Атлант расправил плечи

           ThroughthetwohoursofherflighttoPittsburgh,Dagnyhadbeentenselyunabletojustifyheranxietyortodismissit;therewasnoreasontocountminutes,yetshehadfeltablinddesiretohurry.TheanxietyvanishedwhensheenteredtheanteroomofKenDanagger’soffice:shehadreachedhim,nothinghadhappenedtopreventit,shefeltsafety,confidenceandanenormoussenseofrelief.

           Thewordsofthesecretarydemolishedit.You’rebecomingacoward—thoughtDagny,feelingacauselessjoltofdreadatthewords,outofallproportiontotheirmeaning.

           "Iamsosorry,MissTaggart."Sheheardthesecretary’srespectful,solicitousvoiceandrealizedthatshehadstoodtherewithoutanswering."Mr.Danaggerwillbewithyouinjustamoment.Won’tyousitdown?"Thevoiceconveyedananxiousconcernovertheimproprietyofkeepingherwaiting.

           Dagnysmiled."Oh,that’squiteallright."

           Shesatdowninawoodenarmchair,facingthesecretary’srailing.

           Shereachedforacigaretteandstopped,wonderingwhethershewouldhavetimetofinishit,hopingthatshewouldnot,thenlighteditbrusquely.

           Itwasanold-fashionedframebuilding,thisheadquartersofthegreatDanaggerCoalCompany.SomewhereinthehillsbeyondthewindowwerethepitswhereKenDanaggerhadonceworkedasaminer.Hehadnevermovedhisofficeawayfromthecoalfields.