Атлант расправил плечи

           Hastings’faceheldsadness,butthefacehadnoimprintoftragedy,onlyagravelookoffirmness,acceptanceandquietserenity.

           "Mrs.Hastings,wouldyoupermitmetoaskyouafewquestions?"

           "Certainly.Pleasesitdown."

           "Didyouhavesomeknowledgeofyourhusband’sscientificwork?"

           "Verylittle.None,really.Heneverdiscusseditathome."

           "Hewas,atonetime,chiefengineeroftheTwentiethCenturyMotorCompany?"

           "Yes.Hehadbeenemployedbythemforeighteenyears."

           "IwantedtoaskMr.Hastingsabouthisworkthereandthereasonwhyhegaveitup.Ifyoucantellme,Iwouldliketoknowwhathappenedinthatfactory."

           ThesmileofsadnessandhumorappearedfullyonMrs.Hastings’face."ThatiswhatIwouldliketoknowmyself,"shesaid."ButI’mafraidIshallneverlearnitnow.Iknowwhyheleftthefactory.ItwasbecauseofanoutrageousschemewhichtheheirsofJedStarnesestablishedthere.Hewouldnotworkonsuchtermsorforsuchpeople.

           Buttherewassomethingelse.I’vealwaysfeltthatsomethinghappenedatTwentiethCenturyMotors,whichhewouldnottellme."

           "I’mextremelyanxioustoknowanyclueyoumaycaretogiveme."

           "Ihavenocluetoit.I’vetriedtoguessandgivenup.Icannotunderstandorexplainit.ButIknowthatsomethinghappened.