Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
Shelaystill,contenttorestwiththesinglepurposeofwaitingquietlyforthesoundofthekeyinthelock.Hehadnottelephonedher,butshehadheardthathewasinNewYorktodayforaconferencewithproducersofcopper,andheneverleftthecitytillnextmorning,norspentanightinNewYorkthatwasnothers.Shelikedtowaitforhim.Sheneededaspanoftimeasabridgebetweenherdaysandhisnights.
Thehoursahead,likeallhernightswithhim,wouldbeadded,shethought,tothatsavingsaccountofone’slifewheremomentsoftimearestoredintheprideofhavingbeenlived.Theonlyprideofherworkdaywasnotthatithadbeenlived,butthatithadbeensurvived.
Itwaswrong,shethought,itwasviciouslywrongthatoneshouldeverbeforcedtosaythataboutanyhourofone’slife.Butshecouldnotthinkofitnow.Shewasthinkingofhim,ofthestruggleshehadwatchedthroughthemonthsbehindthem,hisstrugglefordeliverance;shehadknownthatshecouldhelphimwin,butmusthelphimineverywayexceptinwords.
Shethoughtoftheeveninglastwinterwhenhecamein,tookasmallpackagefromhispocketandhelditouttoher,saying,"Iwantyoutohaveit."Sheopeneditandstaredinincredulousbewildermentatapendantmadeofasinglepear-shapedrubythatspurtedaviolentfireonthewhitesatinofthejeweler’sbox.Itwasafamousstone,whichonlyadozenmenintheworldcouldproperlyaffordtopurchase;hewasnotoneofthem.
