Атлант расправил плечи

           Ijustreceivedyourletter.Justnow.I...Ihadbeenaway."

           "Oh."Therewasapause,thenhesaidquietly,"There’sreallynothingmoretobesaidaboutit,MissTaggart."

           "Tellme,areyougoingaway?"

           "No."

           "You’renotplanningtogo?"

           "No.Where?"

           "DoyouintendtoremainattheInstitute?"

           "Yes."

           "Forhowlong?Indefinitely?"

           "Yes—asfarasIknow."

           "Hasanyoneapproachedyou?"

           "Aboutwhat?"

           "Aboutleaving."

           "No.Who?"

           "Listen,Daniels,Iwon’ttrytodiscussyourletteroverthephone.

           ButImustspeaktoyou.I’mcomingtoseeyou.I’llgetthereasfastasIcan."

           "Idon’twantyoutodothat,MissTaggart.Idon’twantyoutogotosuchaneffort,whenit’suseless."

           "Givemeachance,won’tyou?Youdon’thavetopromisetochangeyourmind,youdon’thavetocommityourselftoanything—onlytogivemeahearing.IfIwanttocome,it’smyrisk,I’mtakingit.TherearethingsIwanttosaytoyou,I’maskingyouonlyforthechancetosaythem."

           "YouknowthatIwillalwaysgiveyouthatchance,MissTaggart."

           "I’mleavingforUtahatonce.Tonight.Butthere’sonethingIwantyoutopromiseme.