Атлант расправил плечи

           "Yourfirsttriptothejob?"

           "Myfifth,inthreemonths."

           "Ididn’tknowyouwerehere.Nobodytoldme."

           "Ithoughtyou’dbreakdownsomeday."

           "Breakdown?"

           "Enoughtocomeandseethis.There’syourMetal.Howdoyoulikeit?"

           Heglancedaround."Ifyoueverdecidetoquittherailroadbusiness,letmeknow."

           "You’dgivemeajob?"

           "Anytime."

           Shelookedathimforamoment."You’reonlyhalf-kidding,Hank.

           Ithinkyou’dlikeit—havingmeaskyouforajob.Havingmeforanemployeeinsteadofacustomer.Givingmeorderstoobey."

           "Yes.Iwould."

           Shesaid,herfacehard,"Don’tquitthesteelbusiness,Iwon’tpromiseyouajobontherailroad."

           Helaughed."Don’ttryit."

           "What?"

           "TowinanybattlewhenIsettheterms."

           Shedidnotanswer.Shewasstruckbywhatthewordsmadeherfeel;itwasnotanemotion,butaphysicalsensationofpleasure,whichshecouldnotnameorunderstand.

           "Incidentally,"hesaid,"thisisnotmyfirsttrip.Iwashereyesterday."

           "Youwere?Why?"

           "Oh,IcametoColoradoonsomebusinessofmyown,soIthoughtI’dtakealookatthis.