Атлант расправил плечи

           Ferriswavedasignaltothemechanicatthemachine.Themechanicthrewtheswitch;itlightedtheredglassbuttonandsetofftwosounds:onewasthelow,hummingdroneofanelectricgenerator,theotherwasapeculiarbeat,asregularasthetickingofaclock,butwithanoddlymuffledresonance.IttookthemamomenttorealizethatitcamefromtheamplifierandthattheywerehearingthebeatofGalt’sheart.

           "Numberthree,"saidFerris,raisingafingerinsignal.

           Themechanicpressedabuttonunderoneofthedials.AlongshudderranthroughGalt’sbody;hisleftarmshookinjerkingspasms,convulsedbytheelectriccurrentthatcircledbetweenhiswristandshoulder.Hisheadfellback,hiseyesclosed,hislipsdrawntight.Hemadenosound.

           Whenthemechanicliftedhisfingeroffthebutton,Galt’sarmstoppedshaking.Hedidnotmove.

           Thethreemenglancedaboutthemwithaninstant’slookofgroping.

           Ferris’eyeswereblank,Mouch’sterrified,Taggart’sdisappointed.Thesoundofthethumpingbeatwentonthroughthesilence.

           "Numbertwo,"saidFerris.ItwasGalt’srightlegthattwistedinconvulsions,withthecurrentnowcirclingbetweenhishipandankle.Hishandsgrippedtheedgesofthemattress.Hisheadjerkedonce,fromsidetoside,thenlaystill.

           Thebeatingoftheheartgrewfaintlyfaster.