小说园

第3部分（第1页）

〃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　masters　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　mans　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　wasnt　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　leaned

toward　the　microphone　a　final　time。　〃Its　been　my　honor。　If　my　effort

here　has　helped　to　preserve　the　natural　bounty　of　your　state；　then　weve

all　benefited。　Thank　you。〃

It　was　the　perfect　time　to　make　a　gracious；　if　not　sweeping　exit。　With

Ross　still　standing　aside　in　deference　to　the　crowd　applauding　its

appreciation　of　her；　she　should　have　quit　while　she　was　ahead。　Her

mistake　was　in　looking　back　at　him。

His　smile　was　devastating。　Chloe　felt　her　chest　tighten；　as　she　was

caught　in　the　throes　of　memory　again。　She　was　suddenly　immobilized；

suspended　in　a　matrix　of　desire　and　guilt　that　canceled　out　the　years

that　had　e　between；　until　there　was　only　yesterday；　Ross；　Crystal；

and　the　toss　of　a　coin。

When　a　last…minute　surge　brought　members　of　the　audience　to　the　stage；　a

shaken　Chloe　returned　to　the　present。　She　had　to　concentrate　again；