Атлант расправил плечи

           Idon’tevenknowwhatnameheused.ItwasJohnnysomethingor—"

           "ItwasJohnGalt,"shesaid,withafaint,mirthlesschuckle."Don’tlookattheTerminalpayroll.Thenameisstillthere."

           "Justlikethat?Alltheseyears?"

           "Fortwelveyears.Justlikethat."

           "Andit’sstilltherenow?"

           "Yes."

           Afteramoment,hesaid,"Itprovesnothing,Iknow.Thepersonnelofficehasn’ttakenasinglenameoffthepayrolllistsinceDirective10-289.Ifamanquits,theygivehisnameandjobtoastarvingfriendoftheirown,ratherthanreportittotheUnificationBoard."

           "Don’tquestionthepersonnelofficeoranyone.Don’tcallattentiontohisname.IfyouorImakeanyinquiriesabouthim,somebodymightbegintowonder.Don’tlookforhim.Don’tmakeanymoveinhisdirection.Andifyouevercatchsightofhimbychance,actasifyoudidn’tknowhim."

           Henodded.Afterawhile,hesaid,hisvoicetenseandlow,"Iwouldn’tturnhimovertothem,noteventosavetherailroad."

           "Eddie—"

           "Yes?"

           "Ifyouevercatchsightofhim,tellme."

           Henodded.

           Twoblockslater,heaskedquietly,"You’regoingtoquit,oneofthesedays,andvanish,aren’tyou?"

           "Whydoyousaythat?"Itwasalmostacry.