Атлант расправил плечи
The Face without Pain or Fear or Guilt
"SendoutordersthattheCometistostopateverydivisionpoint,"shesaid,"andthatalldivisionsuperintendentsaretoprepareformeareporton—"
Heglancedup—thenhisglancestoppedandhedidnotheartherestofthewords.Hesawaman’sdressinggownhangingonthebackoftheopenclosetdoor,adarkbluegownwiththewhiteinitialsHRonitsbreastpocket.
Herememberedwherehehadseenthatgownbefore,herememberedthemanfacinghimacrossabreakfasttableintheWayne-FalklandHotel,herememberedthatmancoming,unannounced,toherofficelateonaThanksgivingnight—andtherealizationthatheshouldhaveknownit,cametohimastwosubterraneanjoltsofasingleearthquake:itcamewithafeelingthatscreamed"No!"sosavagelythatthescream,notthesight,broughtdowneverygirderwithinhim.Itwasnottheshockofthediscovery,butthemoreterribleshockofwhatitmadehimdiscoverabouthimself.
Hehungontoasinglethought;thathemustnotletherseewhathehadnoticedorwhatithaddonetohim.Hefeltasensationofembarrassmentmagnifiedtothepointofphysicaltorture;itwasthedreadofviolatingherprivacytwice:bylearninghersecretandbyrevealinghisown.Hebentloweroverthenotepadandconcentratedonanimmediatepurpose:tostophispencilfromshaking.
"...fiftymilesofmountaintrackagetobuild,andwecancountonnothingbutwhatevermaterialweown.
