Атлант расправил плечи

           TriedtolistentoEddie’sreports—triedtogetawayfrompeople—triedtofindtherollingstocktoputmoretrainsontheJohnGaltLine,becausethescheduleI’dplannedwon’tbeenoughforthebusinessthat’spiledupinjustthreedays."

           "Agreatmanypeoplewantedtoseeyoutoday,didn’tthey?"

           "Why,yes."

           "They’dhavegivenanythingjustforawordwithyou,wouldn’tthey?"

           "I...Isupposeso."

           "Thereporterskeptaskingmewhatyouwerelike.Ayoungboyfromalocalsheetkeptsayingthatyouwereagreatwoman.Hesaidhe’dbeafraidtospeaktoyou,ifheeverhadthechance.He’sright.Thatfuturethatthey’realltalkingandtremblingabout—itwillbeasyoumadeit,becauseyouhadthecouragenoneofthemcouldconceiveof.

           Alltheroadstowealththatthey’rescramblingfornow,it’syourstrengththatbrokethemopen.Thestrengthtostandagainsteveryone.

           Thestrengthtorecognizenowillbutyourown."

           Shecaughtthesinkinggaspofherbreath:sheknewhispurpose.Shestoodstraight,herarmsathersides,herfaceaustere,asifinunflinchingendurance;shestoodunderthepraiseasunderalashingofinsults.

           "Theykeptaskingyouquestions,too,didn’tthey?"Hespokeintently,leaningforward."Andtheylookedatyouwithadmiration.