Атлант расправил плечи

           Hefeltasifhewerebeingpursued;buttherewasnothingformilesbehindhim,exceptthetworedlightsontherearofhiscar—liketwosmallsignalsofdanger,fleeingthroughthedarknessoftheIowaplains.

           Themotivedirectinghishandsandfeetwasfourdaysbehindhim.Itwasthefaceofthemanonthewindowsill,andthefaceshehadconfrontedwhenhehadescapedfromthatroom.HehadcriedtothemthathecouldnotdealwithGaltandneithercouldthey,thatGaltwoulddestroythemall,unlesstheydestroyedhimfirst."Don’tgetsmart,Professor,"Mr.Thompsonhadansweredcoldly."You’vedoneanawfullotofyellingabouthatinghisguts,butwhenitcomestoaction,youhaven’thelpedusatall.Idon’tknowwhichsideyou’reon.Ifhedoesn’tgiveintouspeaceably,wemighthavetoresorttopressure—suchashostageswhomhewouldn’twanttoseehurt—andyou’refirstonthelist,Professor.""I?"hehadscreamed,shakingwithterrorandwithbitterlydesperatelaughter."I?Buthedamnsmemorethananyoneonearth!""HowdoIknow?"Mr.Thompsonhadanswered."Ihearthatyouusedtobehisteacher.And,don’tforget,you’retheonlyoneheaskedfor."

           Hismindliquidwithterror,hehadfeltasifhewereabouttobecrushedbetweentwowallsadvancinguponhim:hehadnochance,ifGaltrefusedtosurrender—andlesschance,ifGaltjoinedthesemen.