Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Reardenburstoutlaughing;helaughedlikeayoungboy,insimpleamusement,inenjoymentoftheincredible."GoodGod!You’reapolicemanandacollectorofInternalRevenue,too?"

           "Yes,"saidDanneskjoldgravely.

           "You’renotseriousaboutthis,areyou?"

           "DoIlookasifI’mjoking?"

           "Butthisispreposterous!"

           "AnymorepreposterousthanDirective10-289?"

           "It’snotrealorpossible!"

           "Isonlyevilrealandpossible?"

           "But—"

           "Areyouthinkingthatdeathandtaxesareouronlycertainty,Mr.Rearden?Well,there’snothingIcandoaboutthefirst,butifIlifttheburdenofthesecond,menmightlearntoseetheconnectionbetweenthetwoandwhatalonger,happierlifetheyhavethepowertoachieve.Theymightlearntohold,notdeathandtaxes,butlifeandproductionastheirtwoabsolutesandasthebaseoftheirmoralcode."

           Reardenlookedathim,notsmiling.Thetall,slimfigure,withthewindbreakerstressingitstrainedmuscularagility,wasthatofahighwayman;thesternmarblefacewasthatofajudge;thedry,clearvoicewasthatofanefficientbookkeeper.

           "Thelootersarenottheonlyoneswhohavekeptrecordsonyou,Mr.Rearden.SohaveI.