Атлант расправил плечи
The Concerto of Deliverance
Ididn’tknowthattheattachmentwastheirideaofcuttingoffescape."Heturnedincredulouslytolookathismother."Andthat’swhyyouhadtoseemetoday,beforetheconferenceinNewYork."
"Motherdidn’tknowit!"criedPhilip,thencaughthimselfandcriedlouder,"Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout!Ihaven’tsaidanything!Ihaven’tsaidit!"Hisfearnowseemedtohavesomemuchlessmysticandmuchmorepracticalquality.
"Don’tworry,youpoorlittlelouse,Iwon’ttellthemthatyou’vetoldmeanything.Andifyouweretrying—"
Hedidnotfinish;helookedatthethreefacesbeforehim,andasuddensmileendedhissentence,asmileofweariness,ofpity,ofincredulousrevulsion.Hewasseeingthefinalcontradiction,thegrotesqueabsurdityattheendoftheirrationalists’game:themeninWashingtonhadhopedtoholdhimbypromptingthesethreetotryfortheroleofhostages.
"Youthinkyou’resogood,don’tyou?"ItwasasuddencryanditcamefromLillian;shehadleapedtoherfeettobarhisexit;herfacewasdistorted,ashehadseenitoncebefore,onthatmorningwhenshehadlearnedthenameofhismistress."You’resogood!You’resoproudofyourself!Well,Ihavesomethingtotellyou!"
Shelookedasifshehadnotbelieveduntilthismomentthathergamewaslost.
