Атлант расправил плечи

           Thompsonexperiencedabriefflashofuneasinesswhentheclickofthelockcutoffhisescapeandlefthimalonewiththeprisoner.Butherememberedthenewspaperheadlinesandtheradiovoices,whichhadbeenannouncingtothecountrysincedawn:"JohnGaltisfound!—JohnGaltisinNewYork!—JohnGalthasjoinedthepeople’scause!—JohnGaltisinconferencewiththecountry’sleaders,workingforaspeedysolutionofallourproblems!"—andhemadehimselffeelthathebelievedit.

           "Well,well,well!"hesaidbrightly,marchinguptothearmchair.

           "Soyou’retheyoungfellowwho’sstartedallthetrouble—Oh,"hesaidsuddenly,ashegotacloserlookatthedarkgreeneyeswatchinghim."Well,I...I’mtickledpinktomeetyou,Mr.Galt,justtickledpink."Headded,"I’mMr.Thompson,youknow."

           "Howdoyoudo,"saidGalt.

           Mr.Thompsonthuddeddownonachair,thebrusquenessofthemovementsuggestingacheerilybusinesslikeattitude."Nowdon’tgoimaginingthatyou’reunderarrestorsomesuchnonsense."Hepointedattheroom."Thisisnojail,asyoucansee.Youcanseethatwe’lltreatyouright.You’reabigperson,averybigperson—andweknowit.

           Justmakeyourselfathome.Askforanythingyouplease.Fireanyflunkythatdoesn’tobeyyou.Andifyoutakeadisliketoanyofthearmyboysoutside,justbreathetheword—andwe’llsendanotheronetoreplacehim.