Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Andthen,foroneinstant,IdidwhatIhadneverdonebefore,whatmostmenwrecktheirlivesondoing—Isawthatmomentoutofcontext,Isawtheworldashemadeitlook,asifitmatchedhim,asifhewereitssymbol—Isawaworldofachievement,ofunenslavedenergy,ofunobstructeddrivethroughpurposefulyearstotheenjoymentofone’sreward—Isaw,asIstoodintheraininacrowdofvagrants,whatmyyearswouldhavebroughtme,ifthatworldhadexisted,andIfeltadesperatelonging—hewastheimageofeverythingIshouldhavebeen...andhehadeverythingthatshouldhavebeenmine...Butitwasonlyamoment.ThenIsawthesceneinfullcontextagainandinallofitsactualmeaning—Isawwhatpricehewaspayingforhisbrilliantability,whattorturehewasenduringinsilentbewilderment,strugglingtounderstandwhatIhadunderstood—Isawthattheworldhesuggested,didnotexistandwasyettobemade,Isawhimagainforwhathewas,thesymbolofmybattle,theunrewardedherowhomIwastoavengeandtorelease—andthen...thenIacceptedwhatIhadlearnedaboutyouandhim.Isawthatitchangednothing,thatIshouldhaveexpectedit—thatitwasright."
Heheardthefaintsoundofhermoanandhechuckledsoftly.
"Dagny,it’snotthatIdon’tsuffer,it’sthatIknowtheunimportanceofsuffering,Iknowthatpainistobefoughtandthrownaside,nottobeacceptedaspartofone’ssoulandasapermanentscaracrossone’sviewofexistence.Don’tfeelsorryforme.
