Атлант расправил плечи
In the Name of the Best among us
"
Shedidnotgaspandshefeltnotremorwhen,inthedarknessbelow,shesawasmallstringoflighteddotsstrugglingslowlywestwardthroughthevoid,withthelong,brightdashofaheadlightgropingtoprotectthesafetyofitsway;shefeltnothing,eventhoughitwasatrainandsheknewthatithadnodestinationbutthevoid.
SheturnedtoGalt.Hewaswatchingherface,asifhehadbeenfollowingherthoughts.Shesawthereflectionofhersmileinhis."It’stheend,"shesaid."It’sthebeginning,"heanswered.
Thentheylaystill,leaningbackintheirchairs,silentlylookingateachother.Thentheirpersonsfilledeachother’sawareness,asthesumandmeaningofthefuture—butthesumincludedtheknowledgeofallthathadhadtobeearned,beforethepersonofanotherbeingcouldcometoembodythevalueofone’sexistence.
NewYorkwasfarbehindthem,whentheyheardDanneskjoldansweracallfromtheradio:"Yes,he’sawake.Idon’tthinkhe’llsleeptonight...Yes,Ithinkhecan."Heturnedtoglanceoverhisshoulder."John,Dr.Akstonwouldliketospeaktoyou."
"What?Isheononeofthoseplanesbehindus?"
"Certainly."
Galtleapedforwardtoseizethemicrophone."Hello,Dr.Akston,"hesaid;thequiet,lowtoneofhisvoicewastheaudibleimageofasmiletransmittedthroughspace.
"Hello,John.
