looking　satisfied；　respectful。

He　wasn't　the　only　one　she　had　impressed。　A　different　voice　rose　from

the　audience。　〃The　taxpayers'　money　has　been　well　spent　for　a　change。

Thank　you；　Ms。　Macdaniel！〃

Chloe　directed　a　full　smile　across　the　ocean　of　heads　as　she　leane