Атлант расправил плечи

           Itwasstartlingtoseehimineveningclothesandmorestartlingstillthatheworethemsonaturally;hemadethemlooklikeaworkuniformofhonor;hisfiguresuggestedthekindofbanquet,inthedaysofadistantpast,wherehewouldhavebeenreceivinganindustrialaward.Celebrations—sherememberedherownwords,withastaboflonging—shouldbeonlyforthosewhohavesomethingtocelebrate.

           Sheturnedaway.Shestrugglednottolookathimtoooften,nottoattracttheattentionofhercompanions.Shehadbeenplacedatatableprominentenoughtodisplayhertotheassembly,butobscureenoughtokeepheroutofthelineofGalt’ssight,alongwiththosewhohadincurredGalt’sdisfavor:withDr.FerrisandEugeneLawson.

           HerbrotherJim,shenoted,hadbeenplacedclosertotheplatform;shecouldseehissullenfaceamongthenervousfiguresofTinkyHolloway,FredKinnan,Dr.SimonPritchett.Thetorturedfacesstrungoutabovethespeakers’tablewerenotsucceedingintheireffortstohidethattheylookedlikemenenduringanordeal;thecalmofGalt’sfaceseemedradiantamongthem;shewonderedwhowasprisonerhereandwhowasmaster.Herglancemovedslowlydowntheline-upofhistable:Mr.Thompson,WesleyMouch,ChickMorrison,somegenerals,somemembersoftheLegislatureand,preposterously,Mr.MowenchosenasabribetoGalt,asasymbolofbigbusiness.Sheglancedabouttheroom,lookingforthefaceofDr.Stadler;hewasnotpresent.