Атлант расправил плечи
The Exploiters and the Exploited
Towatchyouasyouare,asyoufacetheworldwithyourclean,proudstrength—thentoseeyou,inmybed,submittingtoanyinfamouswhimImaydevise,toanyactwhichI’llperformforthesolepurposeofwatchingyourdishonorandtowhichyou’llsubmitforthesakeofanunspeakablesensation...Iwantyou—andmayIbedamnedforit!...
Shewasreadingthepapers,leaningbackinthedarkness—hesawthereflectionofthefiretouchingherhair,movingtohershoulder,downherarm,tothenakedskinofherwrist.
...DoyouknowwhatI’mthinkingnow,inthismoment?...
Yourgraysuitandyouropencollar...youlooksoyoung,soaustere,sosureofyourself...WhatwouldyoubelikeifIknockedyourheadback,ifIthrewyoudowninthatformalsuitofyours,ifIraisedyourskirt—
Sheglancedupathim.Helookeddownatthepapersonhisdesk.
Inamoment,hesaid,"Theactualcostofthebridgeislessthanouroriginalestimate.Youwillnotethatthestrengthofthebridgeallowsfortheeventualadditionofasecondtrack,which,Ithink,thatsectionofthecountrywilljustifyinaveryfewyears.Ifyouspreadthecostoveraperiodof—"
Hespoke,andshelookedathisfaceinthelamplight,againsttheblackemptinessoftheoffice.Thelampwasoutsideherfieldofvision,andshefeltasifitwerehisfacethatilluminatedthepapersonthedesk.
