Атлант расправил плечи

           Shesawhisprofileagainstthefoggyglowofthenightskyinthewindow.Hewasawake,hiseyeswereopen.Heheldhismouthclosedlikeamanlyinginresignationinunbearablepain,bearingit,makingnoattempttohideit.

           Shewastoofrightenedtomove.Hefeltherglanceandturnedtoher.Heshudderedsuddenly,hethrewofftheblanket,helookedathernakedbody,thenhefellforwardandburiedhisfacebetweenherbreasts.Heheldhershoulders,hangingontoherconvulsively.Sheheardthewords,muffled,hismouthpressedtoherskin:

           "Ican’tgiveitup!Ican‘t!"

           "What?"shewhispered.

           "You."

           "Whyshould—"

           "Andeverything."

           "Whyshouldyougiveitup?"

           "Dagny!Helpmetoremain.Torefuse.Eventhoughhe’sright!"

           Sheaskedevenly,"Torefusewhat,Francisco?"

           Hedidnotanswer,onlypressedhisfaceharderagainsther.

           Shelayverystill,consciousofnothingbutasupremeneedofcaution.Hisheadonherbreast,herhandcaressinghishairgently,steadily,shelaylookingupattheceilingoftheroom,atthesculpturedgarlandsfaintlyvisibleinthedarkness,andshewaited,numbwithterror.

           Hemoaned,"It’sright,butit’ssohardtodo!OhGod,it’ssohard!"

           Afterawhile,heraisedhishead.Hesatup.Hehadstoppedtrembling.

           "Whatisit,Francisco?"

           "Ican’ttellyou."Hisvoicewassimple,open,withoutattempttodisguisesuffering,butitwasavoicethatobeyedhimnow."You’renotreadytohearit."

           "Iwanttohelpyou."

           "Youcan’t."

           "Yousaid,tohelpyourefuse."