Атлант расправил плечи
The Sign of the Dollar
"
Sheleanedagainstthesideofthephonebox,towait.Kelloggwassmiling.
"Andyouproposetorunarailroad—atranscontinentalrailroad—withthat?"heasked.
Sheshrugged.
Shecouldnotkeephereyesoffthebeacon.Itseemedsoclose,soeasilywithinherreach.Shefeltasiftheunconfessedthoughtwerestrugglingfuriouslyagainsther,splatteringbitsofthestrugglealloverhermind:Amanabletoharnessanuntappedsourceofenergy,amanworkingonamotortomakeallothermotorsuseless...shecouldbetalkingtohim,tohiskindofbrain,inafewhours...injustafewhours...Whatiftherewasnoneedtohurrytohim?Itwaswhatshewantedtodo.Itwasallshewanted...Herwork?
Whatwasherwork:tomoveontothefullest,mostexactinguseofhermind—ortospendtherestofherlifedoinghisthinkingforamanunfittobeanightdispatcher?Whyhadshechosentowork?
Wasitinordertoremainwhereshehadstarted—nightoperatorofRockdaleStation—no,lowerthanthat—shehadbeenbetterthanthatdispatcher,evenatRockdale—wasthistobethefinalsum:anendlowerthanherbeginning?...Therewasnoreasontohurry?Shewasthereason...Theyneededthetrains,buttheydidnotneedthemotor?Sheneededthemotor...
