Атлант расправил плечи
Miracle metal
JamesTaggartrose,walkedtothewindowandpulledtheblinddownoverthewhiteobelisk.
Inthefirstmomentofawakening,Dagnywasastonishedtofindherselflookingatthespiresofunfamiliarbuildingsagainstaglowing,palebluesky.Thenshesawthetwistedseamofthethinstockingonherownleg,shefeltawrenchofdiscomfortinthemusclesofherwaistline,andsherealizedthatshewaslyingonthecouchinheroffice,withtheclockonherdesksaying6:15andthefirstraysofthesungivingsilveredgestothesilhouettesoftheskyscrapersbeyondthewindow.Thelastthingsherememberedwasthatshehaddroppeddownonthecouch,intendingtorestfortenminutes,whenthewindowwasblackandtheclockstoodat3:30.
Shetwistedherselftoherfeet,feelinganenormousexhaustion.Thelightedlamponthedesklookedfutileintheglowofthemorning,overthepilesofpaperwhichwerehercheerless,unfinishedtask.Shetriednottothinkoftheworkforafewminuteslonger,whileshedraggedherselfpastthedesktoherwashroomandlethandfulsofcoldwaterrunoverherface.
Theexhaustionwasgonebythetimeshesteppedbackintotheoffice.Nomatterwhatnightprecededit,shehadneverknownamorningwhenshedidnotfeeltheriseofaquietexcitementthatbecameatighteningenergyinherbodyandahungerforactioninhermind—becausethiswasthebeginningofdayanditwasadayofherlife.
Shelookeddownatthecity.
