Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Don’tcommunicatewithmeabouttherailroad.Idon’twanttohearit.Don’ttellanyonewhereIam,exceptHankRearden.Ifheasks,tellhimaboutthecabinandhowtogetthere.Butnooneelse.Idon’twanttoseeanybody."

           "Allright."

           "Promise?"

           "Ofcourse."

           "WhenIdecidewhat’stobecomeofme,I’llletyouknow."

           "I’llwait."

           "That’sall,Eddie."

           Heknewthateverywordwasmeasuredandthatnothingelsecouldbesaidbetweenthematthismoment.Heinclinedhishead,lettingitsaytherest,thenwalkedoutoftheoffice.

           Shesawthechiefengineer’sreportstilllyingopenonherdesk,andthoughtthatshehadtoorderhimatoncetoresumetheworkontheWinstonsection,thenrememberedthatitwasnotherproblemanylonger.Shefeltnopain.Sheknewthatthepainwouldcomelaterandthatitwouldbeatearingagonyofpain,andthatthenumbnessofthismomentwasarestgrantedtoher,notafter,butbefore,tomakeherreadytobearit.Butitdidnotmatter.Ifthatisrequiredofme,thenI’llbearit—shethought.

           ShesatdownatherdeskandtelephonedReardenathismillsinPennsylvania.

           "Hello,dearest,"hesaid.Hesaiditsimplyandclearly,asifhewantedtosayitbecauseitwasrealandright,andheneededtoholdontotheconceptsofrealityandrightness.