Атлант расправил плечи

           ShenoticedthewayGaltstopped,whenheenteredandsawhisvisitor.ShenoticedthatGaltsmiled,butthathisvoicewasoddlylow,almostsolemn,asifweightedwithunconfessedrelief,whenhesaidveryquietly,"Hello."

           "Hi,John,"saidthevisitorgaily.

           Shenoticedthattheirhandshakecameaninstanttoolateandlastedaninstanttoolong,likethehandshakeofmenwhohadnotbeencertainthattheirpreviousmeetingwouldnotbetheirlast.

           Galtturnedtoher."Haveyoumet?"heasked,addressingthemboth.

           "Notexactly,"saidthevisitor.

           "MissTaggart,mayIpresentRagnarDanneskjold?"

           Sheknewwhatherfacehadlookedlike,whensheheardDanneskjold’svoiceasfromagreatdistance:"Youdon’thavetobefrightened,MissTaggart.I’mnotdangeroustoanyoneinGalt’sGulch."

           Shecouldonlyshakeherhead,beforesherecapturedhervoicetosay,"It’snotwhatyou’redoingtoanyone...it’swhatthey’redoingtoyou..."

           Hislaughtersweptheroutofhermoment’sstupor,"Becareful,MissTaggart.Ifthat’showyou’rebeginningtofeel,youwon’tremainascabforlong."Headded,"ButyououghttostartbyadoptingtherightthingsfromthepeopleinGalt’sGulch,nottheirmistakes:they’vespenttwelveyearsworryingaboutme—needlessly."HeglancedatGalt.

           "Whendidyougetin?"askedGalt.