Атлант расправил плечи

           Shenoticedthatshewashungry,atthesightofthecoffeepotboilingonthestove,thetwoglassesoforangejuice,theheavywhitepotterydishessparklinginthesunonthepolishedtabletop.

           "Whendidyousleeporeatlast?"heasked.

           "Idon’tknow...Ihaddinneronthetrain,with—"Sheshookherheadinhelplesslybitteramusement:withthetramp,shethought,withadesperatevoicepleadingforescapefromanavengerwhowouldnotpursueorbefound—theavengerwhosatfacingheracrossthetable,drinkingaglassoforangejuice."Idon’tknow...itseemscenturiesandcontinentsaway."

           "Howdidyouhappentobefollowingme?"

           "IlandedattheAltonairportjustasyouweretakingoff.ThemantheretoldmethatQuentinDanielshadgonewithyou."

           "Irememberyourplanecirclingtoland.ButthatwastheoneandonlytimewhenIdidn’tthinkofyou.Ithoughtyouwerecomingbytrain."

           Sheasked,lookingstraightathim,"Howdoyouwantmetounderstandthat?"

           "What?"

           "Theoneandonlytimewhenyoudidn’tthinkofme."

           Heheldherglance;shesawthefaintmovementshehadnotedastypicalofhim:themovementofhisproudlyintractablemouthcurvingintothehintofasmile."Inanywayyouwish,"heanswered.