Атлант расправил плечи

           Shesawafaintmovementofhislips,likethereleaseofabreaththathewasforcingtofunction.Shedroppedherglance,herarmfallingagainstthesideofthecar,asifherhandweresuddenlytooheavyfortheweaknessinthecrookofherelbow.

           Theroadgrewdarker,asitwenthigher,andpinebranchesmetovertheirheads.Aboveaslantofrockmovingtomeetthem,shesawthemoonlightonthewindowsofhishouse.Herheadfellbackagainsttheseatandshelaystill,losingawarenessofthecar,feelingonlythemotionthatcarriedherforward,watchingtheglitteringdropsofwaterinthepinebranches,whichwerethestars.

           Whenthecarstopped,shedidnotpermitherselftoknowwhyshedidnotlookathimasshestepped,out.Shedidnotknowthatshestoodstillforaninstant,lookingupatthedarkwindows.Shedidnothearhimapproach;butshefelttheimpactofhishandswithshockingintensity,asifitweretheonlyawarenessshecouldnowexperience.

           Heliftedherinhisarmsandstartedslowlyupthepathtothehouse.

           Hewalked,notlookingather,holdinghertight,asiftryingtoholdaprogressionoftime,asifhisarmswerestilllockedoverthemomentwhenhehadliftedheragainsthischest.Shefelthisstepsasiftheywereasinglespanofmotiontoagoalandasifeachstepwereaseparatemomentinwhichshedarednotthinkofthenext.