第1部分(第3/9 頁)

e　broad　stone　steps。

〃Chloe！　There　you　are。　I　was　beginning　to　worry。〃　A　man　stepped　from

beneath　the　deep　brick　overhang　and　fell　into　easy　step　beside　her　as

they　passed　through　a　large　oak　door　into　the　high　school　and　headed

down　a　long　corridor。

〃I'm　sorry；　Howard；〃　she　said；　meaning　it。　Howard　Wolschinski　was　the

state　senator　who　had　first　sought　her　services。　After　three　meetings；

she　had　e　to　like　him。　〃I'd　hoped　to　be　on　the　road　by　four；　but；　I

swear；　there　was　a　conspiracy　against　me。　First　the　phone；　then　my　car。〃

〃Anything　major　with　either？〃　he　asked。

〃No　on　both　counts。　But　I　didn't　clear　Little　pton　until　five；　and　by

that　time　the　rush…hour　traffic　was　horrid。　I　drove　as　fast　as　I　could。

I　hope　I　haven't　messed　things　up。〃

〃You　haven't。　The　meeting　was　called　for　seven　thirty。　You're　only　five

minutes　late。　It's　given　the　crowd　a　chance　to　settle　down。〃　He　guided

her　around　a　corner　with　a　light　hand　at　her　elbow　and　began　the　climb

as　soon　as　they　reached　a　staircase。

At　the　first　landing；　Chloe　asked；　〃How's　the　turnout？〃

He　grinned　sheepishly。　〃I　only　wish　we　did　half　as　well　at　political

rallies。　This　is　a　wele　change　from　apathy。　The　auditorium　is　packed。

There　must　be　several　hundred　people　in　there。〃

Chloe　was　surprised　and　decidedly　pleased。　〃Several　hundred？　Not　bad　for

a　county　meeting　in　New　Hamp