[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.Air traffic control had cooperated in all objectives.Mel added, “What you should realize, Mr.Freemantle, is that this is by no means the first meeting we have had with local residents.We’ve discussed our mutual problems many times.”Elliott Freemantle snapped, “Perhaps at the other times there was not enough plain speaking.”“Whether that’s true or not, you seem to be making up for it now.”“We intend to make up for a good deal—of lost time, wasted effort and bad faith, the latter not on my clients’ part.”Mel decided not to respond.There was nothing to be gained, for either side, by this kind of harangue—except, perhaps, publicity for Elliott Freemantle.Mel observed that the reporter’s pencils were racing; one thing which the lawyer clearly understood was what made lively copy for the press.As soon as he decently could, Mel resolved, he would cut this session short.He was acutely conscious of Cindy, still seated where she had been when the delegation came in, though now appearing bored, which was characteristic of Cindy whenever anything came up involving airport affairs.This time, however, Mel sympathized with her.In view of the seriousness of what they had been discussing, he was finding this whole Meadowood business an intrusion himself.In Mel’s mind, too, was his recurring concern for Keith.He wondered how things were with his brother, over in air traffic control.Should he have insisted that Keith quit work for tonight, and pursued their discussion which—until the tower watch chief’s intervention cut it off—had seemed to be getting somewhere? Even now, perhaps, it was not too late … But then there was Cindy, who certainly had a right to be considered ahead of Keith; and now this waspish lawyer, Freemantle, still ranting on …“Since you chose to mention the so-called noise abatement procedures,” Elliott Freemantle inquired sarcastically, “may I ask what happened to them tonight?”Mel sighed.“We’ve had a storm for three days.” His glance took in the others in the delegation.“I’m sure you’re all aware of it.It’s created emergency situations.” He explained the blockage of runway three zero, the temporary need for takeoffs on runway two five, with the inevitable effect on Meadowood.“That’s all very well,” one of the other men said.He was a heavy-jowled, balding man whom Mel had met at other discussions about airport noise.“We know about the storm, Mr.Bakersfield.But if you’re living directly underneath, knowing why airplanes are coming over doesn’t make anyone feel better, storm or not.By the way, my name is Floyd Zanetta.I was chairman of the meeting …”Elliott Freemantle cut in smoothly.“If you’ll excuse me, there’s another point before we go on.” Obviously the lawyer had no intention of relinquishing control of the delegation, even briefly.He addressed Mel, with a sideways glance at the press.“It isn’t solely noise that’s filling homes and ears of Meadowood, though that’s bad enough—shattering nerves, destroying health, depriving children of their needed sleep.But there is a physical invasion …”This time Mel interrupted.“Are you seriously suggesting that as an alternative to what’s happened tonight, the airport should close down?”“Not only am I suggesting that you do it; we may compel you.A moment ago I spoke of a physical invasion.It is that which I will prove, before the courts, on behalf of my clients.And we will win!”The other members of the delegation, including Floyd Zanetta, gave approving nods.While waiting for his last words to sink home, Elliott Freemantle deliberated.He supposed he had gone almost far enough.It was disappointing that the airport general manager hadn’t blown a fuse, as Freemantle had been carefully goading him to do.The technique was one which he had used before, frequently with success, and it was a good technique because people who lost their tempers invariably came off worse in press reports, which was what Freemantle was mainly concerned about.But Bakersfeld, though clearly annoyed, had been too smart to fall for that ploy.Well, never mind, Elliott Freemantle thought; he had been successful just the same.He, too, had seen the reporters industriously getting his words down—words which (with the sneer and hectoring tone removed) would read well in print; even better, he believed, than his earlier speech at the Meadowood meeting.Of course, Freemantle realized, this whole proceeding was just an exercise in semantics.Nothing would come of it.Even if the airport manager, Bakersfeld, could be persuaded to their point of view—a highly unlikely happening—there was little or nothing he could do about it.The airport was a fact of life and nothing would alter the reality of it being where and how it was.No, the value of being here at all tonight was partly in gaining public attention, but principally (from Lawyer Freemantle’s viewpoint) to convince the Meadowood populace that they had a stalwart champion, so that those legal retainer forms (as well as checks) would keep on flowing into the offices of Freemantle and Sye
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]