Атлант расправил плечи

           Assheentered,theytooktheirhatsoffinsuddensilence.Shesawthegrayingheads,themuscularshoulders,shesawthesmilingfacesofherstaffattheirdesksandthefaceofEddieWillersattheendoftheroom.Everybodyknewthatnothinghadtobesaid.

           Eddiestoodbytheopendoorofheroffice.Thecrowdpartedtoletherapproachhim.Hemovedhishand,pointingattheroom,thenatapileoflettersandtelegrams.

           "Dagny,everyoneofthem,"hesaid."EveryengineeronTaggartTranscontinental.Thosewhocould,camehere,somefromasfarastheChicagoDivision."Hepointedatthemail."There’stherestofthem.

           Tobeexact,there’sonlythreeIhaven’theardfrom:one’sonavacationinthenorthwoods,one’sinahospital,andone’sinjailforrecklessdriving—ofhisautomobile."

           Shelookedatthemen.Shesawthesuppressedgrinsonthesolemnfaces.Sheinclinedherhead,inacknowledgment.Shestoodforamoment,headbowed,asifshewereacceptingaverdict,knowingthattheverdictappliedtoher,toeverymanintheroomandtotheworldbeyondthewallsofthebuilding.

           "Thankyou,"shesaid.

           Mostofthemenhadseenhermanytimes.Lookingather,assheraisedherhead,manyofthemthought—inastonishmentandforthefirsttime—thatthefaceoftheirOperatingVice-Presidentwasthefaceofawomanandthatitwasbeautiful.