Атлант расправил плечи
In the Name of the Best among us
Lookingdown,theycouldseethelastconvulsions:thelightsofthecarsweredartingthroughthestreets,likeanimalstrappedinamaze,franticallyseekinganexit,thebridgeswerejammedwithcars,theapproachestothebridgeswereveinsofmassedheadlights,glitteringbottlenecksstoppingallmotion,andthedesperatescreamingofsirensreachedfaintlytotheheightoftheplane.Thenewsofthecontinent’sseveredarteryhadnowengulfedthecity,menweredesertingtheirposts,trying,inpanic,toabandonNewYork,seekingescapewhereallroadswerecutoffandescapewasnolongerpossible.
Theplanewasabovethepeaksoftheskyscraperswhensuddenly,withtheabruptnessofashudder,asifthegroundhadpartedtoengulfit,thecitydisappearedfromthefaceoftheearth.Ittookthemamomenttorealizethatthepanichadreachedthepowerstations—andthatthelightsofNewYorkhadgoneout.
Dagnygasped."Don’tlookdown!"Galtorderedsharply.
Sheraisedhereyestohisface.Hisfacehadthatlookofausteritywithwhichshehadalwaysseenhimmeetfacts.
SherememberedthestoryFranciscohadtoldher:"HehadquittheTwentiethCentury.Hewaslivinginagarretinaslumneighborhood.
Hesteppedtothewindowandpointedattheskyscrapersofthecity.
Hesaidthatwehadtoextinguishthelightsoftheworld,andwhenwewouldseethelightsofNewYorkgoout,wewouldknowthatourjobwasdone.
