Атлант расправил плечи
The Sign of the Dollar
Thewomanwaspushingforward,tosqueezeherselfintothegroup,toplacesomehumanbodiesbetweenherselfandthesightofthegreatvacuum—theplainstretchingoffanddissolvingintomoonlight,thedeadphosphorescenceofimpotent,borrowedenergy.Thewomanhadacoatthrownoveranightgown;thecoatwasslippingopenandherstomachprotrudedunderthegown’sthincloth,withthatlooseobscenityofmannerwhichassumesallhumanself-revelationtobeuglinessandmakesnoefforttoconcealit.Foramoment,Dagnyregrettedthenecessitytocontinue.
"Ishallgodownthetracktoatelephone,"shecontinued,hervoiceclearandascoldasthemoonlight."Thereareemergencytelephonesatintervalsoffivemilesalongtheright-of-way.Ishallcallforanothercrewtobesenthere.Thiswilltakesometime.Youwillpleasestayaboardandmaintainsuchorderasyouarecapableofmaintaining."
"Whataboutthegangsofraiders?"askedanotherwoman’snervousvoice.
"That’strue,"saidDagny."I’dbetterhavesomeonetoaccompanyme.Whowishestogo?"
Shehadmisunderstoodthewoman’smotive.Therewasnoanswer.
Therewerenoglancesdirectedatheroratoneanother.Therewerenoeyes—onlymoistovalsglisteninginthemoonlight.Theretheywere,shethought,themenofthenewage,thedemandersandrecipientsofself-sacrifice.
