Атлант расправил плечи

           HealwayswaitedtocatchaglimpseofReardenoutside.Thedirectivehadattachedhimtohisjob,asthemills’officialwatchdogofover-or-under-production.HestoppedRearden,afewdayslater,inanalleybetweentherowsofopen-hearthfurnaces.Therewasanoddlookoffiercenessontheboy’sface.

           "Mr.Rearden,"hesaid,"IwantedtotellyouthatifyouwanttopourtentimesthequotaofReardenMetalorsteelorpigironoranything,andbootlegitallovertheplacetoanybodyatanyprice—Iwantedtotellyoutogoahead.I’llfixitup.I’lljugglethebooks,I’llfakethereports,I’llgetphonywitnesses,I’llforgeaffidavits,I’llcommitperjury—soyoudon’thavetoworry,therewon’tbeanytrouble!"

           "Nowwhydoyouwanttodothat?"askedRearden,smiling,buthissmilevanishedwhenheheardtheboyanswerearnestly:"BecauseIwant,foronce,todosomethingmoral."

           "That’snotthewaytobemoral—"Reardenstarted,andstoppedabruptly,realizingthatitwastheway,theonlywayleft,realizingthroughhowmanytwistsofintellectualcorruptionuponcorruptionthisboyhadtostruggletowardhismomentousdiscovery.

           "Iguessthat’snottheword,"theboysaidsheepishly."Iknowit’sastuffy,old-fashionedword.That’snotwhatImeant.Imeant—"Itwasasudden,desperatecryofincredulousanger:"Mr.