Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Whatdotheydowiththeirtime?"

           "Theycertainlydon’tspenditonmanufacturingplumbingpipes."

           "Tellme,whydoyoukeepmakingthosecracks?Iknowthatyoufeelcontemptfortheplumbingpipes.You’vemadethatclearlongago.

           Yourcontemptmeansnothingtome.Whykeeprepeatingit?"

           Hewonderedwhythishither;hedidnotknowinwhatmanner,butheknewthatitdid.Hewonderedwhyhefeltwithabsolutecertaintythatthathadbeentherightthingtosay.

           Sheasked,hervoicedry,"What’sthepurposeofthesuddenquestionnaire?"

           Heansweredsimply,"I’dliketoknowwhetherthere’sanythingthatyoureallywant.Ifthereis,I’dliketogiveittoyou,ifIcan."

           "You’dliketobuyit?That’sallyouknow—payingforthings.Yougetoffeasily,don’tyou?No,it’snotassimpleasthat.WhatIwantisnon-material."

           "Whatisit?"

           "You."

           "Howdoyoumeanthat,Lillian?Youdon’tmeanitintheguttersense."

           "No,notintheguttersense."

           "How,then?"

           Shewasatthedoor,sheturned,sheraisedherheadtolookathimandsmiledcoldly.

           "Youwouldn’tunderstandit,"shesaidandwalkedout.