Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
You’veneversuffered,thedeadstareoftheeyeswassaying,you’veneverfeltanything,becauseonlytosufferistofeel—there’snosuchthingasjoy,there’sonlypainandtheabsenceofpain,onlypainandthezero,whenonefeelsnothing—Isuffer,I’mtwistedbysuffering,I’mmadeofundilutedsuffering,that’smypurity,that’smyvirtue—andyours,youtheuntwistedone,youtheuncomplaining,yoursistorelievemeofmypain—cutyourunsufferingbodytopatchupmine,cutyourunfeelingsoultostopminefromfeeling—andwe’llachievetheultimateideal,thetriumphoverlife,thezero!Hewasseeingthenatureofthosewho,forcenturies,hadnotrecoiledfromthepreachersofannihilation—hewasseeingthenatureoftheenemieshehadbeenfightingallhislife.
"Philip,"hesaid,"getoutofhere."Hisvoicewaslikearayofsunlightinamorgue,itwastheplain,dry,dailyvoiceofabusinessman,thesoundofhealth,addressedtoanenemyonecouldnothonorbyanger,norevenbyhorror."Anddon’tevertrytoenterthesemillsagain,becausetherewillbeordersateverygatetothrowyouout,ifyoutryit."
"Well,afterall,"saidPhilip,intheangryandcautioustoneofatentativethreat,"Icouldhavemyfriendsassignmetoajobhereandcompelyoutoacceptit!"
Reardenhadstartedtogo,buthestoppedandturnedtolookathisbrother.
