Атлант расправил плечи
Anti-Life
Itwasstrangetofeel,inthedaysthatfollowed,thatshehadbecomeastrangertoherself,astrangerwhohadnothingtowantortoseek.Inplaceofalovemadebythebrilliantfireofheroworship,shewasleftwiththegnawingdrabnessofpity.Inplaceofthemenshehadstruggledtofind,menwhofoughtfortheirgoalsandrefusedtosuffer—shewasleftwithamanwhosesufferingwashisonlyclaimtovalueandhisonlyofferinexchangeforherlife.Butitmadenodifferencetoheranylonger.Theonewhowasshe,hadlookedwitheagernessattheturnofeverycornerahead;thepassivestrangerwhohadtakenherplace,waslikealltheovergroomedpeoplearoundher,thepeoplewhosaidthattheywereadultbecausetheydidnottrytothinkortodesire.
Butthestrangerwasstillhauntedbyaghostwhowasherself,andtheghosthadamissiontoaccomplish.Shehadtolearntounderstandthethingsthathaddestroyedher.Shehadtoknow,andshelivedwithasenseofceaselesswaiting.Shehadtoknow,eventhoughshefeltthattheheadlightwascloserandinthemomentofknowledgeshewouldbestruckbythewheels.
Whatdoyouwantofme?—wasthequestionthatkeptbeatinginhermindasaclue.Whatdoyouwantofme?—shekeptcryingsoundlessly,atdinnertables,indrawingrooms,onsleeplessnights—cryingittoJimandthosewhoseemedtosharehissecret,toBalphEubank,toDr.SimonPritchett—whatdoyouwantofme?Shedidnotaskitaloud;sheknewthattheywouldnotanswer.
