Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Whatshe’stryingtosayisthatwe’resorry.We’reterriblysorrythatwe’vehurtyou.Youthinkwe’renotpayingforit,butweare.

           We’resufferingremorse."

           ThepaininPhilip’sfacewasreal.Ayearago,Reardenwouldhavefeltpity.Now,heknewthattheyhadheldhimthroughnothingbuthisreluctancetohurtthem,hisfearoftheirpain.Hewasnotafraidofitanylonger,"We’resorry,Henry.Weknowwe’veharmedyou.Wewishwecouldatoneforit.Butwhatcanwedo?Thepastispast.Wecan’tundoit."

           "NeithercanI."

           "Youcanacceptourrepentance,"saidLillian,inavoiceglassywithcaution."Ihavenothingtogainfromyounow.IonlywantyoutoknowthatwhateverI’vedone,I’vedoneitbecauseIlovedyou."

           Heturnedaway,withoutanswering.

           "Henry!"criedhismother."What’shappenedtoyou?What’schangedyoulikethat?Youdon’tseemtobehumananymore!Youkeeppressingusforanswers,whenwehaven’tanyanswerstogive.Youkeepbeatinguswithlogic—what’slogicatatimelikethis?—what’slogicwhenpeoplearesuffering?"

           "Wecan’thelpit!"criedPhilip.

           "We’reatyourmercy,"saidLillian.

           Theywerethrowingtheirpleasatafacethatcouldnotbereached.