Атлант расправил плечи

           WhatelsecanIaskfornow?Justtoseeyouhere—didJohnsayyou’restillascab?—ohwell,it’sonlyamatteroftune,butyou’llbeoneofus,becauseyou’vealwaysbeen,ifyoudon’tseeitfully,we’llwait,Idon’tcare—solongasyou’realive,solongasIdon’thavetogoonflyingovertheRockies,lookingforthewreckageofyourplane!"

           Shegaspedalittle,realizingwhyhehadnotcometothevalleyontime.

           Helaughed."Don’tlooklikethat.Don’tlookatmeasifIwereawoundthatyou’reafraidtotouch."

           "Francisco,I’vehurtyouinsomanydifferentways—"

           "No!No,youhaven’thurtme—andhehasn’teither,don’tsayanythingaboutit,it’shewho’shurt,butwe’llsavehimandhe’llcomehere,too,wherehebelongs,andhe’llknow,andthenhe,too,willbeabletolaughaboutit.Dagny,Ididn’texpectyoutowait,Ididn’thope,IknewthechanceI’dtaken,andifithadtobeanyone,I’mgladit’she."

           Sheclosedhereyes,pressingherlipstogethernottomoan.

           "Darling,don’t!Don’tyouseethatI’veacceptedit?"

           Butitisn’t—shethought—itisn’the,andIcan’ttellyouthetruth,becauseit’samanwhomightneverhearitfrommeandwhomImightneverhave.