Атлант расправил плечи

           "What’sthematterwithyou?"hecried,shaking,notdaringtoseeinhereyesthethingshehadseen.

           Shemovedherhandsingropinggestures,half-wavingitaway,halftryingtograspit;whensheanswered,herwordsdidnotquitenameit,buttheyweretheonlywordsshecouldfind:"You...you’reakiller...forthesakeofkilling..."

           Itwastooclosetotheunnamed;shakingwithterror,heswungoutblindlyandstruckherintheface.

           Shefellagainstthesideofanarmchair,herheadstrikingthefloor,butsheraisedherheadinamomentandlookedupathimblankly,withoutastonishment,asifphysicalrealityweremerelytakingtheformshehadexpected.Asinglepear-shapeddropofbloodwentslitheringslowlyfromthecornerofhermouth.

           Hestoodmotionless—andforamomenttheylookedateachother,asifneitherdaredtomove.

           Shemovedfirst.Shesprangtoherfeet—andran.Sheranoutoftheroom,outoftheapartment—heheardherrunningdownthehall,tearingopentheirondooroftheemergencystairway,notwaitingtoringfortheelevator.

           Sherandownthestairs,openingdoorsonrandomlandings,runningthroughthetwistinghallwaysofthebuilding,thendownthestairsagain,untilshefoundherselfinthelobbyandrantothestreet.