Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Shethrewhercapeback,shestooddefiantlystraight,ashehadseenherstandonthestepsofthetower—ashehadseenherforthefirsttime,tenyearsago,here,undertheground—shewashearingthewordsofhisconfession,notaswords,butbymeansofthatbeatingwhichmadeitsodifficulttobreathe:Youlookedlikeasymbolofluxuryandyoubelongedintheplacethatwasitssource...youseemedtobringtheenjoymentoflifebacktoitsrightfulowners...youhadalookofenergyandofitsreward,together...andIwasthefirstmanwhohadeverstatedinwhatmannerthesetwowereinseparable...
Thenextspanofmomentswaslikeflashesoflightinstretchesofblindedunconsciousness—themomentwhenshesawhisface,ashestoppedbesideher,whenshesawtheunastonishedcalm,theleashedintensity,thelaughterofunderstandinginthedarkgreeneyes—themomentwhensheknewwhathesawinherface,bythetight,drawnharshnessofhislips—themomentwhenshefelthismouthonhers,whenshefelttheshapeofhismouthbothasanabsoluteshapeandasaliquidfillingherbody—thenthemotionofhislipsdownthelineofherthroat,adrinkingmotionthatleftatrailofbruises—thenthesparkleofherdiamondclipagainstthetremblingcopperofhishair.
Thenshewasconsciousofnothingbutthesensationsofherbody,becauseherbodyacquiredthesuddenpowertoletherknowhermostcomplexvaluesbydirectperception.
