Атлант расправил плечи
Atlantis
Butreachthethoughtwhichitrequires—andthesecretofthemotorwillbeyours,aswellas"—itwasthefirstbreakshehadheardinhisvoice—"aswellasanyothersecretyoumightwishtoknow."
Hefacedherforamoment,asifleavinghimselfopentoherfullunderstanding,thensmiledoddly,quietlyatsomethoughtofhisown,andadded,"I’llshowyouhowit’sdone."
Hesteppedback.Then,standingstill,hisfaceraisedtothewordscarvedinthestone,herepeatedthemslowly,evenly,asiftakingthatoathoncemore.Therewasnoemotioninhisvoice,nothingbutthespacedclarityofthesoundshepronouncedwithfullknowledgeoftheirmeaning—butsheknewthatshewaswitnessingthemostsolemnmomentitwouldeverbegivenhertowitness,shewasseeingaman’snakedsoulandthecostithadpaidtoutterthesewords,shewashearinganechoofthedaywhenhehadpronouncedthatoathforthefirsttimeandwithfullknowledgeoftheyearsahead—sheknewwhatmannerofmanhadstooduptofacesixthousandothersonadarkspringnightandwhytheyhadbeenafraidofhim,sheknewthatthiswasthebirthandthecoreofallthethingsthathadhappenedtotheworldinthetwelveyearssince,sheknewthatthiswasoffargreaterimportthanthemotorhiddeninsidethestructure—sheknewit,tothesoundofaman’svoicepronouncinginself-reminderandrededication:"Iswearbymylife...andmyloveofit...thatIwillneverliveforthesakeofanotherman...noraskanotherman...
