Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Oh,stop,please!"

           Heobeyed,backingthecartothefootofthehillside.Itwasherfirstfewstepsuptherockyinclinethatstoppedher,asiftherewerenoneedtomoveforward,nofurtherplacetorise—andshestoodasinthemomentwhenshehadopenedhereyesontheearthofthevalley,amomentunitingherbeginningtohergoal.

           Shestoodlookingupatthestructure,herconsciousnesssurrenderedtoasinglesightandasingle,wordlessemotion—butshehadalwaysknownthatanemotionwasasumtotaledbyanaddingmachineofthemind,andwhatshenowfeltwastheinstantaneoustotalofthethoughtsshedidnothavetoname,thefinalsumofalongprogression,likeavoicetellingherbymeansofafeeling:IfshehadheldontoQuentinDaniels,withnohopeofachancetousethemotor,forthesolesakeofknowingthatachievementhadnotdiedonearth—if,likeaweighteddiversinkinginanoceanofmediocrity,underthepressureofmenwithgelatineyes,rubbervoices,spiral-shapedconvictions,noncommittalsoulsandnon-committinghands,shehadheld,asherlifelineandoxygentube,thethoughtofasuperlativeachievementofthehumanmind—if,atthesightofthemotor’sremnant,inasuddengaspofsuffocation,asalastprotestfromhiscorruption-eatenlungs,Dr.