Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Youwillfollowme,shethought—andfeltasifthethoughtwerenotinwords,butinthetensionofhermuscles,thetensionofherwilltoaccomplishathingsheknewtobeoutsideherpower,yetsheknewwithcertaintythatitwouldbeaccomplishedandbyherwish...no,shethought,notbyherwish,butbyitstotalrightness.Youwillfollowme—itwasneitherpleanorprayernordemand,butthequietstatementofafact,itcontainedthewholeofherpowerofknowledgeandthewholeoftheknowledgeshehadearnedthroughtheyears.Youwillfollowme,ifwearewhatweare,youandI,ifwelive,iftheworldexists,ifyouknowthemeaningofthismomentandcan’tletitslipby,asothersletitslip,intothesenselessnessoftheunwilledandunreached.Youwillfollowme—shefeltanexultantassurance,whichwasneitherhopenorfaith,butanactofworshipforthelogicofexistence.
Shewashurryingdowntheremnantsofabandonedrails,downthelong,darkcorridorstwistingthroughgranite.Shelostthesoundofthedirector’svoicebehindher.Thenshefeltthebeatofherarteriesandheard,inansweringrhythm,thebeatofthecityaboveherhead,butshefeltasifsheheardthemotionofherbloodasasoundfillingthesilence,andthemotionofthecityasthebeatinsideherbody—and,farbehindher,sheheardthesoundofsteps.Shedidnotglanceback.
Shewentfaster.
