Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Theyseemedtoregarditastheirrightfulprerogative;theyactedasifthepurposeoftheprocedurewerenottotryacase,buttogivethemjobs,asiftheirjobsweretorecitetheappropriateformulaswithnoresponsibilitytoknowwhattheformulasaccomplished,asifacourtroomweretheoneplacewherequestionsofrightandwrongwereirrelevantandthey,themeninchargeofdispensingjustice,weresafelywiseenoughtoknowthatnojusticeexisted.Theyactedlikesavagesperformingaritualdevisedtosetthemfreeofobjectivereality.
Butthetenyearsofhismarriagehadbeenreal,hethought—andthesewerethemenwhoassumedthepowertodisposeofit,todecidewhetherhewouldhaveachanceofcontentmentonearthorbecondemnedtotorturefortherestofhislifetime.Herememberedtheausterelypitilessrespecthehadfeltforhiscontractofmarriage,forallhiscontractsandallhislegalobligations—andhesawwhatsortoflegalityhisscrupulousobservancewasexpectedtoserve.
Henoticedthatthepuppetsofthecourtroomhadstartedbyglancingathiminthesly,wisemanneroffellowconspiratorssharingacommonguilt,mutuallysafefrommoralcondemnation.Then,whentheyobservedthathewastheonlymanintheroomwholookedsteadilystraightatanyone’sface,hesawresentmentgrowingintheireyes.
