Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Shehurrieddownanarrowcatwalk,throughamazeofrail,pastblindedsignalsandfrozenswitches,withnothingbutthebeatofhersatinsandalstofillthegreatvaultsoftheundergroundtunnelsofTaggartTranscontinental,withthehollowcreakingofplanksundertheslowerstepsofmentrailingherlikeareluctantecho—shehurriedtothelightedglasscubeofTowerA,thathunginthedarknesslikeacrownwithoutabody,thecrownofadeposedrulerabovearealmofemptytracks.
Thetowerdirectorwastooexpertamanattooexactingajobtobeablewhollytoconcealthedangerousburdenofintelligence.Heunderstoodwhatshewantedhimtodofromherfirstfewwordsandansweredonlywithanabrupt"Yes,ma’am,"buthewasbentoverhischartsbythetimetheotherscamefollowingheruptheironstairway,hewasgrimlyatworkonthemosthumiliatingjobofcalculationhehadeverhadtoperforminhislongcareer.Sheknewhowfullyheunderstoodit,fromasingleglancehethrewather,aglanceofindignationandendurancethatmatchedsomeemotionhehadcaughtinherface,"We’lldoitfirstandfeelaboutitafterwards,"shesaid,eventhoughhehadmadenocomment."Yes,ma’am,"heansweredwoodenly.
Hisroom,onthetopofanundergroundtower,waslikeaglassverandahoverlookingwhathadoncebeentheswiftest,richestandmostorderlystreamintheworld.
