Атлант расправил плечи
The Non-commercial
"Francisco,willyouleavemealone?"
"ButIhave.Didn’tyounoticethatyouwerefirsttospeaktometonight?"
"Whydoyoukeepwatchingme?"
"Curiosity."
"Aboutwhat?"
"Yourreactiontothethingswhichyoudon’tfindamusing."
"Whyshouldyoucareaboutmyreactiontoanything?"
"Thatismyownwayofhavingagoodtime,which,incidentally,youarenothaving,areyou,Dagny?Besides,you’retheonlywomanworthwatchinghere."
Shestooddefiantlystill,becausethewayhelookedatherdemandedanangryescape.Shestoodasshealwaysdid,straightandtaut,herheadliftedimpatiently.Itwastheunfeminineposeofanexecutive.Buthernakedshoulderbetrayedthefragilityofthebodyundertheblackdress,andtheposemadehermosttrulyawoman.Theproudstrengthbecameachallengetosomeone’ssuperiorstrength,andthefragilityareminderthatthechallengecouldbebroken.Shewasnotconsciousofit.Shehadmetnooneabletoseeit.
Hesaid,lookingdownatherbody,"Dagny,whatamagnificentwaste!"
Shehadtoturnandescape.Shefeltherselfblushing,forthefirsttimeinyears:blushingbecausesheknewsuddenlythatthesentencenamedwhatshehadfeltallevening.
Sheran,tryingnottothink.Themusicstoppedher.Itwasasuddenblastfromtheradio.ShenoticedMortLiddy,whohadturnediton,wavinghisarmstoagroupoffriends,yelling,"That’sit!That’sit!Iwantyoutohearit!"
ThegreatburstofsoundwastheopeningchordsofHalley’sFourthConcerto.
