Атлант расправил плечи
The Sacred and the Profane
Therewasagreatdealofglass,rubber,plasticandmetalinthejunkpile,anddarkgraysplintersofslatethathadbeenablackboard.Scrapsofpaperrustleddrylyalloverthefloor.Therewerealsoremnantsofthingswhichhadnotbeenbroughtherebytheownerofthatroom:popcornwrappers,awhiskeybottle,aconfessionmagazine.
Sheattemptedtoextricatethecoilfromthescrappile.Itwouldnotmove;itwaspartofsomelargeobject.Shekneltandbegantodigthroughthejunk.
Shehadcutherhands,shewascoveredwithdustbythetimeshestooduptolookattheobjectshehadcleared.Itwasthebrokenremnantofthemodelofamotor.Mostofitspartsweremissing,butenoughwaslefttoconveysomeideaofitsformershapeandpurpose.
Shehadneverseenamotorofthiskindoranythingresemblingit.
Shecouldnotunderstandthepeculiardesignofitspartsorthefunctionstheywereintendedtoperform.
Sheexaminedthetarnishedtubesandodd-shapedconnections.Shetriedtoguesstheirpurpose,hermindgoingovereverytypeofmotorsheknewandeverypossiblekindofworkitspartscouldperform.
Nonefittedthemodel.Itlookedlikeanelectricmotor,butshecouldnottellwhatfuelitwasintendedtoburn.Itwasnotdesignedforsteam,oroil,oranythingshecouldname.
Hersuddengaspwasnotasound,butajoltthatthrewheratthejunkpile.
