Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
TherewasatouchofimpatientresentmentinhismannertowardJim,asifitwereJim’sdutytodealwithherandtoprotecthim;justasheexpectedJimtokeeptherailroadinrunningorderandleavehimfreeforactivitiesofmorepracticalanature,soheexpectedJimtokeepherinline,aspartoftheequipment.
Beyondthewindowofheroffice,likeapatchofadhesiveplasterstuckoverawoundonthesky,thepageofthecalendarhungblankinthedistance.ThecalendarhadneverbeenrepairedsincethenightofFrancisco’sfarewell.Theofficialswhohadrushedtothetower,thatnight,hadknockedthecalendar’smotortoastop,whiletearingthefilmoutoftheprojector.TheyhadfoundthesmallsquareofFrancisco’smessage,pastedintothestripofnumbereddays,butwhohadpasteditthere,whohadenteredthelockedroomandwhenandhow,wasneverdiscoveredbythethreecommissionsstillinvestigatingthecase.Pendingtheoutcomeoftheirefforts,thepagehungblankandstillabovethecity.
ItwasblankontheafternoonofSeptember14,whenthetelephoneranginheroffice."AmanfromMinnesota,"saidthevoiceofhersecretary.
Shehadtoldhersecretarythatshewouldacceptallcallsofthiskind.Theyweretheappealsforhelpandheronlysourceofinformation.
