Атлант расправил плечи
In the Name of the Best among us
"
ThesevenothersintheroomwerestaringatReardenwithanawed,superstitiousuncertainty.Thetwowhoheldgunsstillheldthemaimedathimintheimpassivemannerofautomatons.Hedidnotseemtotakenoticeofthem.
"Whatisityousayisyourbusinesshere?"snappedthechief.
"Iamheretotakechargeoftheprisonerwhomyouaretodelivertome."
"Ifyoucamefromheadquarters,you’dknowthatI’mnotsupposedtoknowanythingaboutanyprisoner—andthatnobodyistotouchhim!"
"Exceptme."
Thechiefleapedtohisfeet,dartedtoatelephoneandseizedthereceiver.Hehadnotraisedithalfwaytohisearwhenhedroppeditabruptlywithagesturethatsentavibrationofpanicthroughtheroom:hehadhadtimetohearthatthetelephonewasdeadandtoknowthatthewireswerecut.
Hislookofaccusation,ashewhirledtoRearden,brokeagainstthefaintlycontemptuousreproofofRearden’svoice:"That’snowaytoguardabuilding—ifthisiswhatyouallowedtohappen.Betterletmehavetheprisoner,beforeanythinghappenstohim—ifyoudon’twantmetoreportyoufornegligence,aswellasinsubordination."
Thechiefdroppedheavilybackonhischair,slumpedforwardacrossthetableandlookedupatReardenwithaglancethatmadehisemaciatedfaceresembletheanimalsthatwerebeginningtostirinthecages.
"Whoistheprisoner?"heasked.
