Атлант расправил плечи

           Couldhecontinuetolettheinnocentbearpunishment?Couldhelethertakethestandheshouldhavetaken?

           Couldhenowdefytheenemy’scode,whenthedisgracewouldbehers,nothis—whenthemuckwouldbethrownather,notathim—whenshewouldhavetofight,whilehe’dbespared?Couldheletherexistencebeturnedintoahellhewouldhavenowayofsharing?

           Hesatstill,lookingupather,Iloveyou,hesaidtothegirlontheflatcar,silentlypronouncingthewordsthathadbeenthemeaningofthatmomentfouryearsago,feelingthesolemnhappinessthatbelongedwiththewords,eventhoughthiswashowhehadtosayittoherforthefirsttime.

           HelookeddownattheGiftCertificate.Dagny,hethought,youwouldnotletmedoitifyouknew,youwillhatemeforitifyoulearn—butIcannotletyoupaymydebts.ThefaultwasmineandIwillnotshifttoyouthepunishmentwhichisminetotake.EvenifIhavenothingelsenowlefttome,Ihavethismuch:thatIseethetruth,thatIamfreeoftheirguilt,thatIcannowstandguiltlessinmyowneyes,thatIknowIamright,rightfullyandforthefirsttime—andthatIwillremainfaithfultotheonecommandmentofmycodewhichIhaveneverbroken:tobeamanwhopayshisownway.

           Iloveyou,hesaidtothegirlontheflatcar,feelingasifthelightofthatsummer’ssunweretouchinghisforehead,asifhe,too,werestandingunderanopenskyoveranunobstructedearth,withnothinglefttohimexcepthimself