Атлант расправил плечи

           Rearden!Youdorealizethat,don’tyou?"

           ButLawson’savidpleasureatthefamiliarformulaofself-immolation,vanishedabruptlyatthesoundofRearden’svoice,acold,trader’svoiceanswering:"Ido."

           "It’snotBoylealonewho’sinvolved,"saidHollowaypleadingly.

           "Thecountry’seconomywouldnotbeabletostandamajordislocationatthepresentmoment.TherearethousandsofBoyle’sworkers,suppliersandcustomers.WhatwouldhappentothemifAssociatedSteelwentbankrupt?"

           "Whatwillhappentothethousandsofmyworkers,suppliersandcustomerswhenIgobankrupt?"

           "You,Mr.Rearden?"saidHollowayincredulously."Butyou’retherichest,safestandstrongestindustrialistinthecountryatthismoment!"

           "Whataboutthemomentafternext?"

           "Uh?"

           "Howlongdoyouexpectmetobeabletoproduceataloss?"

           "Oh,Mr.Rearden,Ihavecompletefaithinyou!"

           "Tohellwithyourfaith!Howdoyouexpectmetodoit?"

           "You’llmanage!"

           "How?"

           Therewasnoanswer.

           "Wecan’ttheorizeaboutthefuture,"criedWesleyMouch,"whenhere’sanimmediatenationalcollapsetoavoid!We’vegottosavethecountry’seconomy!We’vegottodosomething!"Rearden’simperturbibleglanceofcuriositydrovehimtoheedlessness.