Атлант расправил плечи
Atlantis
Shemadeanefforttotellhim,"I’llbeallright,"thentoescapetothesafetyofherroomandlastlongenoughtoclosethedoor.
Shecollapsed,facedown,onthebed.Itwasnotthemerefactofphysicalexhaustion.Itwasthesuddenmonomaniaofasensationtoocompletetoendure.Whilethestrengthofherbodywasgone,whilehermindhadlostthefacultyofconsciousness,asingleemotiondrewonherremnantsofenergy,ofunderstanding,ofjudgment,ofcontrol,leavinghernothingtoresistitwithortodirectit,makingherunabletodesire,onlytofeel,reducinghertoameresensation—astaticsensationwithoutstartorgoal.Shekeptseeinghisfigureinhermind—hisfigureashehadstoodatthedoorofthestructure—shefeltnothingelse,nowish,nohope,noestimateofherfeeling,nonameforit,norelationtoherself—therewasnoentitysuchasherself,shewasnotaperson,onlyafunction,thefunctionofseeinghim,andthesightwasitsownmeaningandpurpose,withnofurtherendtoreach.
Herfaceburiedinthepillow,sherecalleddimly,asafaintsensation,themomentofhertake-offfromthefloodlightedstripoftheKansasairfield.Shefeltthebeatoftheengine,thestreakofacceleratingmotiongatheringpowerinastraight-lineruntoasinglegoal—andinthemomentwhenthewheelslefttheground,shewasasleep.
