Атлант расправил плечи
By our love
"Youwon’tfindher,"hesaid,"Shewon’tbeback.I’mgladshewon’t.Youcanstarve,youcanclosetherailroad,youcanthrowmeinjail,youcanhavemeshot—whatdoesitmatter?Iwon’ttellyouwheresheis.IfIseethewholecountrycrashing,Iwon’ttellyou.Youwon’tfindher.You—"
Theywhirledatthesoundoftheentrancedoorflungopen.TheysawDagnystandingonthethreshold.
Sheworeawrinkledcottondress,andherhairwasdisheveledbyhoursofdriving.Shestoppedforthedurationofaglancearoundher,asiftorecapturetheplace,buttherewasnorecognitionofpersonsinhereyes,theglancemerelysweptthroughtheroom,asifmakingaswiftinventoryofphysicalobjects.Herfacewasnotthefacetheyremembered;ithadaged,notbymeansoflines,butbymeansofastill,nakedlookstrippedofanyqualitysaveruthlessness.
Yettheirfirstresponse,aheadofshockorwonder,wasasingleemotionthatwentthroughtheroomlikeagaspofrelief.Itwasinalltheirfacesbutone:EddieWillers,whoalonehadbeencalmamomentago,collapsedwithhisfacedownonhisdesk;hemadenosound,butthemovementsofhisshouldersweresobs.
Herfacegavenosignofacknowledgmenttoanyone,nogreeting,asifherpresenceherewereinevitableandnowordswerenecessary.
