Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Shesatstill,feelingnothing,wonderingnumblywhetherthiswashowitfelttohearadeathsentenceonehaddreaded,buthadneverquitebelievedpossible.

           Herfirstmovementwasasuddenjerkofherheadtowardtheexitdoor;sheasked,hervoicelow,hermouthdistortedbyhatred,"Whowashe?"

           Danaggerlaughed."Ifyou’veguessedthatmuch,youshouldhaveguessedthatit’saquestionIwon’tanswer."

           "OhGod,KenDanagger!"shemoaned;hiswordsmadeherrealizethatthebarrierofhopelessness,ofsilence,ofunansweredquestionswasalreadyerectedbetweenthem;thehatredhadbeenonlyathinwirethathadheldherforamomentandshebrokewithitsbreaking.

           "OhGod!"

           "You’rewrong,kid,"hesaidgently."Iknowhowyoufeel,butyou’rewrong,"thenaddedmoreformally,asifrememberingthepropermanner,asifstilltryingtobalancehimselfbetweentwokindsofreality,"I’msorry,MissTaggart,thatyouhadtocomeheresosoonafter."

           "Icametoolate,"shesaid."That’swhatIcameheretoprevent.Iknewitwouldhappen."

           "Why?"

           "Ifeltcertainthathe’dgetyounext,whoeverheis."

           "Youdid?That’sfunny.Ididn’t."

           "Iwantedtowarnyou,to...toarmyouagainsthim."

           Hesmiled.