Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
whenIturnedbacktomywork...whenIwenthomejustbeforesunriseforthethreehoursofsleepwhichIdidn’tget..."
"Iloveyou,"shesaid,hervoicequietandalmosttonelessexceptforafragilesoundofyouth.
Heclosedhiseyes,asiflettingthesoundtravelthroughtheyearsbehindthem."Tenyears,Dagny...,exceptthatoncetherewereafewweekswhenIhadyoubeforeme,inplainsight,withinreach,nothurryingaway,butheldstill,asonalightedstage,aprivatestageformetowatch...andIwatchedyouforhoursthroughmanyevenings...inthelightedwindowofanofficethatwascalledtheJohnGaltLine...Andonenight—"
Herbreathwasafaintgasp."Wasityou,thatnight?"
"Didyouseeme?"
"Isawyourshadow...onthepavement...pacingbackandforth...itlookedlikeastruggle...itlookedlike—"Shestopped;shedidnotwanttosay"torture."
"Itwas,"hesaidquietly."Thatnight,Iwantedtowalkin,tofaceyou,tospeak,to...ThatwasthenightIcameclosesttobreakingmyoath,whenIsawyouslumpedacrossyourdesk,whenIsawyoubrokenbytheburdenyouwerecarrying—"
"John,thatnight,itwasyouthatIwasthinkingof...onlyIdidn’tknowit..."
"But,yousee,Iknewit."
"...itwasyou,allmylife,througheverythingIdidandeverythingIwanted..."
"Iknowit.
