Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
"Yes,"sheansweredevenly,"Itrustedtheintegrityofyourscientificjudgment."
Heleanedback;helookedasifsomehiddensmileweresmoothingthetensionawayfromhisface."IwishIcouldhelpyou,"hesaid,astoacomrade."ImostselfishlywishIcouldhelpyou,because,yousee,thishasbeenmyhardestproblem—tryingtofindmenoftalentformyownstaff.Talent,hell!I’dbesatisfiedwithjustasemblanceofpromise—butthementheysendmecouldn’tbehonestlysaidtopossessthepotentialityofdevelopingintodecentgaragemechanics.Idon’tknowwhetherIamgettingolderandmoredemanding,orwhetherthehumanraceisdegenerating,buttheworlddidn’tseemtobesobarrenofintelligenceinmyyouth.Today,ifyousawthekindofmenI’vehadtointerview,you’d—"
Hestoppedabruptly,asifatasuddenrecollection.Heremainedsilent;heseemedtobeconsideringsomethingheknew,butdidnotwishtotellher;shebecamecertainofit,whenheconcludedbrusquely,inthattoneofresentmentwhichconcealsanevasion,"No,Idon’tknowanyoneI’dcaretorecommendtoyou."
"ThiswasallIwantedtoaskyou,Dr.Stadler,"shesaid."Thankyouforgivingmeyourtime."
Hesatsilentlystillforamoment,asifhecouldnotbringhimselftoleave.
"MissTaggart,"heasked,"couldyoushowmetheactualmotoritself?"
Shelookedathim,astonished."Why,yes...
