Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Shewasinthebedroomofherapartment,inlessthanfiveminutes,tearingoffhereveninggown.Sheleftitlyinginthemiddleofthefloor,likethediscardeduniformofanarmyshewasnotservinganylonger.Sheputonadarkbluesuitand—rememberingGalt’swords—awhite,high-collaredsweater.Shepackedasuitcaseandabagwithastrapthatshecouldcarryswungoverhershoulder.Sheputherjewelryinacornerofthebag,includingthebraceletofReardenMetalshehadearnedintheoutsideworld,andthefive-dollargoldpieceshehadearnedinthevalley.

           Itwaseasytoleavetheapartmentandtolockthedoor,eventhoughsheknewshewouldprobablyneveropenitagain.Itseemedharder,foramoment,whenshecametoheroffice.Noonehadseenhercomein;theanteroomofherofficewasempty;thegreatTaggartBuildingseemedunusuallyquiet.Shestoodlookingforamomentatthisroomandatalltheyearsithadcontained.Thenshesmiled—no,itwasnottoohard,shethought;sheopenedhersafeandtookthedocumentsshehadcomeheretoget.Therewasnothingelsethatshewantedtotakefromheroffice—exceptthepictureofNathanielTaggartandthemapofTaggartTranscontinental.Shebrokethetwoframes,foldedthepictureandthemap,andslippedthemintohersuitcase.

           Shewaslockingthesuitcase,whensheheardthesoundofhurryingsteps.Thedoorflewopenandthechiefengineerrushedin;hewasshaking;hisfacewasdistorted.