Атлант расправил плечи

           Heheardthelong,harshrollofamotor,asaplanewentbysomewhereinthedarknessabovetheroof,thenathintinkle,asapieceoficesettled,melting,inthesilverbowlofhisfruitcup—beforesheanswered.Shesaid,"Hewasyourfriend,wasn’the?"

           "Oh,shutup!"

           Heremainedsilent,notlookingather.Whenhiseyescamebacktoherface,shewasstillwatchinghimandshespokefirst,hervoiceoddlystern:"Whatyoursisterdidinherradiobroadcastwasgreat."

           "Yes,Iknow,Iknow,you’vebeensayingthatforamonth."

           "You’veneveransweredme."

           "Whatistheretoans...?"

           "JustasyourfriendsinWashingtonhaveneveransweredher."Heremainedsilent."Jim,I’mnotdroppingthesubject."Hedidnotanswer.

           "YourfriendsinWashingtonneverutteredawordaboutit.Theydidnotdenythethingsshesaid,theydidnotexplain,theydidnottrytojustifythemselves.Theyactedasifshehadneverspoken.Ithinkthey’rehopingthatpeoplewillforgetit.Somepeoplewill.Buttherestofusknowwhatshesaidandthatyourfriendswereafraidtofighther."

           "That’snottrue!TheproperactionwastakenandtheincidentisclosedandIdon’tseewhyyoukeepbringingitup."

           "Whataction?"

           "BertramScudderwastakenofftheair,asaprogramnotinthepublicinterestatthepresenttime.