Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Justashereyeshadthepowertotranslatewavelengthsofenergyintosight,justasherearshadthepowertotranslatevibrationsintosound,soherbodynowhadthepowertotranslatetheenergythathadmovedallthechoicesofherlife,intoimmediatesensoryperception.Itwasnotthepressureofahandthatmadehertremble,buttheinstantaneoussumofitsmeaning,theknowledgethatitwashishand,thatitmovedasifherfleshwerehispossession,thatitsmovementwashissignatureofacceptanceunderthewholeofthatachievementwhichwasherself—itwasonlyasensationofphysicalpleasure,butitcontainedherworshipofhim,ofeverythingthatwashispersonandhislife—fromthenightofthemassmeetinginafactoryinWisconsin,totheAtlantisofavalleyhiddenintheRockyMountains,tothetriumphantmockeryofthegreeneyesofthesuperlativeintelligenceaboveaworker’sfigureatthefootofthetower—itcontainedherprideinherselfandthatitshouldbeshewhomhehadchosenashismirror,thatitshouldbeherbodywhichwasnowgivinghimthesumofhisexistence,ashisbodywasgivingherthesumofhers.Thesewerethethingsitcontained—butwhatsheknewwasonlythesensationofthemovementofhishandonherbreasts.
Hetoreoffhercapeandshefelttheslendernessofherownbodybymeansofthecircleofhisarms,asifhispersonwereonlyatoolforhertriumphantawarenessofherself,butthatselfwereonlyatoolforherawarenessofhim.
