Атлант расправил плечи
The Exploiters and the Exploited
ThatIshouldfindithereissuchanastonishingrelief!"Shehadcometohisoffice,rememberingthatsentence.Shesat,watchinghiminthemannerofascientist:assumingnothing,discardingemotion,seekingonlytoobserveandtounderstand.
"MissTaggart,"hesaidgaily,"I’mcuriousaboutyou,I’mcuriouswheneveranythingupsetsaprecedent.Asarule,visitorsareapainfuldutytome.I’mfranklyastonishedthatIshouldfeelsuchasimplepleasureinseeingyouhere.Doyouknowwhatit’sliketofeelsuddenlythatonecantalkwithoutthestrainoftryingtoforcesomesortofunderstandingoutofavacuum?"
Hesatontheedgeofhisdesk,hismannergailyinformal.Hewasnottall,andhisslendernessgavehimanairofyouthfulenergy,almostofboyishzest.Histhinfacewasageless;itwasahomelyface,butthegreatforeheadandthelargegrayeyesheldsuchanarrestingintelligencethatonecouldnoticenothingelse.Therewerewrinklesofhumorinthecornersoftheeyes,andfaintlinesofbitternessinthecornersofthemouth.Hedidnotlooklikeamaninhisearlyfifties;theslightlygrayinghairwashisonlysignofage.
"Tellmemoreaboutyourself,"hesaid."Ialwaysmeanttoaskyouwhatyou’redoinginsuchanunlikelycareerasheavyindustryandhowyoucanstandthosepeople."
"Icannottaketoomuchofyourtime,Dr.Stadler."Shespokewithpolite,impersonalprecision.
