Атлант расправил плечи

           Shewassilent,whenshesatbesidehiminthetaxicab.Shelookedupattheskyscraperstheypassed.Afterawhile,shesaid,"IheardthatthingslikethishappenedinNewYork,butIneverthoughtthey’dhappentome."

           "Wheredoyoucomefrom?"

           "Buffalo."

           "Gotanyfamily?"

           Shehesitated."Iguessso.InBuffalo."

           "Whatdoyoumean,youguessso?"

           "Iwalkedoutonthem."

           "Why?"

           "IthoughtthatifIeverwastoamounttoanything,Ihadtogetawayfromthem,cleanaway."

           "Why?Whathappened?"

           "Nothinghappened.Andnothingwasevergoingtohappen.That’swhatIcouldn’tstand."

           "Whatdoyoumean?"

           "Well,they...well,IguessIoughttotellyouthetruth,Mr.Taggart.Myoldman’sneverbeenanygood,andMadidn’tcarewhetherhewasornot,andIgotsickofitalwaysturningoutthatIwastheonlyoneofthesevenofusthatkeptajob,andtherestofthemalwaysbeingoutofluck,onewayoranother.IthoughtifIdidn’tgetout,itwouldgetme—I’drotallthewaythrough,liketherestofthem.SoIboughtarailroadticketonedayandleft.Didn’tsaygood-bye.Theydidn’tevenknowIwasgoing."Shegaveasoft,startledlittlelaughatasuddenthought."Mr.Taggart,"shesaid,"itwasaTaggarttrain.