Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
Shesawthestillnessofhisface,thesuddenearnestnessoftheeyes,astrangeearnestnessthatseemedeagerandalmostpleading,thensheheardhisvoicecomegravely,asiffromunderthepressureofsomeemotionthatmadeitsoundsimpleandhumble:"Whatisyourproblem,MissTaggart?"
Shetoldhimaboutthemotorandtheplacewhereshehadfoundit;shetoldhimthatithadprovedimpossibletolearnthenameoftheinventor;shedidnotmentionthedetailsofherquest.Shehandedhimphotographsofthemotorandtheremnantofthemanuscript.
Shewatchedhimasheread.Shesawtheprofessionalassuranceintheswift,scanningmotionofhiseyes,atfirst,thenthepause,thenthegrowingintentness,thenamovementofhislipswhich,fromanotherman,wouldhavebeenawhistleoragasp.Shesawhimstopforlongminutesandlookoff,asifhismindwereracingovercountlesssuddentrails,tryingtofollowthemall—shesawhimleafbackthroughthepages,thenstop,thenforcehimselftoreadon,asifheweretornbetweenhiseagernesstocontinueandhiseagernesstoseizeallthepossibilitiesbreakingopenbeforehisvision.Shesawhissilentexcitement,sheknewthathehadforgottenheroffice,herexistence,everythingbutthesightofanachievement—andintributetohisbeingcapableofsuchreaction,shewisheditwerepossibleforhertolikeDr.RobertStadler.
Theyhadbeensilentforoveranhour,whenhefinishedandlookedupather.
