Атлант расправил плечи

           Myfatherlookedformeforthreemonths,butthat’sallheaskedmewhenIcameback."

           "Sothat’showyouspendyourwinters?"saidJimTaggart.Jim’ssmilehadatouchoftriumph,thetriumphoffindingcausetofeelcontempt.

           "Thatwaslastwinter,"Franciscoansweredpleasantly,withnochangeintheinnocent,casualtoneofhisvoice."ThewinterbeforelastIspentinMadrid,atthehomeoftheDukeofAlba."

           "Whydidyouwanttoworkonarailroad?"askedDagny.

           Theystoodlookingateachother:herswasaglanceofadmiration,hisofmockery;butitwasnotthemockeryofmalice—itwasthelaughterofasalute.

           "Tolearnwhatit’slike,Slug,"heanswered,"andtotellyouthatI’vehadajobwithTaggartTranscontinentalbeforeyoudid."

           DagnyandEddiespenttheirwinterstryingtomastersomenewskill,inordertoastonishFranciscoandbeathim,foronce.Theyneversucceeded.Whentheyshowedhimhowtohitaballwithabat,agamehehadneverplayedbefore,hewatchedthemforafewminutes,thensaid,"IthinkIgettheidea.Letmetry."Hetookthebatandsenttheballflyingoveralineofoaktreesfarattheendofthefield.

           WhenJimwasgivenamotorboatforhisbirthday,theyallstoodontheriverlanding,watchingthelesson,whileaninstructorshowedJimhowtorunit.Noneofthemhadeverdrivenamotorboatbefore.