Атлант расправил плечи
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Hehadactedasifhewereconfidentlyincontrol,asifhisconfidencewereatransfusiontoletherrecapturehers,hehadgivenhernotimetowonderthattheyshouldbeheretogether.Nowshefelt,unaccountably,thatthereinshehadheldweregone.Itwasonlythesilenceofafewblankmomentsandthemotionlessoutlineofhisforehead,cheekboneandmouth,ashesatwithhisfaceturnedawayfromher—butshefeltasifitwerehewhowasnowstrugglingforsomethinghehadtorecapture.
Shewonderedwhathadbeenhispurposetonight—andnoticedthathehad,perhaps,accomplishedit:hehadcarriedherovertheworstmoment,hehadgivenheraninvaluabledefenseagainstdespair—theknowledgethatalivingintelligencehadheardherandunderstood.Butwhyhadhewantedtodoit?Whyhadhecaredaboutherhourofdespair—aftertheyearsofagonyhehadgivenher?WhyhaditmatteredtohimhowshewouldtakethedeathoftheJohnGaltLine?ShenoticedthatthiswasthequestionshehadnotaskedhiminthelobbyoftheTaggartBuilding.
Thiswasthebondbetweenthem,shethought:thatshewouldneverbeastonishedifhecamewhensheneededhimmost,andthathewouldalwaysknowwhentocome.Thiswasthedanger:thatshewouldtrusthimevenwhileknowingthatitcouldbenothingbutsomenewkindoftrap,evenwhilerememberingthathewouldalwaysbetraythosewhotrustedhim.
Hesat,leaningforwardwithhisarmscrossedonthetable,lookingstraightahead.
