Атлант расправил плечи
The Immovable Movers
"Idon’twanttogohome,"shesaidwithnoparticularfeeling."Ihatemorning.Here’sanotherdayandnothingtodo.I’vegotateasessiononforthisafternoon,atLizBlane’s.Ohwell,itmightbefun,becauseLizisabitch."Shepickedupaglassandswallowedthestaleremnantofadrink."Whydon’tyouhavethemrepairyourair-conditioner?Thisplacesmells."
"Areyouthroughinthebathroom?"heasked."Ihavetodress.Ihaveanimportantengagementtoday."
"Gorightin.Idon’tmind.I’llsharethebathroomwithyou.Ihatetoberushed."
Whileheshaved,hesawherdressinginfrontoftheopenbathroomdoor.Shetookalongtimetwistingherselfintohergirdle,hookinggarterstoherstockings,pullingonanungainly,expensivetweedsuit.Theharlequinnegligee,pickedfromanadvertisementinthesmartestfashionmagazine,waslikeauniformwhichsheknewtobeexpectedoncertainoccasions,whichshehadworndutifullyforaspecifiedpurposeandthendiscarded.
Thenatureoftheirrelationshiphadthesamequality.Therewasnopassioninit,nodesire,noactualpleasure,notevenasenseofshame.Tothem,theactofsexwasneitherjoynorsin.Itmeantnothing.Theyhadheardthatmenandwomenweresupposedtosleeptogether,sotheydid.
"Jim,whydon’tyoutakemetotheArmenianrestauranttonight?"sheasked."Iloveshish-kebab."
"Ican‘t,"heansweredangrilythroughthesoaplatheronhisface."I’vegotabusydayahead."
