Атлант расправил плечи

           "Iresign!I’mthrough!Idon’tknowwhattosaytothecountry!Ican’tthink!Iwon’ttry!It’snouse!

           Icouldn’thelpit!You’renotgoingtoblameme!I’veresigned!"Hewavedhisarmsinsomeshapelessgestureoffutilityorfarewell,andranoutoftheroom,"Hehasahide-outallstockedforhimselfinTennessee,"saidTinkyHollowayreflectively,asifhe,too,hadtakenasimilarprecautionandwerenowwonderingwhetherthetimehadcome.

           "Hewon’tkeepitforlong,ifhegetsthereatall,"saidMouch."Withthegangsofraidersandthestateoftransportation—"Hespreadhishandsanddidnotfinish.

           Sheknewwhatthoughtswerefillingthepause;sheknewthatnomatterwhatprivateescapesthesemenhadonceprovidedforthemselves,theywerenowgraspingthefactthatallofthemweretrapped.

           Sheobservedthattherewasnoterrorintheirfaces;shesawhintsofit,butitlookedlikeaperfunctoryterror.Theirexpressionsrangedfromblankapathytotherelievedlookofcheatswhohadbelievedthatthegamecouldendnootherwayandweremakingnoefforttocontestitorregretit—tothepetulantblindnessofLawson,whorefusedtobeconsciousofanything—tothepeculiarintensityofJim,whosefacesuggestedasecretsmile.

           "Well?Well?"Dr.Ferriswasaskingimpatiently,withthecracklingenergyofamanwhofeelsathomeinaworldofhysteria.