Атлант расправил плечи
Anti-Life
victoriesyou’rewinning?"
"Oh,forChrist’ssake!"hescreamed,smashinghisfistdownonthetable."Wherehaveyoubeenalltheseyears?Whatsortofworlddoyouthinkyou’relivingin?"Hisblowhadupsethiswaterglassandthewaterwentspreadingindarkstainsoverthelaceofthetablecloth.
"I’mtryingtofindout,"shewhispered.Hershouldersweresaggingandherfacelookedsuddenlyworn,anodd,agedlookthatseemedhaggardandlost.
"Icouldn’thelpit!"heburstoutinthesilence."I’mnottoblame!IhavetotakethingsasIfindthem!It’snotIwho’vemadethisworld!"
Hewasshockedtoseethatshesmiled—asmileofsofiercelybitteracontemptthatitseemedincredibleonhergentlypatientface;shewasnotlookingathim,butatsomeimageofherown."That’swhatmyfatherusedtosaywhenhegotdrunkatthecornersalooninsteadoflookingforwork."
"Howdareyoutrycomparingmeto—"hestarted,butdidnotfinish,becauseshewasnotlistening.
Herwords,whenshelookedathimagain,astonishedhimascompletelyirrelevant."Thedateofthatnationalization,Septembersecond,"sheasked,hervoicewistful,"wasityouwhopickedit?"
"No.Ihadnothingtodowithit.It’sthedateofsomespecialsessionoftheirlegislature.Why?"
"It’sthedateofourfirstweddinganniversary.
