Атлант расправил плечи
Wyatt’s torch
ThetaxonColorado,shethought,thetaxcollectedfromEllisWyatttopayforthelivelihoodofthosewhosejobwastotiehimandmakehimunabletolive,thosewhowouldstandonguardtoseethathegotnotrains,notankcars,nopipelineofReardenMetal—EllisWyatt,strippedoftherightofself-defense,leftwithoutvoice,withoutweapons,andworse:madetobethetoolofhisowndestruction,thesupporterofhisowndestroyers,theprovideroftheirfoodandoftheirweapons—EllisWyattbeingchoked,withhisownbrightenergyturnedagainsthimasthenoose—EllisWyatt,whohadwantedtotapanunlimitedsourceofshaleoilandwhospokeofaSecondRenaissance...
Shesatbentover,herheadonherarms,slumpedattheledgeofthewindow—whilethegreatcurvesofthegreen-bluerail,themountains,thevalleys,thenewtownsofColoradowentbyinthedarkness,unseen.
Thesuddenjoltofbrakesonwheelsthrewherupright.Itwasanunscheduledstop,andtheplatformofthesmallstationwascrowdedwithpeople,alllookingoffinthesamedirection.Thepassengersaroundherwerepressingtothewindows,staring.Sheleapedtoherfeet,sherandowntheaisle,downthesteps,intothecoldwindsweepingtheplatform.
Intheinstantbeforeshesawitandherscreamcutthevoicesofthecrowd,sheknewthatshehadknownthatwhichshewastosee
