Атлант расправил плечи

           Thosewhohadtowork,tookthelowestjobstheycouldfind.Someofushadbeenfamous;others—likethatyoungbrakemanofyours,whomHalleydiscovered—werestoppedbyusbeforetheyhadsetouttogettortured.Butwedidnotgiveupourmindsortheworkweloved.Eachofuscontinuedinhisrealprofession,inwhatevermannerandsparetimehecouldmanage—buthediditsecretly,forhisownsolebenefit,givingnothingtomen,sharingnothing.Wewerescatteredalloverthecountry,astheoutcastswehadalwaysbeen,onlynowweacceptedourpartswithconsciousintention.

           Oursolereliefweretherareoccasionswhenwecouldseeoneanother.

           Wefoundthatwelikedtomeet—inordertoberemindedthathumanbeingsstillexisted.Sowecametosetasideonemonthayeartospendinthisvalley—torest,toliveinarationalworld,tobringourrealworkoutofhiding,totradeourachievements—here,whereachievementsmeantpayment,notexpropriation.Eachofusbuilthisownhousehere,athisownexpense—foronemonthoflifeoutoftwelve.

           Itmadetheeleveneasiertobear."

           "Yousee,MissTaggart,"saidHughAkston,"manisasocialbeing,butnotinthewaythelooterspreach."

           "It’sthedestructionofColoradothatstartedthegrowthofthisvalley,"saidMidasMulligan."EllisWyattandtheotherscametoliveherepermanently,becausetheyhadtohide.