Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Shestoodinthemiddleoftheoffice,runningstiff,spreadfingersthroughastrandofhair,brushingitbackoffherface—andforaninstant,shewonderedwhereshewasandwhatwastheunbelievablethingthathadhappenedinthelasttwentyhours.Whatshefeltwashorror,andsheknewthatshehadfeltitfromthefirstwordsofthemanonthewire,onlytherehadbeennotimetoknowit.
Therewasnotmuchthatremainedinhermindofthelasttwentyhours,onlydisconnectedbits,heldtogetherbythesingleconstantthathadmadethempossible—bythesoft,loosefacesofmenwhofoughttohidefromthemselvesthattheyknewtheanswerstothequestionssheasked.
FromthemomentwhenshewastoldthatthemanageroftheCarServiceDepartmenthadbeenoutoftownforaweekandhadleftnoaddresswhereonecouldreachhim—sheknewthatthereportofthemanfromMinnesotawastrue.ThencamethefacesoftheassistantsintheCarServiceDepartment,whowouldneitherconfirmthereportnordenyit,butkeptshowingherpapers,orders,forms,filecardsthatborewordsintheEnglishlanguage,butnoconnectiontointelligiblefacts."WerethefreightcarssenttoMinnesota?""Form357Wisfilledoutineveryparticular,asrequiredbytheofficeoftheCo-ordinatorinconformancewiththeinstructionsofthecomptrollerandbyDirective11-493.
