Атлант расправил плечи

           "MissTaggart,"hegasped,"I’msorry!"Thedesperateguiltinhisvoiceclashedwiththejoyousexcitementinhisface,"I’veneverbrokenmywordbefore!There’snoexcuseforit,Ican’taskyoutoforgiveme,andIknowthatyouwon’tbelieveit,butthetruthisthatI—Iforgot!"

           SheglancedatGalt,"Ibelieveyou."

           "IforgotthatIpromisedtowait,Iforgoteverything—untilafewminutesago,whenMr.Mulligantoldmethatyou’dcrashedhereinaplane,andthenIknewitwasmyfault,andifanythinghadhappenedtoyou—ohGod,areyouallright?"

           "Yes.Don’tworry.Sitdown."

           "Idon’tknowhowonecanforgetone’swordofhonor.Idon’tknowwhathappenedtome."

           "Ido."

           "MissTaggart,Ihadbeenworkingonitformonths,onthatoneparticularhypothesis,andthemoreIworked,themorehopelessitseemedtobecome.I’dbeeninmylaboratoryforthelasttwodays,tryingtosolveamathematicalequationthatlookedimpossible.IfeltI’ddieatthatblackboard,butwouldn’tgiveup.Itwaslateatnightwhenhecamein.Idon’tthinkIevennoticedhim,notreally.HesaidhewantedtospeaktomeandIaskedhimtowaitandwentrighton.

           IthinkIforgothispresence.