Атлант расправил плечи
The Concerto of Deliverance
HenryRearden!"Thesoundsshewasmakingwerenowastringofcacklinggasps,anunrecognizablecorruptionoflaughter."Well,Ithinkyou’dliketoknowthatyourwife’sbeenlaidbyanotherman!I’vebeenunfaithfultoyou,doyouhearme?I’vebeenunfaithful,notwithsomegreat,noblelover,butwiththescummiestlouse,withJimTaggart!Threemonthsago!Beforeyourdivorce!
WhileIwasyourwife!WhileIwasstillyourwife!"
Hestoodlisteninglikeascientiststudyingasubjectofnopersonalrelevancewhatever.There,hethought,wasthefinalabortionofthecreedofcollectiveinterdependence,thecreedofnon-identity,nonproperty,non-fact:thebeliefthatthemoralstatureofoneisatthemercyoftheactionofanother.
"I’vebeenunfaithfultoyou!Don’tyouhearme,youstainlessPuritan?I’vesleptwithJimTaggart,youincorruptiblehero!Don’tyouhearme?...Don’tyouhearme?...Don’tyou...?"
Hewaslookingatherashewouldhavelookedifastrangewomanhadapproachedhimonthestreetwithapersonalconfession—alookliketheequivalentofthewords:Whytellittome?
Hervoicetrailedoff.Hehadnotknownwhatthedestructionofapersonwouldbelike;butheknewthathewasseeingthedestructionofLillian.
