Атлант расправил плечи
Miracle metal
Whenoneactsonpityagainstjustice,itisthegoodwhomonepunishesforthesakeoftheevil;whenonesavestheguiltyfromsuffering,itistheinnocentwhomoneforcestosuffer.Thereisnoescapefromjustice,nothingcanbeunearnedandunpaidforintheuniverse,neitherinmatternorinspirit—andiftheguiltydonotpay,thentheinnocenthavetopayit.
Itwasnotthecheaplittlelootersofwealthwhohavebeatenme—itwasI.Theydidnotdisarmme—Ithrewawaymyweapon.Thisisabattlethatcannotbefoughtexceptwithcleanhands—becausetheenemy’ssolepowerisinthesoresofone’sconscience—andIacceptedacodethatmademeregardthestrengthofmyhandsasasinandastain.
"DowegettheMetal,Mr.Rearden?"
HelookedfromtheGiftCertificateonhisdesktothememoryofthegirlontheflatcar.Heaskedhimselfwhetherhecoulddelivertheradiantbeinghehadseeninthatmoment,tothelootersofthemindandthethugsofthepress.
