Атлант расправил плечи

           Shesaw,inhiseyes,thathefeltasshedid.Ifjoyistheaimandthecoreofexistence,shethought,andifthatwhichhasthepowertogiveonejoyisalwaysguardedasone’sdeepestsecret,thentheyhadseeneachothernakedinthatmoment.

           Hemadeastepbackandsaidinastrangetoneofdispassionatewonder,"We’reacoupleofblackguards,aren’twe?"

           "Why?"

           "Wehaven’tanyspiritualgoalsorqualities.Allwe’reafterismaterialthings.That’sallwecarefor."

           Shelookedathim,unabletounderstand.Buthewaslookingpasther,straightahead,atthecraneinthedistance.Shewishedhehadnotsaidit.Theaccusationdidnottroubleher,sheneverthoughtofherselfinsuchtermsandshewascompletelyincapableofexperiencingafeelingoffundamentalguilt.Butshefeltavagueapprehensionwhichshecouldnotdefine,thesuggestionthattherewassomethingofgraveconsequenceinwhateverhadmadehimsayit,somethingdangeroustohim.Hehadnotsaiditcasually.Buttherehadbeennofeelinginhisvoice,neitherpleanorshame.Hehadsaiditindifferently,asastatementoffact.

           Then,asshewatchedhim,theapprehensionvanishedHewaslookingathismillsbeyondthewindow;therewasnoguiltinhisface,nodoubt,nothingbutthecalmofaninviolateself-confidence.

           "Dagny"hesaid,"whateverweare,it’swewhomovetheworldandit’swewho’llpullitthrough."