Атлант расправил плечи
The Concerto of Deliverance
Hesawthemastheyhadbeenattheirfirstmeeting:he,themanofviolentenergyandpassionateambition,themanofachievement,lightedbytheflameofhissuccessandflungintothemidstofthosepretentiousasheswhocalledthemselvesanintellectualelite,theburnedoutremnantsofundigestedculture,feedingontheafterglowofthemindsofothers,offeringtheirdenialofthemindastheironlyclaimtodistinction,andacravingtocontroltheworldastheironlylust—she,thewomanhanger-onofthatelite,wearingtheirshopwornsneerasheranswertotheuniverse,holdingimpotenceassuperiorityandemptinessasvirtue—he,unawareoftheirhatred,innocentlyscornfuloftheirposturingfraud—she,seeinghimasthedangertotheirworld,asathreat,asachallenge,asareproach.
Thelustthatdrivesotherstoenslaveanempire,hadbecome,inherlimits,apassionforpoweroverhim.Shehadsetouttobreakhim,asif,unabletoequalhisvalue,shecouldsurpassitbydestroyingit,asifthemeasureofhisgreatnesswouldthusbecomethemeasureofhers,asif—hethoughtwithashudder—asifthevandalwhosmashedastatueweregreaterthantheartistwhohadmadeit,asifthemurdererwhokilledachildweregreaterthanthemotherwhohadgivenitbirth.
