Атлант расправил плечи

           Webegantohavestoolpigeonswhoinformedonpeople,whoreportedthatsomebodyhadbootleggedaturkeytohisfamilyonsomeSunday—whichhe’dpaidforbygambling,mostlikely.Webegantomeddleintooneanother’slives.Weprovokedfamilyquarrels,togetsomebody’srelativesthrownout.Anytimewesawamanstartingtogosteadywithagirl,wemadelifemiserableforhim.Webrokeupmanyengagements.

           Wedidn’twantanyonetomarry,wedidn’twantanymoredependentstofeed.

           "Intheolddays,weusedtocelebrateifsomebodyhadababy,weusedtochipinandhelphimoutwiththehospitalbills,ifhehappenedtobehard-pressedforthemoment.Now,ifababywasborn,wedidn’tspeaktotheparentsforweeks.Babies,tous,hadbecomewhatlocustsweretofarmers.Intheolddays,weusedtohelpamanifhehadabadillnessinthefamily.Now—well,I’lltellyouaboutjustonecase.Itwasthemotherofamanwhohadbeenwithusforfifteenyears.Shewasakindlyoldlady,cheerfulandwise,sheknewusallbyourfirstnamesandwealllikedher—weusedtolikeher.Oneday,sheslippedonthecellarstairsandfellandbrokeherhip.Weknewwhatthatmeantatherage.Thestaffdoctorsaidthatshe’dhavetobesenttoahospitalintown,forexpensivetreatmentsthatwouldtakealongtime.Theoldladydiedthenightbeforeshewastoleavefortown.Theyneverestablishedthecauseofdeath.No,Idon’tknowwhethershewasmurdered.Nobodysaidthat.Nobodywouldtalkaboutitatall.