Атлант расправил плечи

           Therewerethevoicesabruptlychokedoff,thepoolsofsilence,thensoundsofadifferentnature;therising,hystericalinflectionsofuselesslyrepeatedquestions,theunnaturalwhispers,awoman’sscream,thefewspaced,forcedgigglesofthosestilltryingtopretendthatnothingwashappening.

           Therewerespotsofimmobilityinthemotionofthecrowd,likespreadingblotchesofparalysis;therewasasuddenstillness,asifamotorhadbeencutoff;thencamethefrantic,jerking,purposeless,rudderlessmovementofobjectsbumpingdownahillbytheblindmercyofgravitationandofeveryrocktheyhitontheway.Peoplewererunningout,runningtotelephones,runningtooneanother,clutchingorpushingthebodiesaroundthematrandom.Thesemen,themostpowerfulmeninthecountry,thosewhoheld,unanswerabletoanypower,thepowerovereveryman’sfoodandeveryman’senjoymentofhisspanofyearsonearth—thesemenhadbecomeapileofrubble,clatteringinthewindofpanic,therubbleleftofastructurewhenitskeypillarhasbeencut.

           JamesTaggart,hisfaceindecentinitsexposureofemotionswhichcenturieshadtaughtmentokeephidden,rusheduptoFranciscoandscreamed,"Isittrue?"

           "Why,James,"saidFrancisco,smiling,"what’sthematter?Whydoyouseemtobeupset?Moneyistherootofallevil—soIjustgottiredofbeingevil."

           Taggartrantowardthemainexit,yellingsomethingtoOrrenBoyleontheway