Атлант расправил плечи
The Sacred and the Profane
Shelaughedsimply,easily,injoyousamusement,inrelease,notasonelaughsatthesolutionofaproblem,butatthediscoverythatnoproblemhadeverexisted.
Shethrewtheblanketoffwithastressed,deliberatesweepofherarm.
Shestoodup.Shesawherclothesonthefloorandkickedthemaside.
Shestoodfacinghim,naked.Shesaid:"Iwantyou,Hank.I’mmuchmoreofananimalthanyouthink.IwantedyoufromthefirstmomentIsawyou—andtheonlythingI’mashamedofisthatIdidnotknowit.Ididnotknowwhy,fortwoyears,thebrightestmomentsIfoundweretheonesinyouroffice,whereIcouldliftmyheadtolookupatyou.IdidnotknowthenatureofwhatIfeltinyourpresence,northereason.Iknowitnow.ThatisallIwant,Hank.Iwantyouinmybed—andyouarefreeofmeforalltherestofyourtime.There’snothingyou’llhavetopretend—don’tthinkofme,don’tfeel,don’tcare—Idonotwantyourmind,yourwill,yourbeingoryoursoul,solongasit’stomethatyouwillcomeforthatlowestoneofyourdesires.Iamananimalwhowantsnothingbutthatsensationofpleasurewhichyoudespise--butIwantitfromyou.You’dgiveupanyheightofvirtueforit,whileI—Ihaven’tanytogiveup.There’snoneIseekorwishtoreach.IamsolowthatIwouldexchangethegreatestsightofbeautyintheworldforthesightofyourfigureinthecabofarailroadengine.Andseeingit,Iwouldnotbeabletoseeitindifferently.
