Атлант расправил плечи

           "Asatracklaborer...asthelowestoftracklaborers..."

           "Iknow."

           "I’vetalkedtohim...I’vebeentalkingtohimforyears...intheTerminalcafeteria...Heusedtoaskquestions...allsortsofquestionsabouttherailroad,andI—God,Dagny!wasIprotectingtherailroadorwasIhelpingtodestroyit?"

           "Both.Neither.Itdoesn’tmatternow."

           "Icouldhavestakedmylifethathelovedtherailroad!"

           "Hedoes."

           "Buthe’sdestroyedit."

           "Yes."

           Shetightenedthecollarofhercoatandwalkedon,againstagustofwind.

           "Iusedtotalktohim,"hesaid,afterawhile."Hisface...Dagny,itdidn’tlooklikeanyoftheothers,it...itshowedthatheunderstoodsomuch...Iwasglad,wheneverIsawhimthere,inthecafeteria...Ijusttalked...Idon’tthinkIknewthathewasaskingquestions...buthewas...somanyquestionsabouttherailroadand...andaboutyou."

           "DidheeveraskyouwhatIlooklike,whenI’masleep?"

           "Yes...Yes,hedid...I’dfoundyouonce,asleepintheoffice,andwhenImentionedit,he—"Hestopped,asasuddenconnectioncrashedintoplaceinhismind.

           Sheturnedtohim,intherayofastreetlamp,raisingandholdingherfaceinfulllightforasilent,deliberatemoment,asifinanswerandconfirmationofhisthought.