Атлант расправил плечи

           Intimewiththefalloftheman’sbody,thewindowburstintoashowerofglass—andfromthelimbofatree,asfromacatapult,thetall,slenderfigureofamanflewintotheroom,landedonitsfeetandfiredatthefirstguardinreach.

           "Whoareyou?",screamedsometerror-blindedvoice.

           "RagnarDanneskjold."

           Threesoundsansweredhim:along,swellingmoanofpanic—theclatteroffourgunsdroppedtothefloor—andthebarkofthefifth,firedbyaguardattheforeheadofthechief.

           Bythetimethefoursurvivorsofthegarrisonbegantoreassemblethepiecesoftheirconsciousness,theirfigureswerestretchedonthefloor,boundandgagged;thefifthonewasleftstanding,hishandstiedbehindhisback.

           "Whereistheprisoner?"Franciscoaskedhim.

           "Inthecellar...Iguess."

           "Whohasthekey?"

           "Dr.Ferris."

           "Wherearethestairstothecellar?"

           "BehindadoorinDr.Ferris’office."

           "Leadtheway."

           Astheystarted,FranciscoturnedtoRearden."Areyouallright,Hank?"

           "Sure."

           "Needtorest?"

           "Hell,no!"

           FromthethresholdofadoorinFerris’office,theylookeddownasteepflightofstonestairsandsawaguardonthelandingbelow.