Атлант расправил плечи
The Utopia of Greed
Sheansweredascasually,"Ifyou’llbringmethecaneIleftinthecar,I’llhavebreakfastreadyforyoubythetimeyoucomeback."
Heglancedatherwithaslightastonishment;hiseyesmovedfromherbandagedankletotheshortsleevesoftheblousethatleftherarmsbaretodisplaytheheavybandageonherelbow.Butthetransparentblouse,theopencollar,thehairfallingdowntotheshouldersthatseemedinnocentlynakedunderathinfilmofcloth,madeherlooklikeaschoolgirl,notaninvalid,andherposturemadethebandageslookirrelevant.
Hesmiled,notquiteather,butasifinamusementatsomesuddenmemoryofhisown."Ifyouwish,"hesaid.
Itwasstrangetobeleftaloneinhishouse.Partofitwasanemotionshehadneverexperiencedbefore:anawedrespectthatmadeherhesitantlyconsciousofherhands,asiftotouchanyobjectaroundherwouldbetoogreatanintimacy.Theotherpartwasarecklesssenseofease,asenseofbeingathomeinthisplace,asifsheowneditsowner.
Itwasstrangetofeelsopureajoyinthesimpletaskofpreparingabreakfast.Theworkseemedanendinitself,asifthemotionsoffillingacoffeepot,squeezingoranges,slicingbreadwereperformedfortheirownsake,forthesortofpleasureoneexpects,butseldomfinds,inthemotionsofdancing.Itstartledhertorealizethatshehadnotexperiencedthiskindofpleasureinherworksinceherdaysattheoperator’sdeskinRockdaleStation.
