Атлант расправил плечи

           Shelookedattheredlightandattherailthatwentoffintotheblack,untoucheddistance. 

           Shesaid,"Proceedwithcautiontothenextsignal. Ifit’sinorder,proceedtothemaintrack. Thenstopatthefirstopenoffice." 

           "Yeah?Whosaysso?" 

           "Ido." 

           "Whoareyou?" 

           Itwasonlythebriefestpause,amomentofastonishmentataquestionshehadnotexpected,buttheengineerlookedmorecloselyatherface,andintimewithheranswerhegasped, "GoodGod!" 

           Sheanswered,notoffensively,merelylikeapersonwhodoesnothearthequestionoften: 

           "DagnyTaggart." 

           "Well,I’llbe—"saidthefireman,andthentheyallremainedsilent. 

           Shewenton,inthesametoneofunstressedauthority."Proceedtothemaintrackandholdthetrainformeatthefirstopenoffice." 

           "Yes,MissTaggart." 

           "You’llhavetomakeuptime.You’vegottherestofthenighttodoit.GettheCometinonschedule." 

           "Yes,MissTaggart." 

           Shewasturningtogo,whentheengineerasked, "Ifthere’sanytrouble,areyoutakingtheresponsibilityforit,MissTaggart?" 

           "Iam." 

           Theconductorfollowedherasshewalkedbacktohercar.Hewassaying,bewildered, "But...justaseatinadaycoach,MissTaggart?Buthowcome?Butwhydidn’tyouletusknow?" 

           Shesmiledeasily. "Hadnotimetobeformal. HadmyowncarattachedtoNumber22outofChicago,butgotoffatCleveland—andNumber22wasrunninglate,soIletthecargo. TheCometcamenextandItookit.Therewasnosleeping-carspaceleft."