第2部分(第2/9 頁)

it；　too。〃

Ross　finished　his　formal　presentation　and　opened　the　floor　for

questions。　A　podium　and　microphone　had　been　set　up　in　the　center　aisle

of　the　auditorium。　One　by　one；　those　residents　e

forward。　Most　asked　about　specifics；　all　of　which　Chloe　noted　on　her

pad：　the　price　range　of　the　condominiums　and　the　subsequent　tax　revenue；

the　time　projection　for　the　erection　of　the　units；　the　capacity　of　the

resort　plex；　and　a　listing　of　its　self…contained　facilities。　At

length；　Felix　Hart　stood　and　joined　Ross　at　center　stage。

〃I'm　afraid　we　have　to　move　on　now；〃　he　apologized；　eyeing　the　large

clock　on　the　front　face　of　the　balcony。　〃There's　still　another　side　to

consider。　Thank　you；　Mr。　Stephenson。　You've　been　very　direct　and　a　great

help。　Perhaps　we'll　have　time　for　more　questions　later。〃

Chloe　watched　with　growing　excitement　as　Ross　returned　to　his　seat　and

that　excitement；　for　the　moment；　had　nothing　to　do　with　him。　She　liked

talking　to　groups　like　this；　and　did　it　often。　Though　she　loved　the

scientific　end　of　her　job…the　sample…taking　and　analysis；　the　puter

work；　the　intricate　calculations　of　ground　position；　weather…related

ponents；　time　predictions…she　found　the　presentation　of　her　findings

to　be　heady。

Felix　Hart　made　the　introduction。　〃I　have　the　delightful　task　now　of

giving　you　Ms。　Chloe　Macdaniel。　Ms。　Macdaniel　has　been　re