Атлант расправил плечи

           Closinghiseyes,hepermittedhimselftoexperienceforamomenttheimmensereliefhewouldfeelifhe,too,weretowalkoff,abandoningeverything.Undertheshockofhisloss,hefeltathinthreadofenvy.Whydidn’ttheycomeforme,too,whoevertheyare,andgivemethatirresistiblereasonwhichwouldmakemego?Butinthenextmoment,hisshudderofangertoldhimthathewouldmurderthemanwho’dattempttoapproachhim,hewouldmurderbeforehecouldhearthewordsofthesecretthatwouldtakehimawayfromhismills.

           Itwaslate,hisstaffhadgone,buthedreadedtheroadtohishouseandtheemptinessoftheeveningahead.HefeltasiftheenemywhohadwipedoutKenDanagger,werewaitingforhiminthedarknessbeyondtheglowofthemills.Hewasnotinvulnerableanylonger,butwhateveritwas,hethought,whereveritcamefrom,hewassafefromithere,asinacircleoffiresdrawnabouthimtowardoffevil.

           Helookedattheglitteringwhitesplashesonthedarkwindowsofastructureinthedistance;theywerelikemotionlessripplesofsunlightonwater.Itwasthereflectionoftheneonsignthatburnedontheroofofthebuildingabovehishead,saying:ReardenSteel.Hethoughtofthenightwhenhehadwishedtolightasignabovehispast,saying:ReardenLife.