Атлант расправил плечи
Account Overdrawn
Shehadfeltlikeascavenger,buttheactivityofthehunthadmadeherabletobearthesepastfewdays.Whenshehadfoundthatthreeemptyhoursremainedbeforethedepartureofthelasttrain,shehadgonetowalkthroughthecountryside,toescapethestillnessofthetown.Shehadwalkedatrandomthroughtwistingmountaintrails,aloneamongrocksandsnow,tryingtosubstitutemotionforthought,knowingthatshehadtogetthroughthisdaywithoutthinkingofthesummerwhenshehadriddentheengineofthefirsttrain.
ButshefoundherselfwalkingbackalongtheroadbedoftheJohnGaltLine—andsheknewthatshehadintendedit,thatshehadgoneoutforthatpurpose.
Itwasaspurtrackwhichhadalreadybeendismembered.Therewerenosignallights,noswitches,notelephonewires,nothingbutalongbandofwoodenstripsleftontheground—achainoftieswithoutrail,liketheremnantofaspine—and,asitslonelyguardian,atanabandonedgradecrossing,apolewithslantedarmssaying:"Stop.
Look.Listen."
Anearlydarknessmixedwithfogwasslippingdowntofillthevalleys,whenshecameuponthefactory.Therewasaninscriptionhighonthelustroustileofitsfrontwalclass="underline""RogerMarsh.ElectricalAppliances."Themanwhohadwantedtochainhimselftohisdeskinordernottoleavethis,shethought.
