Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
Hethrewhisheadbackandsmiledthemostbrilliantlygaysmileshehadeverseenonhisface.
"Yourfirstmomentofweakness,Dagny,"hesaid.
Shelaughedandshookherhead.Hestretchedhisarmacrossthetableandclosedhishandoverhernakedshoulder,asifgivingheraninstant’ssupport.Laughingsoftly,andasifbyaccident,shelethermouthbrushagainsthisfingers;itkeptherfacedownfortheonemomentwhenhecouldhaveseenthatthebrillianceofhereyeswastears.
Whenshelookedupathim,hersmilematchedhis—andtherestoftheeveningwastheircelebration—forallhisyearssincethenightsonthemineledges—forallheryearssincethenightofherfirstballwhen,indesolatelongingforanuncapturedvisionofgaiety,shehadwonderedaboutthepeoplewhoexpectedthelightsandtheflowerstomakethembrilliant.
"Isn’tthere...inwhatwe’retaught...someerrorthat’sviciousandveryimportant?"—shethoughtofhiswords,asshelayinanarmchairofherlivingroom,onadismaleveningofspring,waitingforhimtocome...Justalittlefarther,mydarling—shethought—lookalittlefartherandyou’llbefreeofthaterrorandofallthewastedpainyounevershouldhavehadtocarry...Butshefeltthatshe,too,hadnotseenthewholeofthedistance,andshewonderedwhatwerethestepsleftforhertodiscover...
