Атлант расправил плечи

           YoumightbegonebythetimeIreturn.Whenyou’reready,justgo.Don’tworryaboutme.Don’twaittotellme.Goasfastasyoucan.I...I’llsaygood-byetoyou,now."

           Sherosetoherfeet.Theystoodfacingeachother;inthedimhalflightoftheoffice,thepictureofNathanielTaggarthungonthewallbetweenthem.Theywerebothseeingtheyearssincethatdistantdaywhentheyhadfirstlearnedtowalkdownthetrackofarailroad.Heinclinedhisheadandhelditloweredforalongmoment.

           Sheextendedherhand."Good-bye,Eddie."

           Heclaspedherhandfirmly,notlookingdownathisfingers;hewaslookingatherface.

           Hestartedtogo,butstopped,turnedtoherandasked,hisvoicelow,butsteady,neitheraspleanorasdespair,butasalastgestureofconscientiousclaritytoclosealongledger,"Dagny...didyouknow...howIfeltaboutyou?"

           "Yes,"shesaidsoftly,realizinginthismomentthatshehadknownitwordlesslyforyears,"Iknewit."

           "Good-bye,Dagny."

           Thefaintrumbleofanundergroundtrainwentthroughthewallsofthebuildingandswallowedthesoundofthedoorclosingafterhim.

           Itwassnowing,nextmorning,andmeltingdropswerelikeanicy,cuttingtouchonthetemplesofDr.RobertStadler,ashewalkeddownthelongcorridoroftheWayne-FalklandHotel,towardthedooroftheroyalsuite.