Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
TheywerestemsofHawaiianTorchGinger,threefeettall;theirlargeheadswereconesofpetalsthathadthesensualtextureofsoftleatherandthecolorofblood."Isawtheminaflorist’swindow,"hetoldherwhenhecame,thatnight.
"Ilikedseeingthemthroughablizzard.Butthere’snothingaswastedasanobjectinapublicwindow."
Shebegantofindflowersinherapartmentatunpredictabletimes,flowerssentwithoutacard,butwiththesignatureofthesenderintheirfantasticshapes,intheviolentcolors,intheextravagantcost.Hebroughtheragoldnecklacemadeofsmallhingedsquaresthatformedaspreadofsolidgoldtocoverherneckandshoulders,likethecollarofaknight’sarmor—"Wearitwithablackdress,"heordered.Hebroughtherasetofglassesthatweretall,slenderblocksofsquare-cutcrystal,madebyafamousjeweler.Shewatchedthewayheheldoneoftheglasseswhensheservedhimadrink—asifthetouchofthetextureunderhisfingers,thetasteofthedrinkandthesightofherfacewerethesingleformofanindivisiblemomentofenjoyment."IusedtoseethingsIliked,"hesaid,"butIneverboughtthem.Theredidn’tseemtobemuchmeaninginit.Thereis,now."
Hetelephonedherattheoffice,onewintermorning,andsaid,notinthetoneofaninvitation,butinthetoneofanexecutive’sorder,"We’regoingtohavedinnertogethertonight,Iwantyoutodress.Doyouhaveanysortofblueeveninggown?Wearit.
