Атлант расправил плечи

           "IlovedyoufromthefirstdayIsawyou,onaflatcaronasidingofMilfordStation.IlovedyouwhenwerodeinthecabofthefirstengineontheJohnGaltLine.IlovedyouonthegalleryofEllisWyatt’shouse.Ilovedyouonthatnextmorning.Youknewit.Butit’sIwhomustsayittoyou,asI’msayingitnow—ifIamtoredeemallthosedaysandtoletthembefullywhattheywereforbothofus,Ilovedyou.Youknewit.Ididn’t.AndbecauseIdidn’t,IhadtolearnitwhenIsatatmydeskandlookedattheGiftCertificateforReardenMetal."

           Sheclosedhereyes.Buttherewasnosufferinginhisface,nothingbuttheimmenseandquiethappinessofclarity.

           "‘Wearethosewhodonotdisconnectthevaluesoftheirmindsfromtheactionsoftheirbodies.’Yousaiditinyourbroadcasttonight.

           Butyouknewit,then,onthatmorninginEllisWyatt’shouse.YouknewthatallthoseinsultsIwasthrowingatyouwerethefullestconfessionofloveamancouldmake.YouknewthatthephysicaldesireIwasdamningasourmutualshame,isneitherphysicalnoranexpressionofone’sbody,buttheexpressionofone’smind’sdeepestvalues,whetheronehasthecouragetoknowitornot.Thatwaswhyyoulaughedatmeasyoudid,wasn’tit?"

           "Yes,"shewhispered.

           "Yousaid,‘Idonotwantyourmind,yourwill,yourbeingoryoursoul—solongasit’stomethatyouwillcomeforthatlowestoneofyourdesires.