Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Theywentoninsilence.Reardenfelthimselfgrowinglighterwitheverystep.Raisinghisfacetothecoldair,hesawthepeacefuldarknessoftheskyandasinglestaraboveasmokestackwiththeverticallettering:ReardenSteel.Hefelthowgladhewastobealive.

           HedidnotexpectthechangehesawinFrancisco’sfacewhenhelookedatitinthelightofhisoffice.Thethingshehadseenbytheglareofthefurnaceweregone.Hehadexpectedalookoftriumph,ofmockeryatalltheinsultsFranciscohadheardfromhim,alookdemandingtheapologyhewasjoyouslyeagertooffer.Instead,hesawafacemadelifelessbyanodddejection.

           "Areyouhurt?"

           "No...no,notatall."

           "Comehere,"orderedRearden,openingthedoorofhisbathroom."Lookatyourself."

           "Nevermind.Youcomehere."

           Forthefirsttime,Reardenfeltthathewastheolderman;hefeltthepleasureoftakingFranciscoincharge;hefeltaconfident,amused,paternalprotectiveness.HewashedthegrimeoffFrancisco’sface,heputdisinfectantsandadhesivebandagesonhistemple,hishands,hisscorchedelbows.Franciscoobeyedhiminsilence.

           Reardenasked,inthetoneofthemosteloquentsalutehecouldoffer,"Wheredidyoulearntoworklikethat?"

           Franciscoshrugged."Iwasbroughtuparoundsmeltersofeverykind,"heansweredindifferently.