Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Howthoroughlyhaveyoubeenwatchingme,"sheasked,"andforhowlong?"

           Itwasonlyaninstant’spause,hiseyesdidnotmove,butitseemedtoherthathisglancewasstressed,asifinspecialawarenessofseeingher,andshecaughtthesoundofsomeparticularintensityinhisvoiceasheansweredquietly,"Foryears."

           Sheclosedhereyes,relaxingandgivingup.Shefeltanodd,lightheartedindifference,asifshesuddenlywantednothingbutthecomfortofsurrenderingtohelplessness.

           Thedoctorwhoarrivedwasagray-hairedmanwithamild,thoughtfulfaceandafirmly,unobtrusivelyconfidentmanner.

           "MissTaggart,mayIpresentDr.Hendricks?"saidGalt.

           "NotDr.ThomasHendricks?"shegasped,withtheinvoluntaryrudenessofachild;thenamebelongedtoagreatsurgeon,whohadretiredandvanishedsixyearsago.

           "Yes,ofcourse,"saidGalt.

           Dr.Hendrickssmiledather,inanswer."MidastoldmethatMissTaggarthastobetreatedforshock,"hesaid,"notfortheonesustained,butfortheonestocome."

           "I’llleaveyoutodoit,"saidGalt,"whileIgotothemarkettogetsuppliesforbreakfast."

           ShewatchedtherapidefficiencyofDr.Hendricks’work,asheexaminedherinjuries.Hehadbroughtanobjectshehadneverseenbefore:aportableX-raymachine.