Атлант расправил плечи

           Someoneinthebackofthecrowdcriedsuddenly,cheerfully,‘TohellwithJimTaggart!’"

           Anexplosionansweredhim.Themenlaughed,theycheered,theybrokeintoapplause.Theresponsewasoutofallproportiontothesentence.Butthesentencehadgiventhemtheexcusetheyneeded.Theyseemedtobeapplaudingthespeaker,ininsolentdefianceofauthority.

           Buteveryoneintheroomknewwhoitwasthattheywerecheering.

           Sheraisedherhand."We’retooearly,"shesaid,laughing."Waittillaweekfromtoday.That’swhenweoughttocelebrate.Andbelieveme,wewill!"

           Theydrewlotsfortherun.Shepickedafoldedslipofpaperfromamongapilecontainingalltheirnames.Thewinnerwasnotintheroom,buthewasoneofthebestmenonthesystem,PatLogan,engineeroftheTaggartCometontheNebraskaDivision.

           "WirePatandtellhimhe’sbeendemotedtoafreight,"shesaidtoEddie.Sheaddedcasually,asifitwerealast-momentdecision,butitfoolednoone,"Ohyes,tellhimthatI’mgoingtoridewithhiminthecaboftheengineonthatrun."

           Anoldengineerbesidehergrinnedandsaid,"Ithoughtyouwould,MissTaggart."

           ReardenwasinNewYorkonthedaywhenDagnytelephonedhimfromheroffice."Hank,I’mgoingtohaveapressconferencetomorrow."

           Helaughedaloud."No!"

           "Yes.