Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Hervoicewaslow,itsintensitywasbothasurrenderandascornfulreproach:"Youknowbetterthanthat,don’tyou?"

           Heshookhishead."No.Iwantyoutorememberthatthathadbeenyourwish.Youwereright,inthepast.Solongasyouwerepartoftheouterworld,youhadtoseektodestroyme.Andofthetwocoursesnowopentoyou,onewillleadyoutothedaywhenyouwillfindyourselfforcedtodoit."Shedidnotanswer,shesatlookingdown,hesawthestrandsofherhairswingjerkilyassheshookherheadindesperateprotest."Youaremyonlydanger.Youaretheonlypersonwhocoulddelivermetomyenemies.Ifyouremainwiththem,youwill.Choosethat,ifyouwish,butchooseitwithfullknowledge.

           Don’tanswermenow.Butuntilyoudo"—thestressofseverityinhisvoicewasthesoundofeffortdirectedagainsthimself—"rememberthatIknowthemeaningofeitheranswer."

           "AsfullyasIdo?"shewhispered.

           "Asfully."

           Heturnedtogo,whenhereyesfellsuddenlyupontheinscriptionsshehadnoticed,andforgotten,onthewallsoftheroom.

           Theywerecutintothepolishofthewood,stillshowingtheforceofthepencil’spressureinthehandsthathadmadethem,eachinhisownviolentwriting:"You’llgetoverit—EllisWyatt""Itwillbeallrightbymorning—KenDanagger""It’sworthit—RogerMarsh