Атлант расправил плечи

           Shelethimlookatitforamoment,almostasanactofcondescendingmercytoanadversarystrugglingtorefuelhisstrength,thensheasked,withanoteofimperiousprideinhervoice,pointingattheinscription,"What’sthat?"

           "It’stheoaththatwastakenbyeverypersoninthisvalley,butyou."

           Shesaid,lookingatthewords,"Thishasalwaysbeenmyownruleofliving."

           "Iknowit."

           "ButIdon’tthinkthatyoursisthewaytopracticeit."

           "Thenyou’llhavetolearnwhichoneofusiswrong."

           Shewalkeduptothesteeldoorofthestructure,withasuddenconfidencefaintlystressedinthemovementsofherbody,amerehintofstress,nomorethanherawarenessofthepowersheheldbymeansofhispain—andshetried,askingnopermission,toturntheknobofthedoor.Butthedoorwaslocked,andshefeltnotremorunderthepressureofherhand,asifthelockwerepouredandsealedtothestonewiththesolidsteelofthesheet.

           "Don’ttrytoopenthatdoor,MissTaggart."

           Heapproachedher,hisstepsashadetooslow,asifstressinghisknowledgeofherawarenessofeverystep."Noamountofphysicalforcewilldoit,"hesaid."Onlyathoughtcanopenthatdoor.Ifyoutriedtobreakitdownbymeansofthebestexplosivesintheworld,themachineryinsidewouldcollapseintorubblelongbeforethedoorwouldgiveway.