Атлант расправил плечи
The Sign of the Dollar
"
"Comeon,"sheordered,asifhewerestillanemployeeoftherailroad."Ithinkwe’reonafrozentrain."
"Weare,"hesaid,andfollowedherwithprompt,disciplinedobedience.
Noexplanationswerenecessary.Itwasasif,inunspokenunderstanding,theywereansweringacalltoduty—anditseemednaturalthatofthehundredsaboard,itwasthetwoofthemwhoshouldbepartners-in-danger.
"Anyideahowlongwe’vebeenstanding?"sheasked,astheyhurriedonthroughthenextcar.
"No,"hesaid."WewerestandingwhenIwokeup."
Theywentthelengthofthetrain,findingnoporters,nowaitersinthediner,nobrakemen,noconductor.Theyglancedateachotheronceinawhile,butkeptsilent.Theyknewthestoriesofabandonedtrains,ofthecrewsthatvanishedinsuddenburstsofrebellionagainstserfdom.
Theygotoffattheheadendofthetrain,withnomotionaroundthemsavethewindontheirfaces,andtheyclimbedswiftlyaboardtheengine.Theengine’sheadlightwason,stretchinglikeanaccusingarmintothevoidofthenight.Theengine’scabwasempty.
Hercryofdesperatetriumphbrokeoutinanswertotheshockofthesight:"Goodforthem!They’rehumanbeings!"
Shestopped,aghast,asatthecryofastranger.ShenoticedthatKelloggstoodwatchinghercuriously,withthefainthintofasmile.
