Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Reardencouldnotresistsmilingandremindinghim,inthetoneofaquotation,"Nowwhyusesuchwords,Non-Absolute?Ifwedon’tuseuglywords,wewon’thaveanyuglinessand—"Buthesawthedesperateearnestnessoftheboy’sfaceandstopped,hissmilevanishing.

           "Imeanit,Mr.Rearden.AndIknowwhatthewordmeansandit’stherightword.I’mtiredofbeingpaid,withyourmoney,todonothingexceptmakeitimpossibleforyoutomakeanymoneyatall.Iknowthatanyonewhoworkstodayisonlyasuckerforbastardslikeme,but...well,Goddamnit,I’dratherbeasucker,ifthat’sallthere’slefttobe!"

           Hisvoicehadrisentoacry."Ibegyourpardon,Mr.Rearden,"hesaidstiffly,lookingaway.Inamoment,hewentoninhiswoodenlyunemotionaltone."IwanttogetoutoftheDeputy-Director-of-Distributionracket.Idon’tknowthatI’dbeofmuchusetoyou,I’vegotacollegediplomainmetallurgy,butthat’snotworththepaperit’sprintedon.ButIthinkI’velearnedalittleabouttheworkinthetwoyearsI’vebeenhere—andifyoucouldusemeatall,assweeperorscrapmanorwhateveryou’dtrustmewith,I’dtellthemwheretoputthedeputydirectorshipandI’dgotoworkforyoutomorrow,nextweek,thisminuteorwheneveryousay."HeavoidedlookingatRearden,notinamannerofevasion,butasifhehadnorighttodoit.

           "Whywereyouafraidtoaskme?"saidReardengently.