Атлант расправил плечи
The Top and the Bottom
Shewasincapableofloveforanyobjectnotofherownchoiceandsheresentedanyone’sdemandforit.Buthaditbeenpossibletochooseanancestor,shewouldhavechosenNatTaggart,involuntaryhomageandwithallofhergratitude.
NatTaggart’sstatuewascopiedfromanartist’ssketchofhim,theonlyrecordevermadeofhisappearance.Hehadlivedfarintooldage,butonecouldneverthinkofhimexceptashewasonthatsketch-asayoungman.Inherchildhood,hisstatuehadbeenDagny’sfirstconceptoftheexalted.Whenshewassenttochurchortoschool,andheardpeopleusingthatword,shethoughtthatsheknewwhattheymeant:shethoughtofthestatue.
Thestatuewasofayoungmanwithatall,gauntbodyandanangularface.Heheldhisheadasifhefacedachallengeandfoundjoyinhiscapacitytomeetit.AllthatDagnywantedoflifewascontainedinthedesiretoholdherheadashedid.
Tonight,shelookedatthestatuewhenshewalkedacrosstheconcourse.Itwasamoment’srest;itwasasifaburdenshecouldnotnamewerelightenedandasifafaintcurrentofairweretouchingherforehead.
Inacorneroftheconcourse,bythemainentrance,therewasasmallnewsstand.Theowner,aquiet,courteousoldmanwithanairofbreeding,hadstoodbehindhiscounterfortwentyyears.Hehadownedacigarettefactoryonce,butithadgonebankrupt,andhehadresignedhimselftothelonelyobscurityofhislittlestandinthemidstofaneternalwhirlpoolofstrangers.Hehadnofamilyorfriendsleftalive.
