Атлант расправил плечи

           Don’tspeakofatonement,youhavenothurtme,yourmistakescamefromyourmagnificentintegrityunderthetortureofanimpossiblecode—andyourfightagainstitdidnotbringmesuffering,itbroughtmethefeelingI’vefoundtooseldom:admiration.Ifyouwillacceptit,itwillalwaysbeyours.Whatyoumeanttomecanneverbechanged.ButthemanImet—heistheloveIhadwantedtoreachlongbeforeIknewthatheexisted,andIthinkhewillremainbeyondmyreach,butthatIlovehimwillbeenoughtokeepmeliving."

           Hetookherhandandpressedittohislips."ThenyouknowwhatIfeel,"hesaid,"andwhyIamstillhappy."

           Lookingupathisface,sherealizedthatforthefirsttimehewaswhatshehadalwaysthoughthimintendedtobe:amanwithanimmensecapacityfortheenjoymentofexistence.Thetautlookofendurance,offiercelyunadmittedpain,wasgone;now,inthemidstofthewreckageandofhishardesthour,hisfacehadtheserenityofpurestrength;ithadthelookshehadseeninthefacesofthemeninthevalley.

           "Hank,"shewhispered,"Idon’tthinkIcanexplainit,butIfeelthatIhavecommittednotreason,eithertoyouortohim."

           "Youhaven’t."

           Hereyesseemedabnormallyaliveinafacedrainedofcolor,asifherconsciousnessremaineduntouchedinabodybrokenbyexhaustion.Hemadehersitdownandslippedhisarmalongthebackofthecouch,nottouchingher,yetholdingherinaprotectiveembrace.