Атлант расправил плечи
The Utopia of Greed
Bothhadtheradianceofengineering—shethought,whenshesatamongrowsofbenchesundertheopensky,watchingKayLudlowonthestage.Itwasanexperienceshehadnotknownsincechildhood—theexperienceofbeingheldforthreehoursbyaplaythattoldastoryshehadnotseenbefore,inlinesshehadnotheard,utteringathemethathadnotbeenpickedfromthehand-me-downsofthecenturies.Itwastheforgottendelightofbeingheldinraptattentionbythereinsoftheingenious,theunexpected,thelogical,thepurposeful,thenew—andofseeingitembodiedinaperformanceofsuperlativeartistrybyawomanplayingacharacterwhosebeautyofspiritmatchedherownphysicalperfection.
"That’swhyI’mhere,MissTaggart,"saidKayLudlow,smilinginanswertohercomment,aftertheperformance."WhateverqualityofhumangreatnessIhavethetalenttoportray—thatwasthequalitytheouterworldsoughttodegrade.Theyletmeplaynothingbutsymbolsofdepravity,nothingbutharlots,dissipation-chasersandhome-wreckers,alwaystobebeatenattheendbythelittlegirlnextdoor,personifyingthevirtueofmediocrity.Theyusedmytalent—forthedefamationofitself.ThatwaswhyIquit."
Notsincechildhood,thoughtDagny,hadshefeltthatsenseofexhilarationafterwitnessingtheperformanceofaplay—thesensethatlifeheldthingsworthreaching,notthesenseofhavingstudiedsomeaspectofasewertherehadbeennoreasontosee.
