Атлант расправил плечи
The Sacred and the Profane
I’mgoingtohaveyouatthepriceofmorethanmyself:atthepriceofmyselfesteem—andIwantyoutoknowit.Iwantnopretense,noevasion,nosilentindulgence,withthenatureofouractionsleftunnamed.Iwantnopretenseaboutlove,value,loyaltyorrespect.Iwantnoshredofhonorlefttous,tohidebehind.I’veneverbeggedformercy.I’vechosentodothis—andI’lltakealltheconsequences,includingthefullrecognitionofmychoice.It’sdepravity—andIacceptitassuch—andthereisnoheightofvirtuethatIwouldn’tgiveupforit.Nowifyouwishtoslapmyface,goahead.Iwishyouwould."
Shehadlistened,sittingupstraight,holdingtheblanketclutchedatherthroattocoverherbody.Atfirst,hehadseenhereyesgrowingdarkwithincredulousshock.Thenitseemedtohimthatshewaslisteningwithgreaterattentiveness,butseeingmorethanhisface,eventhoughhereyeswerefixedonhis.Shelookedasifshewerestudyingintentlysomerevelationthathadneverconfrontedherbefore.Hefeltasifsomerayoflightweregrowingstrongeronhisface,becausehesawitsreflectiononhers,asshewatchedhim—hesawtheshockvanishing,thenthewonder—hesawherfacebeingsmoothedintoastrangeserenitythatseemedquietandglitteringatonce.
Whenhestopped,sheburstoutlaughing.
Theshocktohimwasthatheheardnoangerinherlaughter.
