Атлант расправил плечи

           Sheprotested,inastonishment,againstthelowmonthlysalaryhequoted."MissTaggart,"hesaid,"ifthere’ssomethingthatIwon’ttake,it’ssomethingfornothing.

           Idon’tknowhowlongyoumighthavetopayme,orwhetheryou’llgetanythingatallinreturn.I’llgambleonmyownmind.Iwon’tletanybodyelsedoit.Idon’tcollectforanintention.ButIsuredointendtocollectforgoodsdelivered.IfIsucceed,that’swhenI’llskinyoualive,becausewhatIwantthenisapercentage,andit’sgoingtobehigh,butit’sgoingtobeworthyourwhile."

           Whenhenamedthepercentagehewanted,shelaughed."Thatisskinningmealiveanditwillbeworthmywhile.Okay."

           Theyagreedthatitwastobeherprivateprojectandthathewastobeherprivateemployee;neitherofthemwantedtohavetodealwiththeinterferenceoftheTaggartResearchDepartment.HeaskedtoremaininUtah,inhispostofwatchman,wherehehadallthelaboratoryequipmentandalltheprivacyheneeded.Theprojectwastoremainconfidentialbetweenthem,untilandunlesshesucceeded.

           "MissTaggart,"hesaidinconclusion,"Idon’tknowhowmanyyearsitwilltakemetosolvethis,ifever.ButIknowthatifIspendtherestofmylifeonitandsucceed,Iwilldiesatisfied."Headded,"There’sonlyonethingthatIwantmorethantosolveit:it’stomeetthemanwhohas.