Атлант расправил плечи

           "Ican’trefuse."

           "Thenletmeshareitwithyou."

           Heshookhishead.

           Hesatlookingdownather,asifweighingaquestion.Thenheshookhisheadagain,inanswertohimself.

           "IfI’mnotsureIcanstandit,"hesaid,andthestrangenewnoteinhisvoicewastenderness,"howcouldyou?"

           Shesaidslowly,witheffort,tryingtokeepherselffromscreaming,"Francisco,Ihavetoknow."

           "Willyouforgiveme?Iknowyou’refrightened,andit’scruel.Butwillyoudothisforme—willyouletitgo,justletitgo,anddon’taskmeanything?"

           "I—"

           "That’sallyoucandoforme.Willyou?"

           "Yes,Francisco."

           "Don’tbeafraidforme.Itwasjustthisonce.Itwon’thappentomeagain.Itwillbecomemucheasier...later."

           "IfIcould—"

           "No.Gotosleep,dearest."

           Itwasthefirsttimehehadeverusedthatword.

           Inthemorning,hefacedheropenly,notavoidingheranxiousglance,butsayingnothingaboutit.Shesawbothserenityandsufferinginthecalmofhisface,anexpressionlikeasmileofpain,thoughhewasnotsmiling.Strangely,itmadehimlookyounger.Hedidnotlooklikeamanbearingtorturenow,butlikeamanwhoseesthatwhichmakesthetortureworthbearing.

           Shedidnotquestionhim.Beforeleaving,sheaskedonly,"WhenwillIseeyouagain?"

           Heanswered,"Idon’tknow.Don’twaitforme,Dagny.Nexttimewemeet,youwillnotwanttoseeme.IwillhaveareasonforthethingsI’lldo.ButIcan’ttellyouthereasonandyouwillberighttodamnme.