Атлант расправил плечи

           "No?Andtheworldasyouseeitaroundyou,does?"

           "Youwerenotthekindofmanwhogetsbrokenbyanykindofworld."

           "True."

           "Then—why?"

           Heshrugged."WhoisJohnGalt?"

           "Oh,don’tusegutterlanguage!"

           Heglancedather.Hislipsheldthehintofasmile,buthiseyeswerestill,earnestand,foraninstant,disturbinglyperceptive.

           "Why?"sherepeated.

           Heanswered,ashehadansweredinthenight,inthishotel,tenyearsago,"You’renotreadytohearit."

           Hedidnotfollowhertothedoor.Shehadputherhandonthedoorknobwhensheturned—andstopped.Hestoodacrosstheroom,lookingather;itwasaglancedirectedatherwholeperson;sheknewitsmeaninganditheldhermotionless.

           "Istillwanttosleepwithyou,"hesaid."ButIamnotamanwhoishappyenoughtodoit."

           "Nothappyenough?"sherepeatedincompletebewilderment.

           Helaughed."Isitproperthatthatshouldbethefirstthingyou’danswer?"Hewaited,butsheremainedsilent."Youwantit,too,don’tyou?"

           Shewasabouttoanswer"No,"butrealizedthatthetruthwasworsethanthat."Yes,"sheansweredcoldly,"butitdoesn’tmattertomethatIwantit."

           Hesmiled,inopenappreciation,acknowledgingthestrengthshehadneededtosayit.

           Buthewasnotsmilingwhenhesaid,assheopenedthedoortoleave,"Youhaveagreatdealofcourage,Dagny.Someday,you’llhaveenoughofit."

           "Ofwhat?Courage?"

           Buthedidnotanswer.