669小说网

第2部分（第2页）

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　retained　by　the

county　to　study　our　coast　with　an　eye　toward　the　environmental　impact　of

the　Rye　Beach　Resort　and　Condominium　plex　as　proposed　by　the　Hansen

Corporation。　She　has　already　spent　a　good　deal　of　time　on　the　project。

Ms。　Macdaniel？〃

After　lifting　a　neat　folder　from　the　floor　beneath　her　chair；　Chloe　rose

to　her　full　five…foot…eight…inch　height　and　approached　the　podium。　Her

appearance　was　understated；　she　worked　at　that。　Still；　the　curiosity　of

the　crowd　yielded　to　a　murmur　of　appreciation　when　she　stepped　forward。

Tall　and　willowy；　dark　haired　and　light　plected；　she　was　the　image　of

grace。　Her　dress　was　of　a　soft　and　simple　white　eyelet　fabric；　lined

through　the　bodice　and　skirt；　the　sleeves　hanging　free　and　loose　to　her

elbows。　A　wide　sash　of　contrasting　aqua　enhanced　both　the　slimness　of

her　waist　and　the　porcelain　of　her　skin。

Her　voice　was　steady　and　well…modulated。　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Hart；　for　your

kind　introduction。　Let　me　say　how　pleased　I　was　to　have　been　approached

by　your　representatives　last　spring。　Not　only　do　I　have　a　professional

interest　in　your　coastline；　but　I　have　an　emotional　involvement　with　the

entire　New　England　coast；　since　its　my　home　of　choice。　In　keeping　with

this；　let　me　begin　by　saying　that　I　am　not　opposed　to　the　Rye　Beach

Resort　and　Condominium　plex　per　se。　What　Mr。　Stephenson　has　outlined

for　you　sounds　like　a　project　that　could　benefit　this　area。　But　I

question　the　ecological　wisdom　of　the　plan　as　it　stands。　The　thought　of

a　beachfront　condominium　may　appeal　to　the　romantic　in　us　all；　but　this

plan　isnt　environmentally　wise。〃

As　she　proceeded　to　explain　the　core　results　of　her　tests；　she　was

oblivious　to　all　else　but　her　work。　The　most　powerful　tool　she　had　was

genuine　concern。　〃In　terms　of　storm　surge　alone；　the　Hansen　proposal　is

risky；〃　she　argued；　pointing　to　the　carefully　calculated　figures　now

projected　on　a　slide　screen。　〃Once　every　six　or　seven　years　you　folks

get　a　storm　strong　enough　to　do　significant　damage　to　structures　built

so　close　to　the　beach。　If　the　entire　plex　were　to　be　moved　back　an