Атлант расправил плечи

           Theylookedfaroutintothedistance,buttheysawnothingaheadexceptahazeoflight.

           WhenFranciscoleft,thatsummer,shethoughtthathisdeparturewaslikethecrossingofafrontierwhichendedhischildhood:hewastostartcollege,thatfall.Herturnwouldcomenext.Shefeltaneagerimpatiencetouchedbytheexcitementoffear,asifhehadleapedintoanunknowndanger.Itwaslikethemoment,yearsago,whenshehadseenhimdivefirstfromarockintotheHudson,hadseenhimvanishundertheblackwaterandhadstood,knowingthathewouldreappearinaninstantandthatitwouldthenbeherturntofollow.

           Shedismissedthefear;dangers,toFrancisco,weremerelyopportunitiesforanotherbrilliantperformance;therewerenobattleshecouldlose,noenemiestobeathim.Andthenshethoughtofaremarkshehadheardafewyearsearlier.Itwasastrangeremark—anditwasstrangethatthewordshadremainedinhermind,eventhoughshehadthoughtthemsenselessatthetime.Themanwhosaiditwasanoldprofessorofmathematics,afriendofherfather,whocametotheircountryhouseforjustthatonevisit.Shelikedhisface,andshecouldstillseethepeculiarsadnessinhiseyeswhenhesaidtoherfatheroneevening,sittingontheterraceinthefadinglight,pointingtoFrancisco’sfigureinthegarden,"Thatboyisvulnerable.Hehastoogreatacapacityforjoy.Whatwillhedowithitinaworldwherethere’ssolittleoccasionforit?"

           FranciscowenttoagreatAmericanschool,whichhisfatherhadchosenforhimlongago.