Атлант расправил плечи

           Whenthejobwasdoneandthegapwasclosed,Reardennoticedthattherewasatwistingpaininthemusclesofhisarmsandlegs,thathisbodyhadnostrengthlefttomove—yetthathefeltasifhewereenteringhisofficeinthemorning,eagerfortennewproblemstosolve.

           HelookedatFranciscoandnoticedforthefirsttimethattheirclotheshadblade-ringedholes,thattheirhandswerebleeding,thattherewasapatchofskintornonFrancisco’stempleandaredthreadwindingdownhischeekbone.Franciscopushedthegogglesbackoffhiseyesandgrinnedathim:itwasasmileofmorning.

           Ayoungmanwithalookofchronichurtandimpertinencetogether,rusheduptohim,crying,"Icouldn’thelpit,Mr.Rearden!"andlaunchedintoaspeechofexplanation.Reardenturnedhisbackonhimwithoutaword.Itwastheassistantinchargeofthepressuregaugeofthefurnace,ayoungmanoutofcollege.

           SomewhereontheouteredgeofRearden’sconsciousness,therewasthethoughtthataccidentsofthisnaturewerehappeningmorefrequentlynow,causedbythekindoforehewasusing,buthehadtousewhateverorehecouldfind.Therewasthethoughtthathisoldworkershadalwaysbeenabletoavertdisaster;anyofthemwouldhaveseentheindicationsofahang-upandknownhowtopreventit;buttherewerenotmanyofthemleft,andhehadtoemploywhatevermenhecouldfind.