Атлант расправил плечи
The Egoist
Shewascalm,shethought,itwasonlytimethathadsuddenlylostitscontinuityandhadbrokenherperceptionintoseparatesnatches:sheknewthemomentwhenshesawthenumber—thenthemomentwhenshelookedatalistonaboardinthemoldyhalf-lightofadoorwayandsawthewords"JohnGalt,5th,rear"scrawledinpencilbysomeilliteratehand—thenthemomentwhenshestoppedatthefootofastairway,glancedupatthevanishinganglesoftherailingandsuddenlyleanedagainstthewall,tremblingwithterror,preferringnottoknow—thenthemomentwhenshefeltthemovementofherfootcomingtorestonthefirstofthesteps—thenasingle,unbrokenprogressionoflightness,ofrisingwithouteffortordoubtorfear,offeelingthetwistinginstallmentsofstairwaydroppingdownbeneathherunhesitantfeet,asifthemomentumofherirresistiblerisewerecomingfromthestraightnessofherbody,thepoiseofhershoulders,theliftofherheadandthesolemnlyexultantcertaintythatinthemomentofultimatedecision,itwasnotdisastersheexpectedofherlife,attheendofarisingstairwayshehadneededthirty-sevenyearstoclimb.
Atthetop,shesawanarrowhallway,itswallsconvergingtoanunlighteddoor.Sheheardthefloorboardscreakinginthesilence,underhersteps.Shefeltthepressureofherfingeronadoorbellandheardthesoundofringingintheunknownspacebeyond.Shewaited.Sheheardthebriefcrackofaboard,butitcamefromthefloorbelow.
