Атлант расправил плечи

           TheWayne-Falklandwasthemostdistinguishedhotelleftonanycontinent.Itsstyleofindolentluxury,ofvelvetdrapes,sculpturedpanelsandcandlelight,seemedadeliberatecontrasttoitsfunction:noonecouldafforditshospitalityexceptmenwhocametoNewYorkonbusiness,tosettletransactionsinvolvingtheworld.Shenoticedthatthemannerofthewaiterswhoservedtheirdinnersuggestedaspecialdeferencetothisparticularguestofthehotel,andthatFranciscodidnotnoticeit.Hewasindifferentlyathome.HehadlongsincebecomeaccustomedtothefactthathewasSenord‘Anconiaofd’AnconiaCopper.

           Butshethoughtitstrangethathedidnotspeakabouthiswork.Shehadexpectedittobehisonlyinterest,thefirstthinghewouldsharewithher.Hedidnotmentionit.Heledhertotalk,instead,aboutherjob,herprogress,andwhatshefeltforTaggartTranscontinental.Shespokeofitasshehadalwaysspokentohim,intheknowledgethathewastheonlyonewhocouldunderstandherpassionatedevotion.Hemadenocomment,buthelistenedintently.

           Awaiterhadturnedontheradiofordinnermusic;theyhadpaidnoattentiontoit.Butsuddenly,acrashofsoundjarredtheroom,almostasifasubterraneanblasthadstruckthewallsandmadethemtremble.Theshockcame,notfromtheloudness,butfromthequalityofthesounds.ItwasHalley’snewConcerto,recentlywritten,theFourth.

           Theysatinsilence,listeningtothestatementofrebellion—theanthemofthetriumphofthegreatvictimswhowouldrefusetoacceptpain.