Атлант расправил плечи

           Isawthemreachingintomysoul,justastheyreachintoMulligan’spocket,reachingtoexpropriatethevalueofmyperson,justastheyreachtoexpropriatehiswealth—Isawtheimpertinentmaliceofmediocrityboastfullyholdingupitsownemptinessasanabysstobefilledbythebodiesofitsbetters—Isawthemseeking,justastheyseektofeedonMulligan’smoney,tofeedonthosehourswhenIwrotemymusicandonthatwhichmademewriteit,seekingtognawtheirwaytoself-esteembyextortingfrommetheadmissionthattheywerethegoalofmymusic,sothatpreciselybyreasonofmyachievement,itwouldnotbetheywho’dacknowledgemyvalue,butIwhowouldbowtotheirs...ItwasthatnightthatItooktheoathnevertoletthemhearanothernoteofmine.ThestreetswereemptywhenIleftthattheater,Iwasthelastonetoleave—andIsawamanwhomIhadneverseenbefore,waitingformeinthelightofalamppost.Hedidnothavetotellmemuch.ButtheconcertoIdedicatedtohimiscalledtheConcertoofDeliverance."

           Shelookedattheothers."Pleasetellmeyourreasons,"shesaid,withafaintstressoffirmnessinhervoice,asifsheweretakingabeating,butwishedtotakeittotheend.

           "IquitwhenmedicinewasplacedunderStatecontrol,someyearsago,"saidDr.Hendricks.