Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
Whydidn’tthey?Howcouldtheyabandon,justabandon,athingofthiskind?"
"ThesearethequestionstowhichIfoundnoanswers."
"Andbesides,fromthepurelypracticalaspect,whywasthatmotorleftinajunkpile?You’dthinkanygreedyfoolofanindustrialistwouldhavegrabbeditinordertomakeafortune.Nointelligencewasneededtoseeitscommercialvalue."
Shesmiledforthefirsttime—asmileuglywithbitterness;shesaidnothing.
"Youfounditimpossibletotracetheinventor?"heasked.
"Completelyimpossible—sofar."
"Doyouthinkthatheisstillalive?"
"Ihavereasontothinkthatheis.ButIcan’tbesure."
"SupposeItriedtoadvertiseforhim?"
"No.Don’t."
"ButifIweretoplaceadsinscientificpublicationsandhaveDr.Ferris"—hestopped;hesawherglanceathimasswiftlyasheglancedather;shesaidnothing,butsheheldhisglance;helookedawayandfinishedthesentencecoldlyandfirmly—"andhaveDr.FerrisbroadcastontheradiothatIwishtoseehim,wouldherefusetocome?"
"Yes,Dr.Stadler,Ithinkhewouldrefuse."
Hewasnotlookingather.
