Атлант расправил плечи
In the Name of the Best among us
Hefeltthecrunchofthedesertdustunderhisfeetwhenhelethimselfdroptotheground.Hestoodstilland,intheenormoussilence,heheardtherustleoftumbleweedsstirringinthedarkness,likethechuckleofaninvisiblearmymadefreetomovewhentheCometwasnot.Heheardasharperrustlecloseby—andhesawthesmallgrayshapeofarabbitriseonitshaunchestosniffatthestepsofacaroftheTaggartComet.Withajoltofmurderousfury,helungedinthedirectionoftherabbit,asifhecoulddefeattheadvanceoftheenemyinthepersonofthattinygrayform.Therabbitdartedoffintothedarkness—butheknewthattheadvancewasnottobedefeated.
HesteppedtothefrontoftheengineandlookedupatthelettersTT.Thenhecollapsedacrosstherailandlaysobbingatthefootoftheengine,withthebeamofamotionlessheadlightabovehimgoingoffintoalimitlessnight.
ThemusicofRichardHalley’sFifthConcertostreamedfromhiskeyboard,pasttheglassofthewindow,andspreadthroughtheair,overthelightsofthevalley.Itwasasymphonyoftriumph.Thenotesflowedup,theyspokeofrisingandtheyweretherisingitself,theyweretheessenceandtheformofupwardmotion,theyseemedtoembodyeveryhumanactandthoughtthathadascentasitsmotive.Itwasasunburstofsound,breakingoutofhidingandspreadingopen.Ithadthefreedomofreleaseandthetensionofpurpose.Itsweptspacecleanandleftnothingbutthejoyofanunobstructedeffort.
