Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
"
Thedresssheworewasaslendertunicofdustybluethatgaveheralookofunprotectedsimplicity,thelookofastatueintheblueshadowsofagardenunderthesummersun.Whathebroughtandputoverhershoulderswasacapeofbluefoxthatswallowedherfromthecurveofherchintothetipsofhersandals."Hank,that’spreposterous"—shelaughed—"it’snotmykindofthing!""No?"heasked,drawinghertoamirror.
Thehugeblanketoffurmadeherlooklikeachildbundledforasnowstorm;theluxurioustexturetransformedtheinnocenceoftheawkwardbundleintotheeleganceofaperverselyintentionalcontrast:intoalookofstressedsensuality.Thefurwasasoftbrown,dimmedbyanauraofbluethatcouldnotbeseen,onlyfeltlikeanenvelopingmist,likeasuggestionofcolorgraspednotbyone’seyesbutbyone’shands,asifonefelt,withoutcontact,thesensationofsinkingone’spalmsintothefur’ssoftness.Thecapeleftnothingtobeseenofher,exceptthebrownofherhair,theblue-grayofhereyes,theshapeofhermouth.
Sheturnedtohim,hersmilestartledandhelpless."I...Ididn’tknowitwouldlooklikethat."
"Idid."
Shesatbesidehiminhiscarashedrovethroughthedarkstreetsofthecity.Asparklingnetofsnowflashedintosightonceinawhile,whentheywentpastthelightsonthecorners.Shedidnotaskwheretheyweregoing.
