Атлант расправил плечи
The Egoist
Guardswithmachinegunsstoodateveryturnofthelong,velvet-carpetedcorridors.Sentinelswithbayonetsstoodonthelandingsofthefire-stairways.Theelevatordoorsofthefifty-ninth,sixtiethandsixty-firstfloorswerepadlocked;asingledoorandoneelevatorwereleftassolemeansofaccess,guardedbysoldiersinfullbattleregalia.Peculiar-lookingmenloiteredinthelobbies,restaurantsandshopsofthegroundfloor:theirclothesweretoonewandtooexpensive,inunsuccessfulimitationofthehotel’susualpatrons,acamouflageimpairedbythefactthattheclotheswerebadlyfittedtotheirwearers’huskyfiguresandwerefurtherdistortedbybulgesinplaceswherethegarmentsofbusinessmenhavenocausetobulge,butthegarmentsofgunmenhave.GroupsofguardswithTommygunswerepostedateveryentranceandexitofthehotel,aswellasatstrategicwindowsoftheadjoiningstreets.
Inthecenterofthiscamp,onthesixtiethfloor,inwhatwasknownastheroyalsuiteoftheWayne-FalklandHotel,amidstsatindrapes,crystalcandelabraandsculpturedgarlandsofSowers,JohnGalt,dressedinslacksandshirt,satinabrocadedarmchair,onelegstretchedoutonavelvethassock,hishandscrossedbehindhishead,lookingattheceiling.
ThiswasthepostureinwhichMr.Thompsonfoundhim,whenthefourguards,whohadstoodoutsidethedooroftheroyalsuitesincefiveA.M.,openeditatelevenA.M.toadmitMr.Thompson,andlockeditagain.
Mr.
