Атлант расправил плечи
The Utopia of Greed
Whennothingseemsworththeeffort—saidsomesternvoiceinhermind—it’sascreentohideawishthat’sworthtoomuch;whatdoyouwant?...Shesnappedamatch,viciouslyjerkingtheflametothetipofacigaretteshenoticedhanging,unlighted,inthecornerofhermouth...Whatdoyouwant?—repeatedthevoicethatsoundedsevereasajudge.Iwanthimtocomeback!—sheanswered,throwingthewords,asasoundlesscry,atsomeaccuserwithinher,almostasonewouldthrowabonetoapursuingbeast,inthehopeofdistractingitfrompouncingupontherest.
Iwanthimback—shesaidsoftly,inanswertotheaccusationthattherewasnoreasonforsogreatanimpatience...Iwanthimback—shesaidpleadingly,inanswertothecoldreminderthatheranswerdidnotbalancethejudge’sscale...Iwanthimback!—shecrieddefiantly,fightingnottodroptheonesuperfluous,protectivewordinthatsentence.
Shefeltherheaddroopingwithexhaustion,asafteraprolongedbeating.Thecigaretteshesawbetweenherfingershadburnedthemerelengthofhalfaninch.Shegrounditoutandfellintothearmchairagain.
I’mnotevadingit—shethought—I’mnotevadingit,it’sjustthatIcanseenowaytoanyanswer...Thatwhichyouwant—saidthevoice,whileshestumbledthroughathickeningfog—isyoursforthetaking,butanythinglessthanyourfullacceptance,anythinglessthanyourfullconviction,isabetrayalofeverythingheis...
