Атлант расправил плечи

           Well,therewasthemotortoconditionthem,andthereitremainedasjustexactlywhatitiswithoutman’smind—asapileofmetalscrapsandwires,goingtorust.Youhavebeenthinkingofthegreatservicewhichthatmotorcouldhaverenderedtomankind,ifithadbeenputintoproduction.Ithinkthatonthedaywhenmenunderstandthemeaningofitsfateinthatfactory’sjunkheap—itwillhaverenderedagreaterone."

           "Didyouexpecttoseethatday,whenyouleftit?"

           "No."

           "Didyouexpectachancetorebuilditelsewhere?"

           "No."

           "Andyouwerewillingtoletitremaininajunkheap?"

           "Forthesakeofwhatthatmotormeanttome,"hesaidslowly,"Ihadtobewillingtoletitcrumbleandvanishforever"—helookedstraightatherandsheheardthesteady,unhesitant,uninflectedruthlessnessofhisvoice—"justasyouwillhavetobewillingtolettherailofTaggartTranscontinentalcrumbleandvanish."

           Sheheldhiseyes,herheadwaslifted,andshesaidsoftly,inthetoneofaproudlyopenplea,"Don’tmakemeansweryounow."

           "Iwon’t.We’lltellyouwhateveryouwishtoknow.Wewon’turgeyoutomakeadecision."Headded,andshewasshockedbythesuddengentlenessofhisvoice,"Isaidthatthatkindofindifferencetowardaworldwhichshouldhavebeenourswasthehardestthingtoattain.Iknow.We’veallgonethroughit.