Атлант расправил плечи

           Longcoilsofwire,likethetwistedarmsofanoctopus,stretchedforwardacrossthestonefloor,fromthemachinetoaleathermattressspreadunderaconeofviolentlight.JohnGaltlaystrappedtothemattress.Hewasnaked;thesmallmetaldisksofelectrodesattheendsofthewireswereattachedtohiswrists,hisshoulders,hishipsandhisankles;adeviceresemblingastethoscopewasattachedtohischestandconnectedtotheamplifier.

           "Getthisstraight,"saidDr.Ferris,addressinghimforthefirsttime."Wewantyoutotakefullpowerovertheeconomyofthecountry.Wewantyoutobecomeadictator.Wewantyoutorule.Understand?Wewantyoutogiveordersandtofigureouttherightorderstogive.Whatwewant,wemeantoget.Speeches,logic,argumentsorpassiveobediencewon’tsaveyounow.Wewantideas—orelse.Wewon’tletyououtofhereuntilyoutellustheexactmeasuresyou’lltaketosaveoursystem.Thenwe’llhaveyoutellittothecountryovertheradio."

           Heraisedhiswrist,displayingastop-watch."I’llgiveyouthirtysecondstodecidewhetheryouwanttostarttalkingrightnow.Ifnot,thenwe’llstart.Doyouunderstand?"

           Galtwaslookingstraightatthem,hisfaceexpressionless,asifheunderstoodtoomuch.Hedidnotanswer.

           Theyheardthesoundofthestop-watchinthesilence,countingofftheseconds,andthesoundofMouch’schoked,irregularbreathingashegrippedthearmsofhischair.