Атлант расправил плечи
In the Name of the Best among us
"
"ButIcan’tchoosema’am!WhoamItochoose?"
"You’llhaveto."
"Look,"hesaidhastily,pullingakeyfromhispocketandturningtothedoor,"I’llaskthechief.He—"
"No."shesaid.
Somequalityinthetoneofhervoicemadehimwhirlbacktoher:shewasholdingagunpointedlevellyathisheart.
"Listencarefully,"shesaid."EitheryouletmeinorIshootyou.
Youmaytrytoshootmefirst,ifyoucan.Youhavethatchoice—andnoother.Nowdecide."
Hismouthfellopenandthekeydroppedfromhishand.
"Getoutofmyway,"shesaid.
Heshookhisheadfrantically,pressinghisbackagainstthedoor.
"OhChrist,ma’am!"hegulpedinthewhineofadesperateplea."Ican’tshootatyou,seeingasyoucomefromMr.Thompson!AndIcan’tletyouinagainstthewordofDr.Ferris!WhatamItodo?I’monlyalittlefellow!I’monlyobeyingorders!It’snotuptome!"
"It’syourlife."shesaid.
"Ifyouletmeaskthechief,he’lltellme,he’ll—"
"Iwon’tletyouaskanyone."
"ButhowdoIknowthatyoureallyhaveanorderfromMr.Thompson?"
"Youdon’t.MaybeIhaven’t.MaybeI’mactingonmyown—andyou’llbepunishedforobeyingme.
