Атлант расправил плечи
The Sign of the Dollar
Then,likethebodyofamandivingchest-firstandarmsoutstretched,serenelyabandonedtothesweepofthefall,theplanewentdownandvanishedbehindtheridgesofrock.
Sheflewon,almostwaitingforittoreappear,unabletobelievethatshehadwitnessedahorriblecatastrophetakingplacesosimplyandquietly.Sheflewontowheretheplanehaddropped.Itseemedtobeavalleyinaringofgranitewalls.
Shereachedthevalleyandlookeddown.Therewasnopossibleplaceforalanding.Therewasnosignofaplane.
Thebottomofthevalleylookedlikeastretchoftheearth’scrustmangledinthedayswhentheearthwascooling,leftirretrievableeversince.Itwasastretchofrocksgroundagainstoneanother,withbouldershanginginprecariousformations,withlong,darkcrevicesandafewcontortedpinetreesgrowinghalf-horizontallyintotheair.
Therewasnolevelpieceofsoilthesizeofahandkerchief.Therewasnoplaceforaplanetohide.Therewasnoremnantofaplane’swreck.
Shebankedsharply,circlingabovethevalley,droppingdownalittle.Bysometrickoflight,whichshecouldnotexplain,thefloorofthevalleyseemedmoreclearlyvisiblethantherestoftheearth.
Shecoulddistinguishitwellenoughto,knowthattheplanewasnotthere;yetthiswasnotpossible.
Shecircled,droppingdownfarther.
