Атлант расправил плечи
The Utopia of Greed
"ButIshallnotpermittheuseofthatmoneyformydebts."
"Howelsedoyouproposetocomply?"
"Iproposetoearnmyroomandboard."
"Bywhatmeans?"
"Byworking."
"Inwhatcapacity?"
"Inthecapacityofyourcookandhousemaid."
Forthefirsttime,shesawhimtaketheshockoftheunexpected,inamannerandwithaviolenceshehadnotforeseen.Itwasonlyanexplosionoflaughteronhispart—buthelaughedasifhewerehitbeyondhisdefenses,muchbeyondtheimmediatemeaningofherwords;shefeltthatshehadstruckhispast,tearingloosesomememoryandmeaningofhisownwhichshecouldnotknow.Helaughedasifhewereseeingsomedistantimage,asifhewerelaughinginitsface,asifthiswerehisvictory—andhers.
"Ifyouwillhireme,"shesaid,herfaceseverelypolite,hertoneharshlyclear,impersonalandbusinesslike,"Ishallcookyourmeals,cleanyourhouse,doyourlaundryandperformsuchotherdutiesasarerequiredofaservant—inexchangeformyroom,boardandsuchmoneyasIwillneedforsomeitemsofclothing.Imaybeslightlyhandicappedbymyinjuriesforthenextfewdays,butthatwillnotlastandIwillbeabletodothejobfully."
"Isthatwhatyouwanttodo?"heasked.
