Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
"
"What’sthewhole?"
"Confidenceofmyvalue—andyours."Heglancedatherasifcatchingthesparkofasuddenthought,andshelaughed,adding,"Iwouldn’tbesureofholdingamanlikeOrrenBoyle,forinstance.Hewouldn’twantmeatall.Youwould."
"Areyousaying,"heaskedslowly,"thatIroseinyourestimationwhenyoufoundthatIwantedyou?"
"Ofcourse."
"That’snotthereactionofmostpeopletobeingwanted."
"Itisn’t."
"Mostpeoplefeelthattheyriseintheirowneyes,ifotherswantthem."
"Ifeelthatothersliveuptome,iftheywantme.Andthatisthewayyoufeel,too,Hank,aboutyourself—whetheryouadmititornot."
That’snotwhatIsaidtoyouthen,onthatfirstmorning—hethought,lookingdownather.Shelaystretchedoutlazily,herfaceblank,buthereyesbrightwithamusement.Heknewthatshewasthinkingofitandthatsheknewhewas.Hesmiled,butsaidnothingelse.
Ashesathalf-stretchedonthecouch,watchingheracrosstheroom,hefeltatpeace—asifsometemporarywallhadrisenbetweenhimandthethingshehadfeltonhiswayhere.HetoldherabouthisencounterwiththemanfromtheStateScienceInstitute,because,eventhoughheknewthattheeventhelddanger,anodd,glowingsenseofsatisfactionstillremainedfromitinhismind.
