第4部分(第3/9 頁)

hought　I　looked　unhappy。　I'm　not。〃

He　went　back　to　eating；　but　slowly；　thoughtfully。　〃No；　I　suppose　you're

not；　not　right　now；〃　he　finally　said。　〃But　earlier；　there　was　a　look　in

your　eyes。　It　es　and　goes。　There　it　is　again。〃

The　sound　of　his　voice　had　been　enough　to　spark　memories。　With　a　barely

perceptible　shake　of　her　head；　she　chased　them　off　again。　〃I　do　love

what　I'm　doing；〃　she　said。

〃Tell　me　about　it。　How　did　you　get　started？〃

〃You　heard　the　bare　outline　tonight。〃

〃The　bare　outline。　Now　I'd　like　to　hear　more。〃　His　pause　was　pregnant

with　unspoken　thoughts。　〃Why　geology？〃

She　shrugged。　〃Why　not？〃

He　didn't　pull　any　punches。　〃Because　it's　one　of　the　last　fields　that

someone　raised　in　the　style　of　conspicuous　consumption　would　choose。〃

〃Maybe　that's　why　I　chose　it。〃

〃Ah。〃　He　smiled。　〃You　were　rebelling。〃

〃Not　entirely…〃

〃Escaping？〃

She　looked　away。　〃You're　perceptive。　But　only　half　right。〃

〃Go　on。〃

Chloe　tucked　a　long　strand　of　dark　hair　behind　her　ear。　〃It　was　actually

a　simultaneous　discovery@scape　and　excitement。　At　that　period　of　my

life；　I　needed　something　that　was　a　total　change　from　everything　I'd

known　before。　I　spent　some　time　in　Newport　with　friends　and　fell　in　love

with　the　ocean　there。〃

〃You　found　solace？〃　he　asked　gently。

She　admitted　it　with　a　small　tilt　of　her　head。　〃I　spent　a