Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Therewasapause,thenGaltaskedgravely,hisvoicelow,"Isitasbadasthat—whateveritis?"

           "Yes.I...Imightbebackbeforethemonthisover.Idon’tknow."Headded,withthesoundofadesperateeffort,"Idon’tknowwhethertohopetobedonewithitquicklyor...ornot."

           "Francisco,couldyoustandashockrightnow?"

           "I?Nothingcouldshockmenow."

           "There’saperson,here,inmyguestroom,whomyouhavetosee.

           Itwillbeashocktoyou,soIthinkI’dbetterwarnyouinadvancethatthispersonisstillascab."

           "What?Ascab?Inyourhouse?"

           "Letmetellyouhow—"

           "That’ssomethingIwanttoseeformyself!"

           SheheardFrancisco’scontemptuouschuckleandtherushofhissteps,shesawherdoorflungopen,andshenoticeddimlythatitwasGaltwhoclosedit,leavingthemalone.

           ShedidnotknowhowlongFranciscostoodlookingather,becausethefirstmomentthatshegraspedfullywaswhenshesawhimonhisknees,holdingontoher,hisfacepressedtoherlegs,themomentwhenshefeltasiftheshudderthatranthroughhisbodyandlefthimstill,hadrunintohersandmadeherabletomove.