Атлант расправил плечи
The Aristocracy of pull
HekneweveryshadeofsensationeverreflectedinDagny’sface;hehadknownthatshehadfeltnoshock;hehadseennothingbutanuntouchedserenity.Hereyeshadmovedtohis,asifacknowledgingthefullmeaningofthisencounter,butlookingathimasshewouldhavelookedanywhere,asshelookedathiminhisofficeorinherbedroom.Ithadseemedtohimthatshehadstoodbeforethemboth,atthedistanceofafewsteps,revealedtothemassimplyandopenlyasthegraydressrevealedherbody.
Shehadbowedtothem,thecourteousmovementofherheadincludingthemboth.Hehadanswered,hehadseenLillian’sbriefnod,andthenhehadseenLillianmovingawayandrealizedthathehadstoodwithhisheadbowedforalongmoment.
HedidnotknowwhatLillian’sfriendsweresayingtohimorwhathewasanswering.Asamangoesstepbystep,tryingnottothinkofthelengthofahopelessroad,sohewentmomentbymoment,keepingnoimprintofanythinginhismind.HeheardsnatchesofLillian’spleasedlaughterandatoneofsatisfactioninhervoice.
Afterawhile,henoticedthewomenaroundhim;theyallseemedtoresembleLillian,withthesamelookofstaticgrooming,withthineyebrowspluckedtoastaticliftandeyesfrozeninstaticamusement.Henoticedthattheyweretryingtoflirtwithhim,andthatLillianwatcheditasifshewereenjoyingthehopelessnessoftheirattempts.
