Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
"Butthisisextraordinary!"hesaidinthejoyous,astonishedtoneofannouncingsomenewsshehadnotexpected.
Shewishedshecouldsmileinanswerandgranthimthecomradeshipofajoycelebratedtogether,butshemerelynoddedandsaidcoldly,"Yes."
"But,MissTaggart,thisistremendous!"
"Yes."
"Didyousayit’samatteroftechnology?It’smore,much,muchmorethanthat.Thepageswherehewritesabouthisconverter—youcanseewhatpremisehe’sspeakingfrom.Hearrivedatsomenewconceptofenergy.Hediscardedallourstandardassumptions,accordingtowhichhismotorwouldhavebeenimpossible.Heformulatedanewpremiseofhisownandhesolvedthesecretofconvertingstaticenergyintokineticpower.Doyouknowwhatthatmeans?Doyourealizewhatafeatofpure,abstractsciencehehadtoperformbeforehecouldmakehismotor?"
"Who?"sheaskedquietly.
"Ibegyourpardon?"
"ThatwasthefirstofthetwoquestionsIwantedtoaskyou,Dr.Stadler:canyouthinkofanyyoungscientistyoumighthaveknowntenyearsago,whowouldhavebeenabletodothis?"
Hepaused,astonished;hehadnothadtimetowonderaboutthatquestion."No,"hesaidslowly,frowning,"no,Ican’tthinkofanyone.
...Andthat’sodd...becauseanabilityofthiskindcouldn’thavepassedunnoticedanywhere...somebodywouldhavecalledhimtomyattention.
