Атлант расправил плечи

           "Whydoesitfrightenyou?"

           "Because...becauseIthinkhe’sgoingtohurtyouinsometerribleway...andthemoreyouseeinhim,theharderitwillbetobear...anditwilltakeyoualongtimetogetoverit,ifever...

           IfeelthatIoughttowarnyouagainsthim,butIcan’t—becauseI’mcertainofnothingabouthim,notevenwhetherhe’sthegreatestorthelowestmanonearth."

           "I’mcertainofnothingabouthim—exceptthatIlikehim."

           "Butthinkofwhathe’sdone.It’snotJimandBoylethathe’shurt,it’syouandmeandKenDanaggerandtherestofus,becauseJim’sgangwillmerelytakeitoutonus—andit’sgoingtobeanotherdisaster,liketheWyattfire."

           "Yes...yes,liketheWyattfire.But,youknow,Idon’tthinkIcaretoomuchaboutthat.What’sonemoredisaster?Everything’sgoinganyway,it’sonlyaquestionofalittlefasteroralittleslower,allthat’sleftforusaheadistokeeptheshipafloataslongaswecanandthengodownwithit."

           "Isthathisexcuseforhimself?Isthatwhathe’smadeyoufeel?"

           "No.Ohno!That’sthefeelingIlosewhenIspeaktohim.Thestrangethingiswhathedoesmakemefeel."

           "What?"

           "Hope."

           Shenodded,inhelplesswonder,knowingthatshehadfeltit,too.

           "Idon’tknowwhy,"hesaid.