Атлант расправил плечи
Atlantis
Then,asiflearningitfromhim,sheheldhisglancewheneverhechosetolookdown—knowingthatheknewwhatshefeltandthathedidnothidefromherthemeaningofhisglance.
Sheknewthathissilencewasthesameconfessionasherown.Hedidnotholdherintheimpersonalmannerofamancarryingawoundedwoman.Itwasanembrace,eventhoughshefeltnosuggestionofitinhisbearing;shefeltitonlybymeansofhercertaintythathiswholebodywasawareofholdinghers.
Sheheardthesoundofthewaterfallbeforeshesawthefragilethreadthatfellinbrokenstripsofglitterdowntheledges.Thesoundcamethroughsomedimbeatinhermind,somefaintrhythmthatseemednolouderthanastrugglingmemory—buttheywentpastandthebeatremained;shelistenedtothesoundofthewater,butanothersoundseemedtogrowclearer,rising,notinhermind,butfromsomewhereamongtheleaves.Thetrailturned,andinasuddenclearingshesawasmallhouseonaledgebelow,withaflashofsunonthepaneofanopenwindow.Inthemomentwhensheknewwhatexperiencehadoncemadeherwanttosurrendertotheimmediatepresent—ithadbeenthenightinadustycoachoftheComet,whenshehadheardthethemeofHalley’sFifthConcertoforthefirsttime—sheknewthatshewashearingitnow,hearingitrisefromthekeyboardofapiano,intheclear,sharpchordsofsomeone’spowerful,confidenttouch.
