Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Theenvelopehehandedtoherwasmarked:Registered—AirMail—SpecialDelivery—Personal.Thereturnaddresssaid:QuentinDaniels,UtahInstituteofTechnology,Afton,Utah.

           "Oh...Thankyou."

           Theassistantmanagernotedthathervoicewentdroppingtowardawhisper,thepolitedisguiseforagasp,henotedthatshestoodlookingdownatthesender’snamemuchlongerthanwasnecessary,soherepeatedhisgoodwishesanddeparted.

           ShewastearingtheenvelopeopenasshewalkedtowardRearden,andshestoppedinthemiddleoftheroomtoreadtheletter.Itwastypewrittenonthinpaper—hecouldseetheblackrectanglesoftheparagraphsthroughthetransparentsheets—andhecouldseeherfaceasshereadthem.

           Heexpectedit,bythetimehesawhercometotheend:sheleapedtothetelephone,heheardtheviolentwhirlofthedialandhervoicesayingwithtremblingurgency,"Long-distance,please...Operator,getmetheUtahInstituteofTechnologyatAfton,Utah!"

           Heasked,approaching,"Whatisit?"

           Sheextendedtheletter,notlookingathim,hereyesfixedonthetelephone,asifshecouldforceittoanswer.

           Thelettersaid:DearMissTaggart:Ihavefoughtitoutforthreeweeks,Ididnotwanttodoit,IknowhowthiswillhityouandIknoweveryargumentyoucouldofferme,becauseIhaveusedthemallagainstmyself—butthisistotellyouthatIamquitting.