Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Shewasseeingthosemomentsaboardatrainwhen,atitsplungeintothetunnels,shehadfeltasudden,solemntension,asifthisplacewereshowingherinnakedsimplicitytheessenceofherrailroadandofherlife,theunionofconsciousnessandmatter,thefrozenformofamind’singenuitygivingphysicalexistencetoitspurpose;shehadfeltasenseofsuddenhope,asifthisplaceheldthemeaningofallofhervalues,andasenseofsecretexcitement,asifanamelesspromisewereawaitingherundertheground—itwasrightthatsheshouldnowmeethimhere,hehadbeenthemeaningandthepromise—shewasnotseeinghisclothinganylonger,nortowhatlevelherrailroadhadreducedhim—shewasseeingonlythevanishingtortureofthemonthswhenhehadbeenoutsideherreach—shewasseeinginhisfacetheconfessionofwhatthosemonthshadcosthim—theonlyspeechsheheardwasasifsheweresayingtohim:Thisistherewardforallmydays—andasifhewereanswering:Forallofmine.
Sheknewthatshehadfinishedspeakingtothestrangerswhenshesawthatthetowerdirectorhadsteppedforwardandwassayingsomethingtothem,glancingatalistinhishand.Then,drawnbyasenseofirresistiblecertainty,shefoundherselfdescendingthestairs,slippingawayfromthecrowd,nottowardtheplatformsandtheexit,butintothedarknessoftheabandonedtunnels.
