Атлант расправил плечи

           Mylife—butnotmymind."

           Therewasasuddenglintofhardnessinhiseyes,ashesatupandsmiledandasked,"Wouldyouwantmetojoinyouandgotowork?

           Wouldyoulikemetorepairthatinterlockingsignalsystemofyourswithinanhour?"

           "No!"Thecrywasimmediate—inanswertotheflashofasuddenimage,theimageofthemenintheprivatediningroomoftheWayneFalkland.

           Helaughed."Whynot?"

           "Idon’twanttoseeyouworkingastheirserf!"

           "Andyourself?"

           "Ithinkthatthey’recrumblingandthatI’llwin.Icanstanditjustalittlelonger."

           "True,it’sjustalittlelonger—nottillyouwin,buttillyoulearn."

           "Ican’tletitgo!"Itwasacryofdespair.

           "Notyet,"hesaidquietly.

           Hegotup,andsheroseobediently,unabletospeak.

           "Iwillremainhere,onmyjob,"hesaid."Butdon’ttrytoseeme.

           You’llhavetoendurewhatI’veenduredandwantedtospareyou—you’llhavetogoon,knowingwhereIam,wantingmeasI’llwantyou,butneverpermittingyourselftoapproachme.Don’tseekmehere.

           Don’tcometomyhome.Don’teverletthemseeustogether.