Атлант расправил плечи
The Sign of the Dollar
Askyourselfhowlongacountrythatdidthatcouldhopetoexist,andwhosemoralstandardshavedestroyedit.Itwastheonlycountryinhistorywherewealthwasnotacquiredbylooting,butbyproduction,notbyforce,butbytrade,theonlycountrywhosemoneywasthesymbolofman’srighttohisownmind,tohiswork,tohislife,tohishappiness,tohimself.Ifthisisevil,bythepresentstandardsoftheworld,ifthisisthereasonfordamningus,thenwe—we,thedollarchasersandmakers—acceptitandchoosetobedamnedbythatworld.Wechoosetowearthesignofthedollaronourforeheads,proudly,asourbadgeofnobility—thebadgewearewillingtoliveforand,ifneedbe,todie."
Heextendedhishandforthepackage.Shehelditasifherfingerswouldnotletitgo,butgaveupandplaceditonhispalm.Withdeliberateslowness,asiftounderscorethemeaningofhisgesture,heofferedheracigarette.Shetookitandplaceditbetweenherlips.
Hetookoneforhimself,struckamatch,lightedboth,andtheywalkedon.
Theywalked,overrottinglogsthatsankwithoutresistanceintotheshiftingground,throughavast,uncongealedglobeofmoonlightandcoilingmist—withtwospotsoflivingfireintheirhandsandtheglowoftwosmallcirclestolighttheirfaces.
"Fire,adangerousforce,tamedathisfingertips..."sherememberedtheoldmansayingtoher,theoldmanwhohadsaidthatthesecigaretteswerenotmadeanywhereonearth.
