Атлант расправил плечи

           I’llshowthem!

           Thewordswerelikechunksofsolidgroundinhismind,inthemidstofafiercelysilentswamp;theconnectionslaysubmergedatthebottom.

           Ifconnected,hiswordswouldhaveformedthesentence:I’llshowhimthatthereisnootherwaytoliveonearth!...

           ThescatteredlightsinthedistanceaheadwerethebarrackserectedonthesiteofProjectX,nowknownasHarmonyCity.Heobserved,ashecamecloser,thatsomethingoutoftheordinarywasgoingonatProjectX,Thebarbed-wirefencewasbroken,andnosentinelsmethimatthegate.Butsomesortofabnormalactivitywaschurninginthepatchesofdarknessandintheglareofsomewaveringspotlights:therewerearmoredtrucksandrunningfiguresandshoutedordersandthegleamofbayonets.Noonestoppedhiscar.Atthecornerofashanty,hesawthemotionlessbodyofasoldiersprawledontheground.

           Drunk—hethought,preferringtothinkit,wonderingwhyhefeltunsureofit.

           Themushroomstructurecrouchedonaknollbeforehim;therewerelightsinthenarrowslitsofitswindows—andtheshapelessfunnelsprotrudedfromunderitsdome,aimedatthedarknessofthecountry.Asoldierbarredhisway,whenhealightedfromhiscarattheentrance.

           Thesoldierwasproperlyarmed,buthatless,andhisuniformseemedtoosloppy."Whereareyougoing,bud?"heasked.

           "Letmein!"Dr.Stadlerorderedcontemptuously.