Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Shelookedatthequiet,impregnableroom,andatthelight—thelightthatcamefromhismotor—onthefacesofmenwhowerethemostsereneandconfidentgatheringshehadeverattended.

           "Whatdidyoudo,whenyouwalkedoutoftheTwentiethCentury?"sheasked.

           "Iwentouttobecomeaflame-spotter.Imadeitmyjobtowatchforthosebrightflaresinthegrowingnightofsavagery,whichwerethemenofability,themenofthemind—towatchtheircourse,theirstruggleandtheiragony—andtopullthemout,whenIknewthattheyhadseenenough."

           "Whatdidyoutellthemtomakethemabandoneverything?"

           "Itoldthemthattheywereright."

           Inanswertothesilentquestionofherglance,headded,"Igavethemthepridetheydidnotknowtheyhad.Igavethemthewordstoidentifyit.Igavethemthatpricelesspossessionwhichtheyhadmissed,hadlongedfor,yethadnotknowntheyneeded:amoralsanction.Didyoucallmethedestroyerandthehunterofmen?Iwasthewalkingdelegateofthisstrike,theleaderofthevictims’rebellion,thedefenderoftheoppressed,thedisinherited,theexploited—andwhenIusethesewords,theyhave,foronce,aliteralmeaning."

           "Whowerethefirsttofollowyou?"

           Heletamomentpass,indeliberateemphasis,thenanswered,"Mytwobestfriends.Youknowoneofthem.Youknow,perhapsbetterthananyoneelse,whatpricehepaidforit.