Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Here?"

           "Notwhenwestarted.Buthere,eversincethishousewasbuilteightyearsago."Heshrugged,smiling."ForamanwhohasmorecenturiesoftraditionbehindhimthanIhave,it’soddthatFranciscoshouldbethefirsttobreakourowntradition."

           "AndMr.Galt?"sheasked."Howmanycenturiesdoeshehavebehindhim?"

           "John?Noneatall.Nonebehindhim—butallofthoseahead."

           "Nevermindthecenturies,"saidGalt."Tellmewhatsortofyearyou’vehadbehindyou.Lostanymen?"

           "No."

           "Lostanyofyourtime?"

           "Youmean,wasIwounded?No.Ihaven’thadascratchsincethatonetime,tenyearsago,whenIwasstillanamateur,whichyououghttoforgetbynow.Iwasn’tinanydangerwhatever,thisyear—infact,IwasmuchmoresafethanifIwererunningasmall-towndrugstoreunderDirective10-289."

           "Lostanybattles?"

           "No.Thelosseswereallontheotherside,thisyear.Thelooterslostmostoftheirshipstome—andmostoftheirmentoyou.You’vehadagoodyear,too,haven’tyou?Iknow,I’vekepttrackofit.Sinceourlastbreakfasttogether,yougoteveryoneyouwantedfromthestateofColorado,andafewothersbesides,suchasKenDanagger,whowasagreatprizetoget.Butletmetellyouaboutastillgreaterone,whoisalmostyours.