Атлант расправил плечи
The Utopia of Greed
Ifthatwerethesolution—which,ofcourse,itisn’t—themantokillwasRobertStadler.Ofanyoneperson,ofanysingleguiltfortheevilwhichisnowdestroyingtheworld—hiswastheheaviestguilt.Hehadthemindtoknowbetter.Hiswastheonlynameofhonorandachievement,usedtosanctiontheruleofthelooters.Hewasthemanwhodeliveredscienceintothepowerofthelooters’guns.Johndidnotexpectit.NeitherdidI...Johncamebackforhispostgraduatecourseinphysics.Buthedidnotfinishit.Heleft,onthedaywhenRobertStadlerendorsedtheestablishmentofaStateScienceInstitute.
ImetStadlerbychanceinacorridoroftheuniversity,ashecameoutofhisofficeafterhislastconversationwithJohn.Helookedchanged.
IhopethatIshallneverhavetoseeagainachangeofthatkindinaman’sface.Hesawmeapproaching—andhedidnotknow,butIknew,whatmadehimwhirluponmeandcry,‘I’msosickofallofyouImpracticalidealists!’Iturnedaway.IknewthatIhadheardamanpronounceadeathsentenceuponhimself...MissTaggart,doyourememberthequestionyouaskedmeaboutmythreepupils?"
"Yes,"shewhispered.
"Icouldgather,fromyourquestion,thenatureofwhatRobertStadlerhadsaidtoyouaboutthem.Tellme,whydidhespeakofthematall?"
Hesawthefaintmovementofherbittersmile."Hetoldmetheirstoryasajustificationforhisbeliefinthefutilityofhumanintelligence.
