Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Iknowwhatyoumeant...Iknewitthen,too."

           Hewaslookingstraightather.Sheloweredhereyes.

           Heremainedsilent;whenhespokeagain,hisvoicewasgay."Theworstthingaboutpeopleisnottheinsultstheyhandout,butthecompliments.Icouldn’tbearthekindtheyspoutedtonight,particularlywhentheykeptsayinghowmucheverybodyneedsme—they,thecity,thecountryandthewholeworld,Iguess.Apparently,theirideaoftheheightofgloryistodealwithpeoplewhoneedthem.Ican’tstandpeoplewhoneedme."Heglancedather."Doyouneedme?"

           Sheanswered,hervoiceearnest,"Desperately."

           Helaughed."No.NotthewayImeant.Youdidn’tsayitthewaytheydo."

           "HowdidIsayit?"

           "Likeatrader—whopaysforwhathewants.Theysayitlikebeggarswhouseatincupasaclaimcheck."

           "I...payforit,Hank?"

           "Don’tlookinnocent.YouknowexactlywhatImean."

           "Yes,"shewhispered;shewassmiling.

           "Oh,tohellwiththem!"hesaidhappily,stretchinghislegs,shiftingthepositionofhisbodyonthecouch,stressingtheluxuryofrelaxation."I’mnogoodasapublicfigure.Anyway,itdoesn’tmatternow.

           Wedon’thavetocarewhattheyseeordon’tsee.They’llleaveusalone.It’scleartrackahead.What’sthenextundertaking,Mr.