Атлант расправил плечи
The Non-commercial
AndhesawthelinesofLillian’sprofile,theproudpuritywhichhehadsoughtinmarryingher.
Whenhenoticedheragain,herealizedthatthevisionofherprofilewasinhisownmind,becauseshewasturnedtohimfull-face,watchinghim.Inthesuddeninstantofreturningtoreality,hethoughtthatwhathesawinhereyeswasenjoyment.Butinthenextinstantheremindedhimselfthathewassaneandthatthiswasnotpossible.
"It’sthefirsttimeyou’veinvitedthat..."heusedanobscenewordwithunemotionalprecision,"tomyhouse.It’sthelast."
"Howdareyouusesuch—"
"Don’targue,Lillian.Ifyoudo,I’llthrowhimoutrightnow."
Hegaveheramomenttoanswer,toobject,toscreamathimifshewished.Sheremainedsilent,notlookingathim,onlyhersmoothcheeksseemedfaintlydrawninward,asifdeflated.
Movingblindlyawaythroughthecoilsoflights,voicesandperfume,hefeltacoldtouchofdread.HeknewthatheshouldthinkofLillianandfindtheanswertotheriddleofhercharacter,becausethiswasarevelationwhichhecouldnotignore;buthedidnotthinkofher—andhefeltthedreadbecauseheknewthattheanswerhadceasedtomattertohimlongago.
Thefloodofwearinesswasstartingtoriseagain.Hefeltasifhecouldalmostseeitinthickeningwaves;itwasnotwithinhim,butoutside,spreadingthroughtheroom.Foraninstant,hefeltasifhewerealone,lostinagraydesert,needinghelpandknowingthatnohelpwouldcome.
Hestoppedshort.
