Атлант расправил плечи

           KipChalmersglancedoutwithincredulousangeratthefewshantiesonadesolatemountainsideandattheancienthovelofastation.

           "Nowwhat?Whatinhellaretheystoppingherefor?"hecried,andrangfortheconductor.

           Withthereturnofmotionandsafety,histerrorhadturnedintorage.Hefeltalmostasifhehadbeencheatedbyhavingbeenmadetoexperienceanunnecessaryfear.Hiscompanionswerestillclingingtothetablesofthelounge;theyfelttooshakentosleep.

           "Howlong?"theconductorsaidimpassively,inanswertohisquestion."Tillmorning,Mr.Chalmers."

           Chalmersstaredathim,stupefied."We’regoingtostandheretillmorning?"

           "Yes,Mr.Chalmers."

           "Here?"

           "Yes."

           "ButIhavearallyinSanFranciscointheevening!"

           Theconductordidnotanswer.

           "Why?Whydowehavetostand?Whyinhell?Whathappened?"

           Slowly,patiently,withcontemptuouspoliteness,theconductorgavehimanexactaccountofthesituation.Butyearsago,ingrammarschool,inhighschool,incollege,KipChalmershadbeentaughtthatmandoesnotandneednotlivebyreason.

           "Damnyourtunnel!"hescreamed.