at　tightened　around　her　shoulders。

〃You'll　have　a　fight　on　your　hands；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　a　prior　claim　on

her。　Your　big　corporation　may　be　able　to　do　without　you　for　the　weekend；

but　our　small　one　isn't　so　generous。〃　Looking　down　at　her；　he　said；

〃There　were　several　calls　for　you。　Alabama　called　again　on　that　toxic

waste　burning　problem。　I　told　them　you'd　have　an　answer　for　them　by

Monday。〃

Chloe　nodded；　sighing　her　uncertainty　on　the　Alabama　matter。　〃And　the

other　calls？〃

〃Derry　Township　called　on　the　lecture　series　at　the　munity　college。

They　want　to　know　when　the　printed　material　will　be　ready　to　be　copied。

Jay　called　from　Pittsburgh　to　say　that　he　should　be　back　on　Sunday；　and

Debbie　will　have　the　statistics　on　the　sinkhole　study　for　you　to　see

tomorrow。〃

〃Whoa。　She　sure　got　that　together　fast。〃　She　told　Ross；　〃Debbie　is　the

newest　member　of　the　firm。　She　just　got　her　degree。　Her　working

knowledge　of　puters　is　much　better　than　Lee's　or　mine。〃　She　frowned。

〃Boy；　would　I　like　to　take　more　courses。〃

〃Why　don't　you？〃　Ross　asked。

〃No　time。　Lee　and　I　have　worked　our　butts　off　trying　to　make　ESE　a

functioning　enterprise。〃　She　shot　a　look　at　her　partner。　〃I　think　we're

finally　seeing　the　light　at　the　end　of　the　tunnel。〃

His　grimace　took　her　by　surprise。　Instead　of　agreement；　she　saw　sudden

doubt。　〃That's　another　point　of