Атлант расправил плечи
In the Name of the Best among us
Galtdrank,andraisedhimselftoleanonanelbowwhenhisarmswerefree."Givemeacigarette,"hesaid.
Franciscoproducedapackageofdollar-signcigarettes.Galt’shandshookalittle,asheheldacigarettetotheflameofalighter,butFrancisco’shandshookmuchmore.
Glancingathiseyesovertheflame,GaltsmiledandsaidinthetoneofananswertothequestionsFranciscowasnotasking,"Yes,itwasprettybad,butbearable—andthekindofvoltagetheyusedleavesnodamage."
"I’llfindthemsomeday,whoevertheywere..."saidFrancisco;thetoneofhisvoice,flat,deadandbarelyaudible,saidtherest.
"Ifyoudo,you’llfindthatthere’snothingleftofthemtokill."
Galtglancedatthefacesaroundhim;hesawtheintensityofthereliefintheireyesandtheviolenceoftheangerinthegrimnessoftheirfeatures;heknewinwhatmannertheywerenowrelivinghistorture.
"It’sover,"hesaid."Don’tmakeitworseforyourselfthanitwasforme."
Franciscoturnedhisfaceaway."It’sonlythatitwasyou..."hewhispered,"you...ifitwereanyonebutyou..."
"Butithadtobeme,iftheyweretotrytheirlast,andthey’vetried,and"—hemovedhishand,sweepingtheroom—andthemeaningofthosewhohadmadeit—intothewastelandsofthepast—"andthat’sthat.
