Атлант расправил плечи

           IfIhadstageditintentionally,IwouldhavebeatentherecordoftheEmperorNero.What’sburningacity—comparedtotearingthelidoffhellandlettingmenseeit?"

           Heraisedhimself,pickedupafewmarblesandsatshakingthemabsentlyinhishand;theyclickedwiththesoft,clearsoundofgoodstone.Sherealizedsuddenlythatplayingwiththosemarbleswasnotadeliberateaffectationonhispart;itwasrestlessness;hecouldnotremaininactiveforlong.

           "ThegovernmentofthePeople’sStateofMexicohasissuedaproclamation,"hesaid,"askingthepeopletobepatientandputupwithhardshipsjustalittlelonger.ItseemsthatthecopperfortuneoftheSanSebastiánMineswaspartoftheplansofthecentralplanningcouncil.Itwastoraiseeverybody’sstandardoflivingandprovidearoastofporkeverySundayforeveryman,woman,childandabortioninthePeople’sStateofMexico.Nowtheplannersareaskingtheirpeoplenottoblamethegovernment,buttoblamethedepravityoftherich,becauseIturnedouttobeanirresponsibleplayboy,insteadofthegreedycapitalistIwasexpectedtobe.Howweretheytoknow,they’reasking,thatIwouldletthemdown?Well,trueenough.Howweretheytoknowit?"

           Shenoticedthewayhefingeredthemarblesinhishand.Hewasnotconsciousofit,hewaslookingoffintosomegrimdistance,butshefeltcertainthattheactionwasarelieftohim,perhapsasacontrast.Hisfingersweremovingslowly,feelingthetextureofthestoneswithsensualenjoyment.