Атлант расправил плечи

           Itwasbyprotectingthesafetyofthepassengersthathehadearnedthesecurityofhischildren;hehadservedonebyservingtheother;therehadbeennoclashofinterests,nocallforvictims.Now,ifhewantedtosavethepassengers,hehadtodoitatthepriceofhischildren.

           Heremembereddimlythesermonshehadheardaboutthebeautyofself-immolation,aboutthevirtueofsacrificingtoothersthatwhichwasone’sdearest.Heknewnothingaboutthephilosophyofethics;butheknewsuddenly—notinwords,butintheformofadark,angry,savagepain—thatifthiswasvirtue,thenhewantednopartofit.

           Hewalkedintotheroundhouseandorderedalarge,ancientcoalburninglocomotivetobemadereadyfortheruntoWinston.

           Thetrainmasterreachedforthetelephoneinthedispatcher’soffice,tosummonanenginecrew,asordered.Buthishandstopped,holdingthereceiver.Itstruckhimsuddenlythathewassummoningmentotheirdeath,andthatofthetwentyliveslistedonthesheetbeforehim,twowouldbeendedbyhischoice.Hefeltaphysicalsensationofcold,nothingmore;hefeltnoconcern,onlyapuzzled,indifferentastonishment.Ithadneverbeenhisjobtocallmenouttodie;hisjobhadbeentocallthemouttoearntheirliving.Itwasstrange,hethought;anditwasstrangethathishandhadstopped;whatmadeitstopwaslikesomethinghewouldhavefelttwentyyearsago—no,hethought,strange,onlyonemonthago,notlonger.

           Hewasforty-eightyearsold.