Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Shecouldnotpreventthejoltofeagernessthatthrewherheadup.

           "Thesecretoftransformingenergy—"shebegan,andstopped,"Icouldtellittoyouinfifteenminutes,"hesaid,inanswertothedesperatepleashehadnotuttered,"butthere’snopoweronearththatcanforcemetotellit.Ifyouunderstandthis,you’llunderstandeverythingthat’sbafflingyou."

           "Thatnight...twelveyearsago...aspringnightwhenyouwalkedoutofameetingofsixthousandmurderers—thatstoryistrue,isn’tit?"

           "Yes."

           "Youtoldthemthatyouwouldstopthemotoroftheworld."

           "Ihave."

           "Whathaveyoudone?"

           "I’vedonenothing,MissTaggart.Andthat’sthewholeofmysecret."

           Shelookedathimsilentlyforalongmoment.Hestoodwaiting,asifhecouldreadherthoughts."Thedestroyer—"shesaidinatoneofwonderandhelplessness.

           "—themostevilcreaturethat’severexisted,"hesaidinthetoneofaquotation,andsherecognizedherownwords,"themanwho’sdrainingthebrainsoftheworld.