Атлант расправил плечи
The Immovable Movers
Ithadbeenaprocessionofyearsspentingarretsandbasements,yearsthathadtakenthegraytingeofthewallsimprisoningamanwhosemusicoverflowedwithviolentcolor.Ithadbeenthegrayofastruggleagainstlongflightsofunlightedtenementstairs,againstfrozenplumbing,againstthepriceofasandwichinanill-smellingdelicatessenstore,againstthefacesofmenwholistenedtomusic,theireyesempty.Ithadbeenastrugglewithoutthereliefofviolence,withouttherecognitionoffindingaconsciousenemy,withonlyadeafwalltobatter,awallofthemosteffectivesoundproofing:indifference,thatswallowedblows,chordsandscreams—abattleofsilence,foramanwhocouldgivetosoundsagreatereloquencethantheyhadevercarried—thesilenceofobscurity,ofloneliness,ofthenightswhensomerareorchestraplayedoneofhisworksandhelookedatthedarkness,knowingthathissoulwentintrembling,wideningcirclesfromaradiotowerthroughtheairofthecity,buttherewerenoreceiverstunedtohearit.
"ThemusicofRichardHalleyhasaqualityoftheheroic.Ouragehasoutgrownthatstuff,"saidonecritic."ThemusicofRichardHalleyisoutofkeywithourtimes.Ithasatoneofecstasy.Whocaresforecstasynowadays?"saidanother.
Hislifehadbeenasummaryofthelivesofallthemenwhoserewardisamonumentinapublicparkahundredyearsafterthetimewhenarewardcanmatter—exceptthatRichardHalleydidnotdiesoonenough.
