Атлант расправил плечи
The Sacred and the Profane
Theylooked,asifyoustoodonamountainpeakandtheycouldonlytaketheirhatsofftoyouacrossthegreatdistance.Didn’tthey?"
"Yes,"shewhispered.
"Theylookedasiftheyknewthatonemaynotapproachyouorspeakinyourpresenceortouchafoldofyourdress.Theyknewitandit’strue.Theylookedatyouwithrespect,didn’tthey?Theylookeduptoyou?"
Heseizedherarm,threwherdownonherknees,twistingherbodyagainsthislegs,andbentdowntokisshermouth.Shelaughedsoundlessly,herlaughtermocking,buthereyeshalf-closed,veiledwithpleasure.
Hourslater,whentheylayinbedtogether,hishandmovingoverherbody,heaskedsuddenly,throwingherbackagainstthecurveofhisarm,bendingoverher—andsheknew,bytheintensityofhisface,bythesoundofagaspsomewhereinthequalityofhisvoice,eventhoughhisvoicewaslowandsteady,thatthequestionbrokeoutofhimasifitwerewornbythehoursoftorturehehadspentwithit:"Whoweretheothermenthathadyou?"
Helookedatherasifthequestionwereasightvisualizedineverydetail,asightheloathed,butwouldnotabandon;sheheardthecontemptinhisvoice,thehatred,thesuffering—andanoddeagernessthatdidnotpertaintotorture;hehadaskedthequestion,holdingherbodytightagainsthim.
