Атлант расправил плечи
The Concerto of Deliverance
We’reguilty,Henry,we’vesinnedagainstyou,andweconfessit.Whatmorecanwesaytoyounow?Willyoufinditinyourhearttoforgiveus?"
"Whatisityouwantmetodo?"heasked,intheclear,flattoneofabusinessconference.
"Idon’tknow!WhoamItoknow?Butthat’snotwhatI’mtalkingofrightnow.Notofdoing,onlyoffeeling.It’syourfeelingthatI’mbeggingyoufor,Henry—justyourfeeling—evenifwedon’tdeserveit.You’regenerousandstrong.Willyoucancelthepast,Henry?Willyouforgiveus?"
Thelookofterrorinhereyeswasreal.Ayearago,hewouldhavetoldhimselfthatthiswasherwayofmakingamends;hewouldhavechokedhisrevulsionagainstherwords,wordswhichconveyednothingtohimbutthefogofthemeaningless;hewouldhaveviolatedhismindtogivethemmeaning,evenifhedidnotunderstand;hewouldhaveascribedtoherthevirtueofsincerityinherownterms,eveniftheywerenothis.Buthewasthroughwithgrantingrespecttoanytermsotherthanhisown.
"Willyouforgiveus?"
"Mother,itwouldbebestnottospeakofthat.Don’tpressmetotellyouwhy.IthinkyouknowitaswellasIdo.Ifthere’sanythingyouwantdone,tellmewhatitis.There’snothingelsetodiscuss.
"ButIdon’tunderstandyou!Idon’t!That’swhatIcalledyouherefor—toaskyourforgiveness!Areyougoingtorefusetoanswerme?"
"Verywell.