Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Ifweweretofly—"saidMouch,andstoppedabruptly,asifhehadcaughtsomewarninginFerris’face.

           ShesawFerris’eyesmovetoher,asifhehadsuddenlyrememberedherpresence.Sheheldhisglance,lettinghimseetheuntroubledindifferenceofhers,asifshehadneithercarednorunderstood.Then,asifmerelygraspingthesignalofaprivatediscussion,sheturnedslowly,withthesuggestionofashrug,andlefttheroom.Sheknewthattheywerenowpastthestageofworryingabouther.

           Shewalkedwiththesameunhurriedindifferencethroughthehallsandthroughtheexitofthehotel.Butablockaway,whenshehadturnedacorner,herheadflewupandthefoldsofhereveninggownslammedlikeasailagainstherlegswiththesuddenviolenceofthespeedofhersteps.

           Andnow,assherushedthroughthedarkness,thinkingonlyoffindingatelephonebooth,shefeltanewsensationrisingirresistiblywithinher,pasttheimmediatetensionofdangerandconcern:itwasthesenseoffreedomofaworldthathadneverhadtobeobstructed.

           Shesawthewedgeoflightonthesidewalk,thatcamefromthewindowofabar.Noonegaveherasecondglance,asshecrossedthehalfdesertedroom:thefewcustomerswerestillwaitingandwhisperingtenselyinfrontofthecracklingbluevoidofanemptytelevisionscreen.