Атлант расправил плечи
The Top and the Bottom
"Dotheyeverthink?"sheaskedinvoluntarily,andstopped;thequestionwasheronepersonaltortureandshedidnotwanttodiscussit.
Theoldmanlookedasifhehadnoticedthesuddenstopandunderstoodit;buthedidnotstartdiscussingit;hesaid,instead,"Idon’tlikethethingthat’shappeningtopeople,MissTaggart."
"What?"
"Idon’tknow.ButI’vewatchedthemherefortwentyyearsandI’veseenthechange.Theyusedtorushthroughhere,anditwaswonderfultowatch,itwasthehurryofmenwhoknewwheretheyweregoingandwereeagertogetthere.Nowthey’rehurryingbecausetheyareafraid.It’snotapurposethatdrivesthem,it’sfear.They’renotgoinganywhere,they’reescaping.AndIdon’tthinktheyknowwhatitisthattheywanttoescape.Theydon’tlookatoneanother.Theyjerkwhenbrushedagainst.Theysmiletoomuch,butit’sanuglykindofsmiling:it’snotjoy,it’spleading.Idon’tknowwhatitisthat’shappeningtotheworld."Heshrugged."Ohwell,whoisJohnGalt?"
"He’sjustameaninglessphrase!"
Shewasstartledbythesharpnessofherownvoice,andsheaddedinapology,"Idon’tlikethatemptypieceofslang.Whatdoesitmean?Wherediditcomefrom?"
"Nobodyknows,"heansweredslowly.
"Whydopeoplekeepsayingit?Nobodyseemsabletoexplainjustwhatitstandsfor,yettheyalluseitasiftheyknewthemeaning."
"Whydoesitdisturbyou?"heasked.
"Idon’tlikewhattheyseemtomeanwhentheysayit."
