Атлант расправил плечи
The Sign of the Dollar
Hestoppedobedientlyandsentthebeamoftheflashlightatthepackageinherhands.Shecaughtaglimpseofhisface:helookedalittleastonishedandveryamused.
Therewasnoprintingonthepackage,notradename,noaddress,onlythedollarsignstampedingold.Thecigarettesborethesamesign.
"Wheredidyougetthis?"sheasked.
Hewassmiling."Ifyouknowenoughtoaskthat,MissTaggart,youshouldknowthatIwon’tanswer."
"Iknowthatthisstandsforsomething."
"Thedollarsign?Foragreatdeal.Itstandsonthevestofeveryfat,piglikefigureineverycartoon,forthepurposeofdenotingacrook,agrafter,ascoundrel—astheonesure-firebrandofevil.Itstands—asthemoneyofafreecountry—forachievement,forsuccess,forability,forman’screativepower—and,preciselyforthesereasons,itisusedasabrandofinfamy.ItstandsstampedontheforeheadofamanlikeHankRearden,asamarkofdamnation.Incidentally,doyouknowwherethatsigncomesfrom?ItstandsfortheinitialsoftheUnitedStates."
Hesnappedtheflashlightoff,buthedidnotmovetogo;shecoulddistinguishthehintofhisbittersmile.
"DoyouknowthattheUnitedStatesistheonlycountryinhistorythathaseveruseditsownmonogramasasymbolofdepravity?Askyourselfwhy.
