Атлант расправил плечи

           Tosupplywhat’smissingwouldtakeamindasgreatashis."

           "I’llfindhim—ifIhavetodropeveryotherthingI’mdoing."

           "—andifhe’sstillalive."

           Sheheardtheunstatedguessinthetoneofhisvoice."Whydoyousayitlikethat?"

           "Idon’tthinkheis.Ifhewere,wouldheleaveaninventionofthiskindtorotonajunkpile?Wouldheabandonanachievementofthissize?Ifhewerestillalive,youwouldhavehadthelocomotiveswiththeself-generatorsyearsago.Andyouwouldn’thavehadtolookforhim,becausethewholeworldwouldknowhisnamebynow."

           "Idon’tthinkthismodelwasmadesoverylongago."

           Helookedatthepaperofthemanuscriptandattherustytarnishofthemotor."Abouttenyearsago,I’dguess.Maybealittlelonger."

           "We’vegottofindhimorsomebodywhoknewhim.Thisismoreimportant—"

           "—thananythingownedormanufacturedbyanyonetoday.Idon’tthinkwe’llfindhim.Andifwedon’t,nobodywillbeabletorepeathisperformance.Nobodywillrebuildhismotor.There’snotenoughofitleft.It’sonlyalead,aninvaluablelead,butitwouldtakethesortofmindthat’sbornonceinacentury,tocompleteit.Doyouseeourpresent-daymotordesignersattemptingit?"

           "No."

           "There’snotafirst-ratedesignerleft.Therehasn’tbeenanewideainmotorsforyears.