Атлант расправил плечи

           "Youquitoverthesamecase,didn’tyou?"

           "Yes,"saidJudgeNarragansett."Iquitwhenthecourtofappealsreversedmyruling.ThepurposeforwhichIhadchosenmywork,wasmyresolvetobeaguardianofjustice.Butthelawstheyaskedmetoenforcemademetheexecutorofthevilestinjusticeconceivable.Iwasaskedtouseforcetoviolatetherightsofdisarmedmen,whocamebeforemetoseekmyprotectionfortheirrights.Litigantsobeytheverdictofatribunalsolelyonthepremisethatthereisanobjectiveruleofconduct,whichtheybothaccept.NowIsawthatonemanwastobeboundbyit,buttheotherwasnot,onewastoobeyarule,theotherwastoassertanarbitrarywish—hisneed—andthelawwastostandonthesideofthewish.Justicewastoconsistofupholdingtheunjustifiable.Iquit—becauseIcouldnothavebornetohearthewords‘YourHonor’addressedtomebyanhonestman."

           HereyesmovedslowlytoRichardHalley,asifshewerebothpleadingandafraidtohearhisstory.Hesmiled.

           "Iwouldhaveforgivenmenformystruggle,"saidRichardHalley.

           "ItwastheirviewofmysuccessthatIcouldnotforgive.Ihadfeltnohatredinalltheyearswhentheyrejectedme.Ifmyworkwasnew,Ihadtogivethemtimetolearn,ifItookprideinbeingfirsttobreakatrailtoaheightofmyown,Ihadnorighttocomplainifotherswereslowtofollow.