Атлант расправил плечи
By our love
Butunderit,hehadfeltasneakinglittlehope,swiftandfurtivelikethecourseofacockroach:ifthatthreattookform,itwouldsolveeverything,savehimfromdecision,savehimfromsigningtheletter...hewouldnotbePresidentofTaggartTranscontinentalanylonger,butneitherwouldanyoneelse...neitherwouldanyoneelse...
Hesat,lookingdownathisdesk,keepinghiseyesandhismindoutoffocus.Itwasasifhewereimmersedinapooloffog,strugglingnottoletitreachthefinalityofanyform.Thatwhichexistspossessesidentity;hecouldkeepitoutofexistencebyrefusingtoidentifyit.
HedidnotexaminetheeventsinColorado,hedidnotattempttograsptheircause,hedidnotconsidertheirconsequences.Hedidnotthink.Thecloggedballofemotionwaslikeaphysicalweightinhischest,fillinghisconsciousness,releasinghimfromtheresponsibilityofthought.Theballwashatred—hatredashisonlyanswer,hatredasthesolereality,hatredwithoutobject,cause,beginningorend,hatredashisclaimagainsttheuniverse,asajustification,asaright,asanabsolute.
Thescreamingofthetelephoneswentonthroughthesilence.Heknewthatthosepleasforhelpwerenotaddressedtohim,buttoanentitywhoseshapehehadstolen.Itwasthisshapethatthescreamswerenowtearingawayfromhim;hefeltasiftheringingceasedtobesoundsandbecameasuccessionofslasheshittinghisskull.Theobjectofthehatredbegantotakeform,asifsummonedbythebells.
