Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Andwhenyoureachtheend,whenyou’rereadytoquit,don’ttellthem,justchalkadollarsignonthepedestalofNatTaggart’sstatue—whereitbelongs—thengohomeandwait.I’llcomeforyouintwenty-fourhours."
Sheinclinedherheadinsilentpromise.
Butwhenheturnedtogo,asuddenshudderranthroughherbody,likeafirstjoltofawakeningoralastconvulsionoflife,anditendedinaninvoluntarycry:"Whereareyougoing?"
"Tobealamppostandstandholdingalanterntilldawn—whichistheonlyworkyourworldrelegatesmetoandtheonlyworkit’sgoingtoget."
Sheseizedhisarm,toholdhim,tofollow,tofollowhimblindly,abandoningeverythingbutthesightofhisface."John!"
Hegrippedherwrist,twistedherhandandthrewitoff."No,"hesaid.
Thenhetookherhandandraisedittohislipsandthepressureofhismouthwasmorepassionateastatementthananyhehadchosentoconfess.Thenhewalkedaway,downthevanishinglineofrail,anditseemedtoherthatboththerailandthefigurewereabandoningheratthesametime.
WhenshestaggeredoutintotheconcourseoftheTerminal,thefirstblastofrollingwheelswentshudderingthroughthewallsofthebuilding,likethesuddenbeatofaheartthathadstopped.ThetempleofNathanielTaggartwassilentandempty,itschangelesslightbeatingdownonadesertedstretchofmarble
