Атлант расправил плечи

           Wedidn’tknow.Wethoughtitwasgood.No,that’snottrue,either.Wethoughtthatweweresupposedtothinkitwasgood.Theplanwasthateverybodyinthefactorywouldworkaccordingtohisability,butwouldbepaidaccordingtohisneed.We—what’sthematter,ma’am?Whydoyoulooklikethat?"

           "Whatwasthenameofthefactory?"sheasked,hervoicebarelyaudible.

           "TheTwentiethCenturyMotorCompany,ma’am,ofStarnesville,Wisconsin."

           "Goon."

           "Wevotedforthatplanatabigmeeting,withallofuspresent,sixthousandofus,everybodythatworkedinthefactory.TheStarnesheirsmadelongspeechesaboutit,anditwasn’ttooclear,butnobodyaskedanyquestions.Noneofusknewjusthowtheplanwouldwork,buteveryoneofusthoughtthatthenextfellowknewit.Andifanybodyhaddoubts,hefeltguiltyandkepthismouthshut—becausetheymadeitsoundlikeanyonewho’dopposetheplanwasachildkilleratheartandlessthanahumanbeing.Theytoldusthatthisplanwouldachieveanobleideal.Well,howwerewetoknowotherwise?Hadn’twehearditallourlives—fromourparentsandourschoolteachersandourministers,andineverynewspaperweeverreadandeverymovieandeverypublicspeech?Hadn’twealwaysbeentoldthatthiswasrighteousandjust?Well,maybethere’ssomeexcuseforwhatwedidatthatmeeting.Still,wevotedfortheplan—andwhatwegot,wehaditcomingtous.