Атлант расправил плечи
Wyatt’s torch
"Youdon’thappentoknowwhatbecameoftheStarnesheirs?"
"Oh,theyranforcoverafterthey’dwreckedthefactory.Therewerethreeofthem,twosonsandadaughter.LastIheard,theywerehidingtheirfacesoutinDurance,Louisiana."
ThelastsightshecaughtofLeeHunsacker,assheturnedtogo,washissuddenleaptothestove;heseizedthelidoffthepotanddroppedittothefloor,scorchinghisfingersandcursing:thestewwasburned.
LittlewasleftoftheStarnesfortuneandlessoftheStarnesheirs.
"Youwon’tlikehavingtoseethem,MissTaggart,"saidthechiefofpoliceofDurance,Louisiana;hewasanelderlymanwithaslow,firmmannerandalookofbitternessacquirednotinblindresentment,butinfidelitytoclear-cutstandards."There’sallsortsofhumanbeingstoseeintheworld,there’smurderersandcriminalmaniacs—but,somehow,IthinktheseStarnespersonsarewhatdecentpeopleshouldn’thavetosee.They’reabadsort,MissTaggart.Clammyandbad...
Yes,they’restillhereintown—twoofthem,thatis.Thethirdoneis:dead.Suicide.Thatwasfouryearsago.It’sanuglystory.Hewastheyoungestofthethree,EricStarnes.Hewasoneofthosechronicyoungmenwhogoaroundwhiningabouttheirsensitivefeelings,whenthey’rewellpastforty.Heneededlove,washisline.Hewasbeingkeptbyolderwomen,whenhecouldfindthem.
