Атлант расправил плечи

           Galt,"saidChickMorrison,whenGaltwasready,andindicatedthedoorwithacourtlygestureofinvitationtoproceed.

           Soswiftlythatnoonecouldcatchthemotionofhishand,themuscularmanwasholdingGalt’sarmandpressinganinvisiblegunagainsthisribs."Don’tmakeanyfalsemoves,"hesaidinanexpressionlessvoice.

           "Ineverdo,"saidGalt.

           ChickMorrisonopenedthedoor.Thevaletstayedbehind.Thethreefiguresindinnerclotheswalkedsilentlydownthehalltotheelevator.

           Theyremainedsilentintheelevator,theclicksoftheflashingnumbersabovethedoormarkingtheirdownwardprogress.

           Theelevatorstoppedonthemezzaninefloor.Twoarmedsoldiersprecededthemandtwoothersfollowed,astheywalkedthroughthelong,dimcorridors.Thecorridorsweredesertedexceptforarmedsentinelspostedattheturns.Themuscularman’srightarmwaslinkedtoGalt’sleft;thegunremainedinvisibletoanypossibleobserver.Galtfeltthesmallpressureofthemuzzleagainsthisside;thepressurewasexpertlymaintained:nottobefeltasanimpedimentandnottobeforgottenforamoment.

           Thecorridorledtoawide,closeddoorway.Thesoldiersseemedtomeltawayintotheshadows,whenChickMorrison’shandtouchedthedoorknob.