Атлант расправил плечи

           Couldonehaveanymeaningwithouttheother?Wasn’titeviltowishwithoutmoving—ortomovewithoutaim?Whosemalevolencewasitthatcreptthroughtheworld,strugglingtobreakthetwoapartandsetthemagainsteachother?

           Sheshookherhead.Shedidnotwanttothinkortowonderwhytheworldbehindherwasasitwas.Shedidnotcare.Shewasflyingawayfromit,attherateofahundredmilesanhour.Sheleanedtotheopenwindowbyherside,andfeltthewindofthespeedblowingherhairoffherforehead.Shelayback,consciousofnothingbutthepleasureitgaveher.

           Yethermindkeptracing.Brokenbitsofthoughtflewpastherattention,likethetelegraphpolesbythetrack.Physicalpleasure?—shethought.Thisisatrainmadeofsteel...runningonrailsofReardenMetal...movedbytheenergyofburningoilandelectricgenerators...it’saphysicalsensationofphysicalmovementthroughspace...butisthatthecauseandthemeaningofwhatInowfeel?

           ...Dotheycallitalow,animaljoy—thisfeelingthatIwouldnotcareiftheraildidbreaktobitsunderusnow—itwon’t—butIwouldn’tcare,becauseIhaveexperiencedthis?Alow,physical,material,degradingpleasureofthebody?

           Shesmiled,hereyesclosed,thewindstreamingthroughherhair.

           SheopenedhereyesandsawthatReardenstoodlookingdownather.Itwasthesameglancewithwhichhehadlookedattherail.