Атлант расправил плечи

           "Hislookofbewildermentchangedtoasmile,regretful,amusedandfriendly."Isee.Oh,hell,Dagny,it’spreposterous!"

           Shewasstaringathimhelplessly,unabletoreconnectthepasttothepresent.Andhelplessly—asonewouldsaytoadeadfriend,inadream,thewordsoneregretshavingmissedthechancetosayinlife—shesaid,withthememoryofatelephoneringing,unanswered,almosttwoyearsago,thewordsshehadhopedtosayifsheevercaughtsightofhimagain,"I...Itriedtoreachyou."

           Hesmiledgently."We’vebeentryingtoreachyoueversince,Dagny.

           ...I’llseeyoutonight.Don’tworry,Iwon’tvanish—andIdon’tthinkyouwill,either."

           Hewavedtotheothersandwentoff,swinginghislunchbox.Sheglancedup,asMulliganstartedthecar,andsawGalt’seyeswatchingherattentively.Herfacehardened,asifinopenadmissionofpainandindefianceofthesatisfactionitmightgivehim."Allright,"shesaid."Iseewhatsortofshowyouwanttoputmethroughtheshockofwitnessing."

           Buttherewasneithercrueltynorpityinhisface,onlythelevellookofjustice."Ourfirstrulehere,MissTaggart,"heanswered,"isthatonemustalwaysseeforoneself."

           Thecarstoppedinfrontofthelonelyhouse.Itwasbuiltofroughgraniteblocks,withasheetofglassformostofitsfrontwall.