Атлант расправил плечи

           EversinceIcanremember,IhadfeltthatIwouldkillthemanwho’dclaimthatIexistforthesakeofhisneed—andIhadknownthatthiswasthehighestmoralfeeling.Thatnight,attheTwentiethCenturymeeting,whenIheardanunspeakableevilbeingspokeninatoneofmoralrighteousness,Isawtherootoftheworld’stragedy,thekeytoitandthesolution.Isawwhathadtobedone.Iwentouttodoit."

           "Andthemotor?"sheasked."Whydidyouabandonit?WhydidyouleaveittotheStarnesheirs?"

           "Itwasthenfather’sproperty.Hepaidmeforit.Itwasmadeonhistime.ButIknewthatitwouldbeofnobenefittothemandthatnoonewouldeverhearofitagain.Itwasmyfirstexperimentalmodel.

           Nobodybutmeormyequivalentcouldhavebeenabletocompleteitoreventograspwhatitwas.AndIknewthatnoequivalentofminewouldcomenearthatfactoryfromthenon."

           "Youknewthekindofachievementyourmotorrepresented?"

           "Yes."

           "Andyouknewyouwereleavingittoperish?"

           "Yes."Helookedoffintothedarknessbeyondthewindowsandchuckledsoftly,butitwasnotasoundofamusement."Ilookedatmymotorforthelasttune,beforeIleft.Ithoughtofthemenwhoclaimthatwealthisamatterofnaturalresources—andofthemenwhoclaimthatwealthisamatterofseizingthefactories—andofthemenwhoclaimthatmachinesconditiontheirbrains.