Атлант расправил плечи
In the Name of the Best among us
"
"Iknow,"saidEddieWillersquietly.
Theconductorsensedthathisexplanationwasworsethannone:itledtoquestionsthatmendidnotaskthesedays.Heshookhisheadandwentout.
EddieWillerssatlookingattheemptydarknessbeyondthewindow.
ThiswasthefirsteastboundCornetoutofSanFranciscoinmanydays:shewasthechildofhistorturedefforttore-establishtranscontinentalservice.HecouldnottellwhatthepastfewdayshadcosthimorwhathehaddonetosavetheSanFranciscoterminalfromtheblindchaosofacivilwarthatmenwerefightingwithnoconceptoftheirgoals;therewasnowaytorememberthedealshehadmadeonthebasisoftherangeofeveryshiftingmoment.Heknewonlythathehadobtainedimmunityfortheterminalfromtheleadersofthreedifferentwarringfactions;thathehadfoundamanforthepostofterminalmanagerwhodidnotseemtohavegivenupaltogether;thathehadstartedonemoreTaggartCometonhereastwardrun,withthebestDieselengineandthebestcrewavailable;andthathehadboardedherforhisreturnjourneytoNewYork,withnoknowledgeofhowlonghisachievementwouldlast.
Hehadneverhadtoworksohard;hehaddonehisjobasconscientiouslywellashehadalwaysdoneanyassignment;butitwasasifhehadworkedinavacuum,asifhisenergyhadfoundnotransmittersandhadrunintothesandsof...ofsomesuchdesertastheonebeyondthewindowoftheComet.
