Атлант расправил плечи

           Well,whatcouldbeagreaterdisasternowthantohavethecountry’scoalsupplyleftinthehandsofmenlikeBoyleorLarkin?

           Andthere’snooneleftinthecoalindustrywhoamountstomuch,exceptKenDanagger.Soshesaysthatshefeelsalmostasifhe’samarkedman,asifhe’shitbyaspotlightrightnow,waitingtobecutdown...Whatareyoulaughingat?Itmightsoundpreposterous,butIthinkit’strue...What?...Ohyes,youbetshe’sasmartwoman!...Andthenthere’sanotherthinginvolved,shesays.Amanhastocometoacertainmentalstage—notangerordespair,butsomethingmuch,muchmorethanboth—beforehecanbecutdown.

           Shecan’ttellwhatitis,butsheknew,longbeforethefire,thatEllisWyatthadreachedthatstageandsomethingwouldhappentohim.

           WhenshesawKenDanaggerinthecourtroomtoday,shesaidthathewasreadyforthedestroyer...Yes,that’sthewordssheused:hewasreadyforthedestroyer.Yousee,shedoesn’tthinkit’shappeningbychanceoraccident.Shethinksthere’sasystembehindit,anintention,aman.There’sadestroyerlooseinthecountry,who’scuttingdownthebuttressesoneafteranothertoletthestructurecollapseuponourheads.Someruthlesscreaturemovedbysomeinconceivablepurpose...Shesaysthatshewon’tlethimgetKenDanagger.