Атлант расправил плечи

           "JustwaittilltheBoardmeetingnextmonth.I’lldemandadecision,onceandforall,onhowfartheOperatingDepartmentistobepermittedtoexceeditsauthority.You’regoingtohavetoanswerforthis."

           "I’llanswerforit."

           ShewasbackatherworkbeforethedoorhadclosedonJamesTaggart.

           Whenshefinished,pushedthepapersasideandglancedup,theskywasblackbeyondthewindow,andthecityhadbecomeaglowingspreadoflightedglasswithoutmasonry.Sherosereluctantly.Sheresentedthesmalldefeatofbeingtired,butsheknewthatshewas,tonight.

           Theouterofficewasdarkandempty;herstaffhadgone.OnlyEddieWillerswasstillthere,athisdeskinhisglass-partitionedenclosurethatlookedlikeacubeoflightinacornerofthelargeroom.Shewavedtohimonherwayout.

           Shedidnottaketheelevatortothelobbyofthebuilding,buttotheconcourseoftheTaggartTerminal.Shelikedtowalkthroughitonherwayhome.

           Shehadalwaysfeltthattheconcourselookedlikeatemple.Glancingupatthedistantceiling,shesawdimvaultssupportedbygiantgranitecolumns,andthetopsofvastwindowsglazedbydarkness.Thevaultingheldthesolemnpeaceofacathedral,spreadinprotectionhighabovetherushingactivityofmen.

           Dominatingtheconcourse,butignoredbythetravelersasahabitualsight,stoodastatueofNathanielTaggart,thefounderoftherailroad.Dagnywastheonlyonewhoremainedawareofitandhadneverbeenabletotakeitforgranted."