Атлант расправил плечи

           ItwasforthesakeofthisthatshehaddedicatedherselftotherailofTaggartTranscontinental,astothebodyofaspirityettobefound.Shehadfoundit,everythingshehadeverwanted,itwashereinthisroom,reachedandhers—butthepricewasthatnetofrailbehindher,therailthatwouldvanish,thebridgesthatwouldcrumble,thesignallightsthatwouldgoout...Andyet...EverythingIhadeverwanted,shethought—lookingawayfromthefigureofamanwithsun-coloredhairandimplacableeyes.

           "Youdon’thavetoanswerusnow."

           Sheraisedherhead;hewaswatchingherasifhehadfollowedthestepsinhermind.

           "Weneverdemandagreement,"hesaid."Wenevertellanyonemorethanheisreadytohear.Youarethefirstpersonwhohaslearnedoursecretaheadoftime.Butyou’rehereandyouhadtoknow.Nowyouknowtheexactnatureofthechoiceyou’llhavetomake.Ifitseemshard,it’sbecauseyoustillthinkthatitdoesnothavetobeoneortheother.Youwilllearnthatitdoes."

           "Willyougivemetime?"

           "Yourtimeisnotourstogive.Takeyourtime.Youalonecandecidewhatyou’llchoosetodo,andwhen.Weknowthecostofthatdecision.We’vepaidit.Thatyou’vecomeheremightnowmakeiteasierforyou—orharder."

           "Harder,"shewhispered.

           "Iknow.