Атлант расправил плечи
Account Overdrawn
OhGod,howIwantthem!"
"Whenyoudo,you’llfindthem."
HedidnotquestionherabouttheJohnGaltLineandshedidnotspeakofit,untiltheysatatatableinadimlylightedboothandshesawthestemofaglassbetweenherfingers.Shehadbarelynoticedhowtheyhadcomehere.Itwasaquiet,costlyplacethatlookedlikeasecretretreat;shesawasmall,lustroustableunderherhand,theleatherofacircularseatbehindhershoulders,andanicheofdarkbluemirrorthatcutthemofffromthesightofwhateverenjoymentorpainothershadcomeheretohide.Franciscowasleaningagainstthetable,watchingher,andshefeltasifshewereleaningagainstthesteadyattentivenessofhiseyes.
TheydidnotspeakoftheLine,butshesaidsuddenly,lookingdownattheliquidinherglass:"I’mthinkingofthenightwhenNatTaggartwastoldthathehadtoabandonthebridgehewasbuilding.ThebridgeacrosstheMississippi.Hehadbeendesperatelyshortofmoney—becausepeoplewereafraidofthebridge,theycalleditanimpracticalventure.Thatmorning,hewastoldthattheriversteamboatconcernshadfiledsuitagainsthim,demandingthathisbridgebedestroyedasathreattothepublicwelfare.Therewerethreespansofthebridgebuilt,advancingacrosstheriver.Thatsameday,alocalmobattackedthestructureandsetfiretothewoodenscaffolding.
