Атлант расправил плечи
The Concerto of Deliverance
"
"Whatareyoutalkingabout?Whoownsthem?"
"Nobody."
"Whatdoyoumean?"
"Mother,Ithinkyouunderstandmefully.IthinkyouunderstooditbeforeIdid.Thereisn’tanyownershipleftinexistenceoranyproperty.It’swhatyou’veapprovedofandbelievedinforyears.Youwantedmetied.I’mtied.Nowit’stoolatetoplayanygamesaboutit."
"Areyougoingtoletsomepoliticalideasofyours—"Shesawthelookonhisfaceandstoppedabruptly.
Lilliansatlookingdownatthefloor,asifafraidtoglanceupatthismoment.Philipsatcrackinghisknuckles.
Hismotherdraggedhereyesintofocusagainandwhispered,"Don’tabandonus,Henry."Somefaintstaboflifeinhervoicetoldhimthatthelidofherrealpurposewascrackingopen."Theseareterribletimes,andwe’rescared.That’sthetruthofit,Henry,we’rescared,becauseyou’returningawayfromus.Oh,Idon’tmeanjustthatgrocerybill,butthat’sasign—ayearagoyouwouldn’thaveletthathappentous.Now...nowyoudon’tcare."Shemadeanexpectantpause.
"Doyou?"
"No."
"Well...well,Iguesstheblameisours.That’swhatIwantedtotellyou—thatweknowwe’retoblame.Wehaven’ttreatedyouright,alltheseyears.We’vebeenunfairtoyou,we’vemadeyousuffer,we’veusedyouandgivenyounothanksinreturn.
