Атлант расправил плечи
Anti-Green
Shefelt,forthefirsttime,theimmensityofthehopelessnessoffindinghim—ifhedidnotchoosetobefound—inthestreetsofthecity,inthetownsofacontinent,inthecanyonsoftheRockyMountainswherethegoalwasclosedbyascreenofrays.Butonethingremainedtoher,likealogfloatingonavoid,thelogtowhichshehadclungthroughthebroadcast—andsheknewthatthiswasthethingshecouldnotabandon,evenwereshetolosealltherest;itwasthesoundofhisvoicesayingtoher:"Nobodystaysherebyfakingrealityinanymannerwhatever."
"Ladiesandgentlemen,"thevoiceofBertramScudder’sannouncercrackledsuddenlyoutofthestatic,"duetotechnicaldifficultiesoverwhichwehavenocontrol,thisstationwillremainofftheair,pendingthenecessaryreadjustments."Thetaxidrivergaveabrief,contemptuouschuckle—andsnappedtheradiooff.
Whenshesteppedoutandhandedhimabill,heextendedthechangetoherand,suddenly,leanedforwardforacloserlookatherface.
Shefeltcertainthatherecognizedherandsheheldhisglanceausterelyforaninstant.Hisbitterfaceandhisoverpatchedshirtwerewornoutbyahopeless,losingstruggle.Asshehandedhimatip,hesaidquietly,withtooearnest,toosolemnanemphasisforamereacknowledgmentofthecorns,"Thankyou,ma’am."
Sheturnedswiftlyandhurriedintothebuilding,nottolethimseetheemotionwhichwassuddenlymorethanshecouldbear.
