Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Hedidnotanswer;inamoment,heaskedcasually,"Whendidyoutakeavacationlast?"

           "Ithinkitwastwo...no,threeyearsago."

           "Whatdidyoudo?"

           "WenttotheAdirondacksforamonth.Camebackinaweek."

           "Ididthatfiveyearsago.OnlyitwasOregon."Helayflatonhisback,lookingattheceiling."Dagny,let’stakeavacationtogether.Let’stakemycaranddriveawayforafewweeks,anywhere,justdrive,downthebackroads,wherenooneknowsus.We’llleavenoaddress,wewon’tlookatanewspaper,wewon’ttouchaphone—wewon’thaveanyofficiallifeatall."

           Shegotup.Sheapproachedhim,shestoodbythesideofthecouch,lookingdownathim,thelightofthelampbehindher;shedidnotwanthimtoseeherfaceandtheeffortshewasmakingnottosmile.

           "Youcantakeafewweeksoff,can’tyou?"hesaid."Thingsaresetandgoingnow.It’ssafe.Wewon’thaveanotherchanceinthenextthreeyears."

           "Allright,Hank,"shesaid,forcinghervoicetosoundcalmlytoneless.

           "Willyou?"

           "Whendoyouwanttostart?"

           "Mondaymorning."

           "Allright."

           Sheturnedtostepaway.