Атлант расправил плечи
The Generator
OnlytheshudderingconvulsionsofGalt’slegs,arms,torsoorentirebodyshowedwhetherthecurrentwasracingbetweentwoparticularelectrodesorthroughallofthematonce.Theneedlesonthedialskeptcomingclosetotheredmarks,thenreceding:themachinewascalculatedtoinflictthemaximumintensityofpainwithoutdamagingthebodyofthevictim.
Itwasthewatcherswhofounditunbearabletowaitthroughtheminutesofthepausesfilledwiththesoundoftheheartbeat:theheartwasnowracinginanirregularrhythm.Thepauseswerecalculatedtoletthatbeatslowdown,butallownorelieftothevictim,whohadtowaitforashockatanymoment.
Galtlayrelaxed,asifnotattemptingtofightthepain,butsurrenderingtoit,notattemptingtonegateit,buttobearit.Whenhislipspartedforbreathandasuddenjoltslammedthemtightagain,hedidnotresisttheshakingrigidityofhisbody,butheletitvanishtheinstantthecurrentlefthim.Onlytheskinofhisfacewaspulledtight,andthesealedlineofhislipstwistedsidewiseonceinawhile.Whenashockracedthroughhischest,thegold-copperstrandsofhishairflewwiththejerkingofhishead,asifwavinginagustofwind,beatingagainsthisface,acrosshiseyes.Thewatcherswonderedwhyhishairseemedtobegrowingdarker,untiltheyrealizedthatitwasdrenchedinsweat.
Theterrorofhearingone’sownheartstrugglingasifabouttoburstatanymoment,hadbeenintendedtobefeltbythevictim.
