Атлант расправил плечи
Anti-Life
Itwasnottheknowledgeofhisindifferencetomoneythatnowgavehimashudderofdread.Itwastheknowledgethathewouldbeequallyindifferent,werehereducedtothestateofthebeggar.Therehadbeenatimewhenhehadfeltsomemeasureofguilt—innocleareraformthanatouchofirritation—atthethoughtthathesharedthesinofgreed,whichhespenthistimedenouncing.Nowhewashitbythechillrealizationthat,infact,hehadneverbeenahypocrite:infulltruth,hehadnevercaredformoney.Thisleftanotherholegapingopenbeforehim,leadingintoanotherblindalleywhichhecouldnotriskseeing.
Ijustwanttodosomethingtonight!—hecriedsoundlesslytosomeoneatlarge,inprotestandindemandinganger—inprotestagainstwhateveritwasthatkeptforcingthesethoughtsintohismind—inangeratauniversewheresomemalevolentpowerwouldnotpermithimtofindenjoymentwithouttheneedtoknowwhathewantedorwhy.
Whatdoyouwant?—someenemyvoicekeptasking,andhewalkedfaster,tryingtoescapeit.Itseemedtohimthathisbrainwasamazewhereablindalleyopenedateveryturn,leadingintoafogthathidanabyss.Itseemedtohimthathewasrunning,whilethesmallislandofsafetywasshrinkingandnothingbutthosealleyswouldsoonbeleft.Itwasliketheremnantofclarityinthestreetaroundhim,withthehazerollingintofillallexits.Whydidithavetoshrink?—hethoughtinpanic.
