Атлант расправил плечи

           Nowsheknewthattheyweretombstones,slenderobeliskssoaringinmemoryofthemenwhohadbeendestroyedforhavingcreatedthem,theywerethefrozenshapeofthesilentcrythattherewardofachievementwasmartyrdom.

           Somewhereinoneofthosevanishingtowers,shethought,therewasDagny—butDagnywasalonelyvictim,fightingalosingbattle,tobedestroyedandtosinkintofogliketheothers.

           Thereisnoplacetogo,shethoughtandstumbledon—Ican’tstandstill,normovemuchlonger—Icanneitherworknorrest—Icanneithersurrendernorfight—butthis...thisiswhattheywantofme,thisiswheretheywantme—neitherlivingnordead,neitherthinkingnorinsane,butjustachunkofpulpthatscreamswithfear,tobeshapedbythemastheyplease,theywhohavenoshapeoftheirown.

           Sheplungedintothedarknessbehindacorner,shrinkingindreadfromanyhumanfigure.No,shethought,they’renotevil,notallpeople...they’reonlytheirownfirstvictims,buttheyallbelieveinJim’screed,andIcan’tdealwiththem,onceIknowit...andifIspoketothem,theywouldtrytograntmetheirgoodwill,butI’dknowwhatitisthattheyholdasthegoodandIwouldseedeathstaringoutoftheireyes.

           Thesidewalkhadshrunktoabrokenstrip,andsplashesofgarbageranoverfromthecansatthestoopsofcrumblinghouses.Beyondthedustyglowofasaloon,shesawalightedsign"YoungWomen’sRestClub"abovealockeddoor.