Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
"Youmeantthatit’sIwhoshouldkeepmymouthshut,becauseIholdtheupperhand,andshouldgiveintoyou,becauseyouholdnohandatall?"
"That’sapeculiarlycrudewayofstatingamoralprinciple."
"Butthat’swhatyourmoralprincipleamountsto,doesn’tit?"
"Youcan’tdiscussmoralityinmaterialisticterms."
"We’rediscussingajobinasteelplant—and,boy!isthatamaterialisticplace!"
Philip’sbodydrewashadetightertogetherandhiseyesbecameashademoreglazed,asifinfearoftheplacearoundhim,inresentmentofitssight,inaneffortnottoconcedeitsreality.Hesaid,inthesoft,stubbornwhineofavoodooincantation,"It’samoralimperative,universallyconcededinourdayandage,thateverymanisentitledtoajob."Hisvoicerose:"I’mentitledtoit!"
"Youare?Goon,then,collectyourclaim."
"Uh?"
"Collectyourjob.Pickitoffthebushwhereyouthinkitgrows."
"Imean—"
"Youmeanthatitdoesn’t?Youmeanthatyouneedit,butcan’tcreateit?Youmeanthatyou’reentitledtoajobwhichImustcreateforyou?"
"Yes!"
"AndifIdon’t?"
Thesilencewentstretchingthroughsecondaftersecond.
