Атлант расправил плечи
The Face without Pain or Fear or Guilt
Itwasaweekago.I’msurehe’sgone.They’vegothim."
"Whogothim?"
"Yes,Operator,I’llholdtheline,keeptrying!"
"Whatwouldyoutellhimifheanswered?"
"I’dbeghimtogoontakingmymoney,withnostringsattached,noconditions,justsohe’llhavethemeanstocontinue!I’llpromisehimthatifwe’restillinalooters’worldwhenandifhesucceeds,Iwon’taskhimtogivemethemotororeventotellmeitssecret.Butif,bythattime,we’refree—"Shestopped.
"Ifwe’refree..."
"AllIwantfromhimnowisthathedoesn’tgiveupandvanish,like...likeallthoseothers.Idon’twanttoletthemgethim.Ifit’snottoolate—ohGod,Idon’twantthemtogethim!...Yes,Operator,keepringing!"
"Whatgoodwillitdous,evenifhecontinuestowork?"
"That’sallI’llbeghimtodo—justtocontinue.Maybewe’llnevergetachancetousethemotorinthefuture.ButIwanttoknowthatsomewhereintheworldthere’sstillagreatbrainatworkonagreatattempt—andthatwestillhaveachanceatafuture...Ifthatmotorisabandonedagain,thenthere’snothingbutStarnesvilleaheadofus."
"Yes.Iknow."
Sheheldthereceiverpressedtoherear,herarmstiffwiththeeffortnottotremble.Shewaited,andheheard,inthesilence,thefutileclickingoftheunansweredcall.
