Атлант расправил плечи
The Sign of the Dollar
Inthemomentwhenshegraspedthenatureofthestillness,herbodyspranguprightwithasinglecurveofmotion,immediateandviolentlikeacryofrebellion.Theloudscreechofthewindowshadewentlikeaknife-cutthroughthesilence,asshethrewtheshadeupward.Therewasnothingoutsidebutanonymousstretchesofprairie;astrongwindwasbreakingtheclouds,andashaftofmoonlightfellthrough,butitfelluponplainsthatseemedasdeadasthosefromwhichitcame.
Thesweepofherhandpressedthelightswitchandthebelltosummontheporter.Theelectriclightcameonandbroughtherbacktoarationalworld.Sheglancedatherwatch:itwasafewminutespastmidnight.Shelookedoutoftherearwindow:thetrackwentoffinastraightlineand,attheprescribeddistance,shesawtheredlanternsleftontheground,placedconscientiouslytoprotecttherearofthetrain.Thesightseemedreassuring.
Shepressedtheporter’sbelloncemore.Shewaited.Shewenttothevestibule,unlockedthedoorandleanedouttolookdownthelineofthetrain.Afewwindowswerelightedinthelong,taperingbandofsteel,butshesawnofigures,nosignofhumanactivity.Sheslammedthedoor,camebackandstartedtodress,hermovementssuddenlycalmandswift.
Noonecametoanswerherbell.Whenshehastenedacrosstothenextcar,shefeltnofear,nouncertainty,nodespair,nothingbuttheurgencyofaction.
