Атлант расправил плечи

           Shehadbeendimlyawareoftheusualsoundofmovementandvoicesintheanteroomofheroffice,asherstaffhadarrivedtobegintheirday;shewonderedwhynobodyhadenteredherofficeandwhyhertelephonehadremainedsilent;asadailyrule,thereshouldhavebeenarushofbusinessbythishour.Sheglancedathercalendar;therewasanotethattheMcNeilCarFoundryofChicagowastophoneheratnineA.M.inregardtothenewfreightcarswhichTaggartTranscontinentalhadbeenexpectingforsixmonths.

           Sheflickedtheswitchoftheinterofficecommunicatortocallhersecretary.Thegirl’svoiceansweredwithastartledlittlegasp:"MissTaggart!Areyouhere,inyouroffice?"

           "Isleptherelastnight,again.Didn’tintendto,butdid.WasthereacallformefromtheMcNeilCarFoundry?"

           "No,MissTaggart."

           "Putthemthroughtomeimmediately,whentheycall."

           "Yes,MissTaggart."

           Switchingthecommunicatoroff,shewonderedwhethersheimagineditorwhethertherehadbeensomethingstrangeinthegirl’svoice:ithadsoundedunnaturallytense.

           Shefeltthefaintlight-headednessofhungerandthoughtthatsheshouldgodowntogetacupofcoffee,buttherewasstillthereportofthechiefengineertofinish,soshelightedonemorecigarette.