Атлант расправил плечи
The Sign of the Dollar
Sheknewthatthiswashistributetoher:hehadshownnoreactiontoherkindness,hehadseemednumbedtohumanvalueorhumanhope,butsomethingwithinhimhadbeenreachedandhisresponsewasthisconfession,thislong,desperatecryofrebellionagainstinjustice,heldbackforyears,butbreakingoutinrecognitionofthefirstpersonhehadmetinwhosehearinganappealforjusticewouldnotbehopeless.Itwasasifthelifehehadbeenabouttorenounceweregivenbacktohimbythetwoessentialsheneeded:byhisfoodandbythepresenceofarationalbeing.
"ButwhataboutJohnGalt?"sheasked.
"Oh..."hesaid,remembering."Oh,yes..."
"Youweregoingtotellmewhypeoplestartedaskingthatquestion."
"Yes..."Hewaslookingoff,asifatsomesightwhichhehadstudiedforyears,butwhichremainedunchangedandunsolved;hisfacehadanodd,questioninglookofterror.
"YouweregoingtotellmewhowastheJohnGalttheymean—ifthereeverwassuchaperson."
"Ihopetherewasn’t,ma’am.Imean,Ihopethatit’sjustacoincidence,justasentencethathasn’tanymeaning."
"Youhadsomethinginmind.What?"
"Itwas...itwassomethingthathappenedatthatfirstmeetingattheTwentiethCenturyfactory.Maybethatwasthestartofit,maybenot.Idon’tknow...Themeetingwasheldonaspringnight,twelveyearsago.
