Атлант расправил плечи
In the Name of the Best among us
MaybeIhave—andyou’llbethrowninjailfordisobeying.MaybeDr.FerrisandMr.Thompsonagreeaboutthis.Maybetheydon’t—andyouhavetodefyoneortheother.Thesearethethingsyouhavetodecide.Thereisnoonetoask,noonetocall,noonetotellyou.Youwillhavetodecidethemyourself."
"ButIcan’tdecide!Whyme?"
"Becauseit’syourbodythat’sbarringmyway."
"ButIcan’tdecide!I’mnotsupposedtodecide!"
"I’llcounttothree,"shesaid."ThenI’llshoot."
"Wait!Wait!Ihaven’tsaidyesorno!"hecried,cringingtighteragainstthedoor,asifimmobilityofmindandbodywerehisbestprotection,"One—"shecounted;shecouldseehiseyesstaringatherinterror—"Two—"shecouldseethatthegunheldlessterrorforhimthanthealternativesheoffered—"Three."
Calmlyandimpersonally,she,whowouldhavehesitatedtofireatananimal,pulledthetriggerandfiredstraightattheheartofamanwhohadwantedtoexistwithouttheresponsibilityofconsciousness.
Hergunwasequippedwithasilencer;therewasnosoundtoattractanyone’sattention,onlythethudofabodyfallingatherfeet.
Shepickedupthekeyfromtheground—thenwaitedforafewbriefmoments,ashadbeenagreedupon.
