Атлант расправил плечи
White Blackmail
Butfirst,Iwantyoutoansweraquestion:ifyouunderstandthenatureofyourburden,howcanyou..."
Thescreamofanalarmsirenshatteredthespacebeyondthewindowandshotlikearocketinalong,thinlinetothesky.Itheldforaninstant,thenfell,thenwentoninrising,fallingspiralsofsound,asiffightingforbreathagainstterrortoscreamlouder.Itwastheshriekofagony,thecallforhelp,thevoiceofthemillsasofawoundedbodycryingtoholditssoul.
Reardenthoughtthatheleapedforthedoortheinstantthescreamhithisconsciousness,buthesawthathewasaninstantlate,becauseFranciscohadprecededhim.Flungbytheblastofthesameresponseashisown,Franciscowasflyingdownthehall,pressingthebuttonoftheelevatorand,notwaiting,racingondownthestairs.Reardenfollowedhimand,watchingthedialoftheelevatoronthestairlandings,theymetithalfwaydowntheheightofthebuilding.Beforethesteelcagehadceasedtremblingatthesillofthegroundfloor,Franciscowasout,racingtomeetthesoundofthecallforhelp.Reardenhadthoughthimselfagoodrunner,buthecouldnotkeepupwiththeswiftfigurestreakingoffthroughstretchesofredglareanddarkness,thefigureofauselessplayboyhehadhatedhimselfforadmiring.
Thestream,gushingfromaholelowonthesideofablastfurnace,didnothavetheredglowoffire,butthewhiteradianceofsunlight.
