Атлант расправил плечи

           Sheletamomentpasstounderscoreherchoicebytheseverityofherface,thenaskedcoldly,inthetoneofanenemy’saccusation,"YouknewthatIwascomingforQuentinDaniels?"

           "Yes."

           "Yougothimfirstandfast,inordernottoletmereachhim?Inordertobeatme—knowingfullywhatsortofbeatingthatwouldmeanforme?"

           "Sure."

           Itwasshewholookedawayandremainedsilent.Herosetocooktherestoftheirbreakfast.Shewatchedhimashestoodatthestove,toastingbread,fryingeggsandbacon.Therewasaneasy,relaxedskillaboutthewayheworked,butitwasaskillthatbelongedtoanotherprofession;hishandsmovedwiththerapidprecisionofanengineerpullingtheleversofacontrolboard.Sherememberedsuddenlywhereshehadseenasexpertandpreposterousaperformance.

           "IsthatwhatyoulearnedfromDr.Akston?"sheasked,pointingatthestove.

           "That,amongotherthings."

           "Didheteachyoutospendyourtime—yourtime!—"shecouldnotkeeptheshudderofindignationoutofhervoice—"onthissortofwork?"

           "I’vespenttimeonworkofmuchlesserimportance."

           Whenheputherplatebeforeher,sheasked,"Wheredidyougetthatfood?Dotheyhaveagrocerystorehere?"

           "Thebestoneintheworld.It’srunbyLawrenceHammond.