Атлант расправил плечи

           Hischiefengineersawhimthere,axeinhand,aloneoverthewideriver,withthesunsettingbehindhiminthatwestwherehislinewastogo.Heworkedthereallnight.Bymorning,hehadthoughtoutaplanofwhathewoulddotofindtherightmen,themenofindependentjudgment—tofindthem,toconvincethem,toraisethemoney,tocontinuethebridge."

           Shespokeinalow,flatvoice,lookingdownatthespotoflightthatshimmeredintheliquidasherfingersturnedthestemofherglassonceinawhile.Sheshowednoemotion,buthervoicehadtheintensemonotoneofaprayer:"Francisco...ifhecouldlivethroughthatnight,whatrighthaveItocomplain?Whatdoesitmatter,howIfeeljustnow?Hebuiltthatbridge,Ihavetoholditforhim.Ican’tletitgothewayofthebridgeoftheAtlanticSouthern.Ifeelalmostasifhe’dknowit,ifIletthathappen,he’dknowitthatnightwhenhewasaloneovertheriver...no,that’snonsense,buthere’swhatIfeeclass="underline"anymanwhoknowswhatNatTaggartfeltthatnight,anymanlivingnowandcapableofknowingit—it’shimthatIwouldbetrayifIletithappen...andIcan’t."

           "Dagny,ifNatTaggartwerelivingnow,whatwouldhedo?"

           Sheansweredinvoluntarily,withaswift,bitterchuckle,"Hewouldn’tlastaminute!"—thencorrectedherself:"No,hewould.Hewouldfindawaytofightthem."

           "How?"

           "Idon’tknow.