Атлант расправил плечи
The Concerto of Deliverance
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Reardenwatched,askingnoquestions.Hewaited,asifsomefinalknowledgewereintheprocessofunravelingbeforehim,aprocessnottobehastenedorstopped.No—hethoughtthroughtheearlyduskofautumnevenings,lookingoutthewindowofhisoffice—no,hewasnotindifferenttohismills;butthefeelingwhichhadoncebeenpassionforalivingentitywasnowlikethewistfultendernessonefeelsforthememoryofthelovedanddead.Thespecialqualityofwhatonefeelsforthedead,hethought,isthatnoactionispossibleanylonger.
OnthemorningofOctober31,hereceivedanoticeinforminghimthatallofhisproperty,includinghisbankaccountsandsafetydepositboxes,hadbeenattachedtosatisfyadelinquentjudgmentobtainedagainsthiminatrialinvolvingadeficiencyinhispersonalincometaxofthreeyearsago.Itwasaformalnotice,complyingwitheveryrequirementofthelaw—exceptthatnosuchdeficiencyhadeverexistedandnosuchtrialhadevertakenplace.
"No,"hesaidtohisindignation-chokedattorney,"don’tquestionthem,don’tanswer,don’tobject.""Butthisisfantastic!""Anymorefantasticthantherest?""Hank,doyouwantmetodonothing?Totakeitlyingdown?""No,standingup.AndImean,standing.Don’tmove.Don’tact.""Butthey’veleftyouhelpless.""Havethey?"heaskedsoftly,smiling.
Hehadafewhundreddollarsincash,leftinhiswallet,nothingelse.
