669小说网

第4部分（第2页）

〃Milk　would　be　fine。〃

He　waited　while　she　searched　for　glasses　and　filled　two。　She　sat　down

opposite　him。　Once　several　mouthfuls　of　the　thick　stew　had　warmed　her

stomach；　she　put　her　spoon　down。　Something　stuck　in　her　craw。

〃Im　not　unhappy；〃　she　stated；　so　softly　and　apparently　unexpectedly

that　Ross　looked　perplexed。　〃You　thought　I　looked　unhappy。　Im　not。〃

He　went　back　to　eating；　but　slowly；　thoughtfully。　〃No；　I　suppose　youre

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　Im　doing；〃　she　said。

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

〃You　heard　the　bare　outline　tonight。〃

〃The　bare　outline。　Now　Id　like　to　hear　more。〃　His　pause　was　pregnant

with　unspoken　thoughts。　〃Why　geology？〃

She　shrugged。　〃Why　not？〃

He　didnt　pull　any　punches。　〃Because　its　one　of　the　last　fields　that

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

〃Maybe　thats　why　I　chose　it。〃

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

〃Not　entirely…〃

〃Escaping？〃

She　looked　away。　〃Youre　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　Id

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　lot　of　time　on

the　beach　and　happened　to　befriend　an　old　man　who　felt　very　strongly

about　environmental　considerations。　He　affected　me　deeply。〃　The　memory

of　Hector　Wallaby　brought　a　sad　smile　to　her　lips。

〃Hes　dead？〃

〃Yes。　I　miss　him。　He　never　knew　it；　but　in　spirit　at　least；　he　was　the

founding　father　of　ESE；　Inc。〃