Атлант расправил плечи
The Sign of the Dollar
Iknowhowthefarmerslookatyou—theydon’tliketoseeamanstarving,butthey’reonlyonejumpaheadofstarvationthemselves,theyhaven’tanyworktogiveyou,theyhaven’tanyfood,andwhatevertheysave,ifthetaxcollectorsdon’tgetit,thentheraidersdo—youknow,thegangsthatroveallthroughthecountry—deserters,theycallthem."
"Doyouthinkthatit’sanybetterintheWest?"
"No.Idon’t."
"Thenwhyareyougoingthere?"
"BecauseIhaven’ttrieditbefore.That’sallthereislefttotry.It’ssomewheretogo.Justtokeepmoving...Youknow,"headdedsuddenly,"Idon’tthinkitwillbeanyuse.Butthere’snothingtodointheEastexceptsitundersomehedgeandwaittodie.Idon’tthinkI’dminditmuchnow,thedying.Iknowitwouldbealoteasier.OnlyIthinkthatit’sasintositdownandletyourlifego,withoutmakingatryforit."
Shethoughtsuddenlyofthosemoderncollege-infectedparasiteswhoassumedasickeningairofmoralself-righteousnesswhenevertheyutteredthestandardbromidesabouttheirconcernforthewelfareofothers.Thetramp’slastsentencewasoneofthemostprofoundlymoralstatementsshehadeverheard;butthemandidnotknowit;hehadsaiditinhisimpassive,extinguishedvoice,simply,dryly,asamatteroffact.
"Whatpartofthecountrydoyoucomefrom?"sheasked.
"Wisconsin,"heanswered.
