Атлант расправил плечи

           Heaskedafewquestionsaboutherjob,thenkeptsilent.

           Asthelightgrewoutside,movementgrewdownonthelineandthetelephonestartedringinginthesilence.Sheturnedtoherwork.Hesatinacorner,onelegthrownoverthearmofhischair,waiting.

           Sheworkedswiftly,feelinginordinatelyclear-headed.Shefoundpleasureintherapidprecisionofherhands.Sheconcentratedonthesharp,brightsoundofthephone,onthefiguresoftrainnumbers,carnumbers,ordernumbers.Shewasconsciousofnothingelse.

           Butwhenathinsheetofpaperfluttereddowntothefloorandshebenttopickitup,shewassuddenlyasintentlyconsciousofthatparticularmoment,ofherselfandherownmovement.Shenoticedhergraylinenskirt,therolledsleeveofhergrayblouseandhernakedarmreachingdownforthepaper.Shefeltherheartstopcauselesslyinthekindofgasponefeelsinmomentsofanticipation.Shepickedupthepaperandturnedbacktoherdesk.

           Itwasalmostfulldaylight.Atrainwentpastthestation,withoutstopping.Inthepurityofthemorninglight,thelonglineofcarroofsmeltedintoasilverstring,andthetrainseemedsuspendedabovetheground,notquitetouchingit,goingpastthroughtheair.Thefloorofthestationtrembled,andglassrattledinthewindows.Shewatchedthetrain’sflightwithasmileofexcitement.SheglancedatFrancisco:hewaslookingather,withthesamesmile.

           Whenthedayoperatorarrived,sheturnedthestationovertohim,andtheywalkedoutintothemorningair.