Атлант расправил плечи
By our love
Dagny,ifIhadtoldyou—thatnightorthedaywhenyoucametodamnmefortheSanSebastianMines—thatIwasnotanaimlessloafer,thatIwasouttospeedupthedestructionofeverythingwehadheldsacredtogether,thedestructionofd’AnconiaCopper,ofTaggartTranscontinental,ofWyattOil,ofReardenSteel—wouldyouhavefounditeasiertotake?"
"Harder,"shewhispered."I’mnotsureIcantakeit,evennow.Neitheryourkindofrenunciationnormyown...But,Francisco"—shethrewherheadbacksuddenlytolookupathim—"ifthiswasyoursecret,thenofallthehellyouhadtotake,Iwas—"
"Ohyes,mydarling,yes,youweretheworstofit!"Itwasadesperatecry,itssoundoflaughterandofreleaseconfessingalltheagonyhewantedtosweepaway.Heseizedherhand,hepressedhismouthtoit,thenhisface,nottoletherseethereflectionofwhathisyearshadbeenlike."Ifit’sanykindofatonement,whichitisn’t...whateverImadeyousuffer,that’showIpaidforit...byknowingwhatIwasdoingtoyouandhavingtodoit...andwaiting,waitingto...Butit’sover."
Heraisedhishead,smiling,helookeddownatherandshesawalookofprotectivetendernesscomeintohisface,whichtoldherofthedespairhesawinhers.
"Dagny,don’tthinkofthat.Iwon’tclaimanysufferingofmineasmyexcuse.Whatevermyreason,IknewwhatIwasdoingandI’vehurtyouterribly.I’llneedyearstomakeupforit.
