Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Howlonghaveyoubeen—?"

           Shestopped;thistime,shedidnotgasp;thesightconfrontinghercouldnotbegreetedbyanythingexceptamomentoftotalinnerstillness:onthewall,behindarowofmachinery,shesawa’picturecutoutofanewspaper—apictureofher,inslacksandshirt,standingbythesideoftheengineattheopeningoftheJohnGaltLine,herheadlifted,hersmileholdingthecontext,themeaningandthesunlightofthatday.

           Amoanwasheronlyanswer,assheturnedtohim,butthelookonhisfacematchedhersinthepicture.

           "Iwasthesymbolofwhatyouwantedtodestroyintheworld,"hesaid,"ButyouweremysymbolofwhatIwantedtoachieve."Hepointedatthepicture."Thisishowmenexpecttofeelabouttheirlifeonceortwice,asanexception,inthecourseoftheirlifetime.ButI—thisiswhatIchoseastheconstantandnormal."

           Thelookonhisface,thesereneintensityofhiseyesandofhismindmadeitrealtoher,now,inthismoment,inthismoment’sfullcontext,inthiscity.

           Whenhekissedher,sheknewthattheirarms,holdingeachother,wereholdingtheirgreatesttriumph,thatthiswastherealityuntouchedbypainorfear,therealityofHalley’sFifthConcerto,thiswastherewardtheyhadwanted,foughtforandwon.

           Thedoorbellrang.

           Herfirstreactionwastodrawback,his—toholdhercloserandlonger.