Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Incredulously,herealizedwhatitwasthathadbeenexpectedofhim:he,thevictim,chained,bound,gaggedandleftwithnorecoursesavetobribery,hadbeenexpectedtobelievethatthefarcehehadpurchasedwasaprocessoflaw,thattheedictsenslavinghimhadmoralvalidity,thathewasguiltyofcorruptingtheintegrityoftheguardiansofjustice,andthattheblamewashis,nottheirs.Itwaslikeblamingthevictimofaholdupforcorruptingtheintegrityofthethug.Andyet—hethought—throughallthegenerationsofpoliticalextortion,itwasnotthelootingbureaucratswhohadtakentheblame,butthechainedindustrialists,notthemenwhopeddledlegalfavors,butthemenwhowereforcedtobuythem;andthroughallthosegenerationsofcrusadesagainstcorruption,theremedyhadalwaysbeen,nottheliberatingofthevictims,butthegrantingofwiderpowersforextortiontotheextortionists.Theonlyguiltofthevictims,hethought,hadbeenthattheyaccepteditasguilt.
Whenhewalkedoutofthecourtroomintothechillydrizzleofagrayafternoon,hefeltasifhehadbeendivorced,notonlyfromLillian,butfromthewholeofthehumansocietythatsupportedtheprocedurehehadwitnessed.
Thefaceofhisattorney,anelderlymanoftheold-fashionedschool,woreanexpressionthatmadeitlookasifhelongedtotakeabath.
"Say,Hank,"heaskedassolecomment,"istheresomethingthelootersareanxioustogetfromyourightnow?""NotthatIknowof.
