Атлант расправил плечи

           Theboyglancedathimwithindignantastonishment,asiftheanswerwereself-evident."BecauseafterthewayIstartedhereandthewayIactedandwhatI’mdeputyof,ifIcomeaskingyouforfavors,yououghttokickmeintheteeth!"

           "Youhavelearnedagreatdealinthetwoyearsyou’vebeenhere."

           "No,I—"HeglancedatRearden,understood,lookedawayandsaidwoodenly,"Yeah...ifthat’swhatyoumean."

           "Listen,kid,I’dgiveyouajobthisminuteandI’dtrustyouwithmorethanasweeper’sjob,ifitwereuptome.ButhaveyouforgottentheUnificationBoard?I’mnotallowedtohireyouandyou’renotallowedtoquit.Sure,menarequittingallthetime,andwe’rehiringothersunderphonynamesandfancypapersprovingthatthey’veworkedhereforyears.Youknowit,andthanksforkeepingyourmouthshut.ButdoyouthinkthatifIhiredyouthatway,yourfriendsinWashingtonwouldmissit?"

           Theboyshookhisheadslowly.

           "Doyouthinkthatifyouquittheirservicetobecomeasweeper,theywouldn’tunderstandyourreason?"

           Theboynodded.

           "Wouldtheyletyougo?"

           Theboyshookhishead.Afteramoment,hesaidinatoneofforlornastonishment,"Ihadn’tthoughtofthatatall,Mr.Rearden.Iforgotthem.Ikeptthinkingofwhetheryou’dwantmeornotandthattheonlythingthatcountedwasyourdecision.