Атлант расправил плечи

           Weareexpectedtobecomeone."Hepronouncedhisnameasifhewishedhislistenerstobestruckinthefaceandknightedbythesoundofit.

           Sebastiand‘Anconia,hisancestor,hadleftSpainmanycenturiesago,atatimewhenSpainwasthemostpowerfulcountryonearthandhiswasoneofSpain’sproudestfigures.Heleft,becausethelordoftheInquisitiondidnotapproveofhismannerofthinkingandsuggested,atacourtbanquet,thathechangeit.Sebastiánd’AnconiathrewthecontentsofhiswineglassatthefaceofthelordoftheInquisition,andescapedbeforehecouldbeseized.Heleftbehindhimhisfortune,hisestate,hismarblepalaceandthegirlheloved—andhesailedtoanewworld.

           HisfirstestateinArgentinawasawoodenshackinthefoothillsoftheAndes.Thesunblazedlikeabeacononthesilvercoat-of-armsofthed‘Anconias,nailedoverthedooroftheshack,whileSebastiánd’Anconiadugforthecopperofhisfirstmine.Hespentyears,pickaxinhand,breakingrockfromsunrisetilldarkness,withthehelpofafewstrayderelicts:desertersfromthearmiesofhiscountrymen,escapedconvicts,starvingIndians.

           FifteenyearsafterheleftSpain,Sebastiánd‘Anconiasentforthegirlheloved;shehadwaitedforhim.Whenshearrived,shefoundthesilvercoat-of-armsabovetheentranceofamarblepalace,thegardensofagreatestate,andmountainsslashedbypitsofredoreinthedistance.Hecarriedherinhisarmsacrossthethresholdofhishome.Helookedyoungerthanwhenshehadseenhimlast.