Атлант расправил плечи
In the Name of the Best among us
Thenhecaughtafeeble,muffledbeatthatsoundedlikethehoofsofhorses.Thetwomenbesidehimwerewatchingtheblackshapeswithalookofgrowingterror,asifsomesupernaturalapparitionwereadvancinguponthemoutofthedesertnight.Inthemomentwhentheychuckledsuddenly,joyously,recognizingtheshapes,itwasEddie’sfacethatfrozeintoalookofterroratthesightofaghostmorefrighteningthananytheycouldhaveexpected:itwasatrainofcoveredwagons.
Theswinginglanternjerkedtoastopbythesideoftheengine."Hey,bud,canIgiveyoualift?"calledamanwhoseemedtobetheleader;hewaschuckling."Stuck,aren’tyou?"
ThepassengersoftheCometwerepeeringoutofthewindows;someweredescendingthestepsandapproaching.Women’sfacespeekedfromthewagons,fromamongthepilesofhouseholdgoods;ababywailedsomewhereattherearofthecaravan.
"Areyoucrazy?"askedEddieWillers.
"No,Imeanit,brother.Wegotplentyofroom.We’llgiveyoufolksalift—foraprice—ifyouwanttogetoutofhere."Hewasalanky,nervousman,withloosegesturesandaninsolentvoice,wholookedlikeaside-showbarker.
"ThisistheTaggartComet,"saidEddieWillers,choking.
"TheComet,eh?Looksmorelikeadeadcaterpillartome.What’sthematter,brother?You’renotgoinganywhere—andyoucan’tgetthereanymore,evenifyoutried.
