Атлант расправил плечи

           "Ohwell,"hesaidtoDagny,smiling,"myfatherdoesnotthinkitadvisabletoletmerisetoofast.Iwouldnotaskhimtotakemeonfaith.Ifhewantsafactualdemonstration,Ishallcomply."Inthespring,Franciscocameback—asheadoftheNewYorkofficeofd’AnconiaCopper.

           Shedidnotseehimofteninthenexttwoyears.Sheneverknewwherehewas,inwhatcityoronwhatcontinent,thedayaftershehadseenhim.Healwayscametoherunexpectedly—andshelikedit,becauseitmadehimacontinuouspresenceinherlife,liketherayofahiddenlightthatcouldhitheratanymoment.

           Whenevershesawhiminhisoffice,shethoughtofhishandsasshehadseenthemonthewheelofamotorboat:hedrovehisbusinesswiththesamesmooth,dangerous,confidentlymasteredspeed.Butonesmallincidentremainedinhermindasashock:itdidnotfithim.Shesawhimstandingatthewindowofhisoffice,oneevening,lookingatthebrownwintertwilightofthecity.Hedidnotmoveforalongtime.Hisfacewashardandtight;ithadthelookofanemotionshehadneverbelievedpossibletohim:ofbitter,helplessanger.Hesaid,"There’ssomethingwrongintheworld.There’salwaysbeen.Somethingnoonehasevernamedorexplained."Hewouldnottellherwhatitwas.

           Whenshesawhimagain,notraceofthatincidentremainedinhismanner.Itwasspringandtheystoodtogetherontheroofterraceofarestaurant,thelightsilkofhereveninggownblowinginthewindagainsthistallfigureinformalblackclothes.Theylookedatthecity.