Атлант расправил плечи

           Don’tletithurtyoulikethis—thoughtDagny,slumpedacrossherdesk,overthepageofthenewspaperwhereasinglebriefparagraphannouncedthe"temporary"endofReardenSteel—don’tletithurtyousomuch...ShekeptseeingthefaceofHankRearden,ashehadstoodatthewindowofhisoffice,watchingacranemoveagainsttheskywithaloadofgreen-bluerail...Don’tletithurthimlikethis—wasthepleainhermind,addressedtonoone—don’tlethimhearofit,don’tlethimknow...Thenshesawanotherface,afacewithunflinchinggreeneyes,sayingtoher,inavoicemadeimplacablebythequalityofrespectforfacts:"You’llhavetohearaboutit.You’llhearabouteverywreck.You’llhearabouteverydiscontinuedtrain...Nobodystaysinthisvalleybyfakingrealityinanymannerwhatever..."Thenshesatstill,withnosightandnosoundinhermind,withnothingbutthatenormouspresencewhichwaspain—untilsheheardthefamiliarcrythathadbecomeadrugkillingallsensationsexceptthecapacitytoact:"MissTaggart,wedon’tknowwhattodo!"—andsheshottoherfeettoanswer.

           "ThePeople’sStateofGuatemala,"saidthenewspapersonJanuary26,"declinestherequestoftheUnitedStatesfortheloanofathousandtonsofsteel."

           OnthenightofFebruary3,ayoungpilotwasflyinghisusualroute,aweekly-flightfromDallastoNewYorkCity.